Craig L. Johnson, B.S.B.A. in finance and marketing, ’81 Distinguished Alumni Award As a student at Central Michigan University, Craig L. Johnson knew he was surrounded by the same kind of hard-working, driven personalities he would find in the corporate world. To give himself an edge against the competition, he took on a double major in finance and marketing. Along with his involvement in campus activities such as the Theta Chi fraternity – of which he was president – his experiences at CMU laid a solid foundation for success. After graduating, Johnson started his career in a management training program at Old Kent Bank. From there he joined Republic Bank, where he worked his way up the ladder to vice chairman and president of the Commercial Banking Division before reaching his current position as president of the Franklin Bank division of First Place Bank and corporate director of commercial real estate lending for the combined organization. “Everywhere you go in life, you are going to find people who are smarter than you. Your job is to out-work them,” Johnson said. As President and CEO of Republic Savings Bank in Cleveland, Ohio, he built a strong management team and reversed a history of poor financial performance. At Franklin Bank in Southfield, he strengthened finances through a strategic alliance and restored employee morale. “I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve had good mentors over the years. I’ve tried to emulate what they were doing,” Johnson said of his career milestones. “Early on I was put into positions when I was young, and I had to deal with perceptions of youth. The key is to work hard and show people you’re capable, and ultimately people respect hard work.” Today, Johnson maintains close ties with CMU by sitting on the CBA Dean’s Business Advisory Council.

Craig L. Johnson

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