Ralph E. Johnson

Ralph E. Johnson serves as a confidential and impartial discussion partner and sounding board for work-related or personal issues.  

He began his McKinsey career as a consultant.  He left McKinsey to become general manager of the Cuyahoga County Welfare Reform Agency.  In that role, Johnson built and ran the 750 person agency that developed and executed a plan to help 27,000 families move from welfare to work.  

He rejoined McKinsey in 2001 as the director of professional development and administration for the Americas Operations Practice. He held this role until 2008, when he became the director of operations and administration of the newly established Social Sector Office. In both of these roles, Johnson oversaw all administrative functions (recruiting, human resources, professional development, finance, and knowledge management).

Johnson started his professional career at General Motors Corporation as a co-op student and progressed to engineer and manufacturing general supervisor.  

Johnson received his MBA from Michigan Ross in 1992. While at Ross, he was president of the student government.  Since graduating, he served as chair of the Alumni Board of Governors, chair of the Annual Fund, and served several terms on the Dean’s Advisory Board. He has received the Black Business Student Association Alumni of the Year Award, The Charles H. Ihling Memorial Service Award, and The Bert F. Wertman Alumni Service Award.   

Johnson has served several terms on the Board of Directors for the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan.  He currently serves as immediate past chair, having recently completed his term as chair of the AAUM Board.

Johnson holds bachelor’s degrees in industrial engineering from Kettering University and business administration from Aquinas College.

Ralph Johnson, his wife Dr. Lisa Johnson, and their children, Janae and Cameron, live in Cleveland. He is an ordained deacon and an associate minister at Mt. Olive Baptist Church.