The gears
that make it work
Speaker's Bio
J.J. Johnston, CED, FM
Founder, CEO and Managing Member
ECONOGINE, LLC
J.J. created ECONOGINE in 2007 following a thirty year career with local, regional and state economic development organizations. ECONOGINE provides innovative economic development consulting to communities and companies who want to "rev-up" their economic engines.
J.J. has dedicated his entire professional career to helping people and communities achieve their economic potential. He has served as President/CEO of six regional Economic Development Organizations/Chambers of Commerce and served in leadership capacities at the Colorado and Texas Economic Development offices. J.J was responsible for designing and implementing economic development programs that helped attract more than one hundred new primary employers, hundreds of millions in new capital investment and thousands of new job opportunities into client communities.
He is internationally recognized as a leader in economic development. The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) selected him as a "Fellow Member" in 2001, an honor conferred upon IEDC members who have attained "exceptional stature" in the economic development profession. J.J. received Distinguished Service Awards from the IEDC in 1994 and 1997. He was also selected by his peers as the "Economic Developer of the Year" in New Mexico in 1994, and received the top award in Colorado in 1995. J.J. was also appointed by the First Minister of Scotland as a Global Scot in 2006.
He has served as the volunteer board chair to numerous domestic and international organizations, including the IEDC Professional Certification Board and the Mountain States Association. He teaches several IEDC sanctioned courses including business retention/expansion, writing community marketing plans, and economic development theory. J.J. has served on the IEDC Governing Board, the Board of Regents, the Editorial Board, and numerous state Economic Development Boards and Commissions.
He holds a bachelors degree in business administration from the University of North Texas and is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute and the US Chamber's Post Graduate Institute. He has chaired regional Workforce Investment Boards and stewardship campaigns for groups including Symphony Orchestras and the United Way.
J.J. and his wife Beverly have two children and four grandchildren. He enjoys snow skiing and playing classical and jazz trombone in a variety of volunteer and professional music ensembles.