Barbara Johnson, M.P.A, FM (Founder)
Barbara K. Johnson brings over 20 years of experience as a practitioner leading innovative approaches to growing economic prosperity in the New Orleans region. Her career has focused on building partnerships to drive positive community change in the areas of market-driven workforce solutions, community revitalization and resiliency, and ecotourism strategies. As Principal of The Johnson Group, Barbara has been retained by corporations, non-profits and economic development organizations to facilitate and complete numerous organizational and business development initiatives including coastal fisheries, higher education and neighborhood commercial revitalization strategies. Before starting her own business strategy group in 2009 and ecotourism company in 2016, Barbara held executive positions at the Bureau of Governmental Research, New Orleans Downtown Development District, MetroVision Economic Development Partnership and Greater New Orleans, Inc. Barbara has a Master of Public Administration from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelor of Arts in City and Regional Planning from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Barbara was recognized in 2014 by the International Economic Development Council(IEDC) as a Fellow Member for her outstanding contribution to IEDC and the field of Economic Development.