Fred Johnson, retired Colonel in the US Army
Fred Johnson Director of Workplace Giving
LOUISVILLE, KY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015 – Retired Colonel, Fred Johnson has been hired to fill the Fund for the Arts Director of Workplace Giving position. The position coordinates more than 200 volunteer Campaign Coordinators representing organizations throughout the region to raise money for the Arts. Workplace Giving Campaigns make up more than 45% of the Fund for the Arts annual contributions.
To surpass the $8.3 million goal, we will have to approach the campaign differently,” said Christen Boone, President & CEO of the Fund for the Arts. “Fred Johnson is a new approach to Workplace Campaigns. He brings to this position strategy, organization, discipline, creativity, determination, efficiency, recruitment, business development, project management; the list goes on. We are honored he chose the Fund for the Arts as his next place to serve.”
While stationed at Fort Knox Johnson and his family traveled frequently to Louisville for the Arts as patrons of Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Kentucky Opera, PNC Broadway Across America, and the Louisville Ballet. It was because of the Arts and culture in Louisville that Johnson and his family decided to buy a home in the Highlands during a deployment in Afghanistan.
“My first inclination upon leaving the service was to serve Louisville. The great work of the Fund for the Arts has sustained our love for this city,” said Johnson. “I wanted to be a part of that kind of organization.”
Admittedly a unique candidate, with 29 years of service to our country, Johnson offered the Fund a fresh perspective on the position. A position the organization, Where Opportunity Knox, knew was a perfect fit for this Vet in transition.
“When we become aware of great employment opportunities, like this position with the Fund for the Arts, we share them with our pipeline of veteran job seekers. We also recognized that this position was well suited for more of a senior military leader and encouraged Fred to apply. We were delighted to hear that he was selected,” said Erin Mires, Regional Veteran Connector for Where Opportunity Knox.
Fred Johnson retired as a Colonel in the United States Army in October of 2014 after serving 29 years. He is a graduate of Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina where he was the starting point guard on the basketball team and ran cross-country. He received his BA in Sociology and Government and was commissioned from ROTC as an infantry officer. After graduating from the Infantry School, Airborne and Ranger training, he served in various assignments that included two combat tours in Iraq, a combat tour in Afghanistan and service in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He received two Legions of Merit, a Bronze Star with valor and three Bronze Stars for service during his Army career. Fred has a Masters Degree in Military Arts and Science from the Command and General Staff College and a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College. He is married to Dr. Laura Eckler Johnson who is the Director of Behavior Health at Fort Knox, Kentucky and his daughter, Madelyn, is a senior at Sacred Heart.
