F O U N D E R   &   P R I N C​ I P A L

TED JOHNSON

A career spent on the high wire without a net.

Ted Johnson has spent three decades helping high-profile businesses and organizations succeed. He has worked with organizations as diverse as major league sports, public health organizations, non-profits, start-ups and some of the country's - and world's- most respected corporate brands. 

Prior to founding Norden Strategies, Johnson spent seventeen years with the Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx organization serving in a number of capacities including nine years as Chief Marketing officer and five years as Chief Strategy Officer.  Johnson also served as a Governor in the G-League and led the organization's effort to establish, and then run, the two newest franchises; The Iowa Wolves (G-League) and T-Wolves Gaming (NBA2K League.)
   
For nearly all seventeen of his years, he was responsible for leading most of the organization's highest-profile initiatives.  Notable efforts include spearheading the development of award-winning training center at Mayo Clinic Square and overseeing the $150 million dollar Target Center renovation. He also led the bid to secure the 2018 WNBA All Star Game, the Timberwolves participation in the China Global Games and the two-year effort to rebrand of all four franchises. Johnson served as the spokesperson for the organization and has become one of sports most experienced crisis managers by overseeing 26 coach/GM transitions and more than 30 public incidents for the clubs.
 
Johnson’s work has been widely recognized including two regional Emmy awards, two Gold Sabers, a Silver Anvil, and nearly three dozen other industry awards. He also secured five championship rings -four with the Minnesota Lynx and one with T-Wolves Gaming.
 
Before joining the Timberwolves, Johnson spent more than a decade managing dynamic, multifaceted campaigns for clients, policy issues and political candidates. As a director with public relations agency Weber Shandwick, Johnson co-directed the Minnesota Department of Health’s national award-winning teen anti-tobacco campaign. In politics, he spent eight years serving State Senator Sam Solon, Congressman James Oberstar, Clinton/Gore campaigns of 1992 and 1996, the Minnesota Attorney General and finally as deputy campaign manager for Hubert H. Humphrey III’s 1998 gubernatorial campaign. Johnson also spent time between 1994 and 1996 on the White House advance staff organizing official visits for President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton.
 
Johnson is an honors graduate from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with degrees in political science and history. He is very active in the Twin Cities community have served on more than a dozen business association & non-profit boards, including time as the Chair of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the Boards of the Minnesota State Fair Foundation, Northern Star Scouting and Serving Our Troops.  A Coon Rapids native, Johnson currently resides in Shoreview with his wife, Lisa, son, Thor, and daughter, Greta.

B O A R D  &  N O N - P R O F I T   E N G A G E M E N T

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