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R. Michael Johnson
114 West Bennett Street                                                             937.658.1070 / 937.492.1154
Sidney, Ohio 45365                                                                 E-mail: rmj@rmjohnsonnet.com

Who is he? And what can he do for you?
R. Michael Johnson is a multi-faceted professional communicator and executive manager with expertise encompassing: profit and loss accountability; staff management and mentoring; cross-platform computer programs, including NewsEdit, QuarkXpress, DreamWeaver, Microsoft Office suite of products, Adobe’s slate of design programs, and various accounting and accountability software. He also is an experienced successful business consultant, a certified professional facilitator, master communicator and author of The Lawn Won't Mow Itself: A Pocket Guide to Self-Publishing and Book Marketing - an Amazon.com Top 10,000 paperback book.

Action
• Founded a weekly newspaper and companion website in a small, south-central Indiana town in which the area’s daily newspaper had been purchased and closed.
Result
• Within 18 months, circulation was at nearly 2,000 for the print edition. The website averaged more than seven million hits a month.
• Researched, developed and implemented several new products to enhance revenue at the industry’s largest provider of self-publishing services. • Launched cooperative advertising campaigns with USAToday which culminated in more than $250,000 in gross revenue with a 40% net profit margin (including discounts and commissions).
• Brought management of Marketing, Advertising and Media Relations programs at the world’s largest custom luxury houseboat manufacturer in house, alleviating the need for an outside agency. • Annualized savings of more than $275,000 in fees and production costs, while advancing marketing audience four-fold. Authored several illustrated technical publications for use by new houseboat owners.
• Oversaw the pilot program of electronic page transmission from a seven-day Ohio newspaper to a remote print site 42 miles away. • Seven central Ohio daily newspapers were able to streamline their labor pools, while producing a far superior publication. This program led to the implementation of computer-to-plate technology at all seven newspapers.
•  Managed, mentored and motivated a staff of 34 at a failing central Ohio daily newspaper. • Grew operating profits by 141.6% year-over-year, and grew the operating profit margin from 7.4% to 16.7% during the same period. Gross revenues for the period were $2.6 million.
• Facilitated a change in the editorial, circulation and customer service policies and procedures of a south-central Kentucky daily newspaper. • Within six months, the paper attained its highest net-paid circulation in its 114-year history.
Education/Community Involvement
• University of Findlay, Ohio – Communications and Economics Majors, Military History Minor
• Volunteer/Paid Member – Houston (Ohio) EMS
• Family Representative – LanePark of Sidney (Ohio) Grievance Committee
• Vice Chairman, Greene County (Indiana) Board of Elections – 2013-2014
• Former President, Bloomfield, Indiana, Chamber of Commerce
• Two-term President and CEO, Bloomfield Apple Festival, Inc.
• Senior Medical Officer – Bloomfield (Indiana) Volunteer Fire Department
• Founding Board Member – Eastern Greene County (Indiana) Chamber of Commerce
• Former Board Member – Lake Cumberland (Kentucky) Performing Arts
• Chief Fundraiser - Greene County (Indiana) Relay for Life
• Certified Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (Indiana); EMT-Basic (Ohio)
• Former Chairman – Coshocton (Ohio) United Way CampaignFormer Member – National 4-H Advisory Council, representing Ohio

Journalism, Marketing & Management Experience
Owner/Publisher and Editor                                                  Bloomfield Publishing Inc.
Bloomfield Free Press                                                             Bloomfield, Indiana
boxfire marketing
January 2006 – Present
Founded and produced a weekly newspaper in Bloomfield, Indiana (pop. 2,500). Also launched a companion website which eventually saw more than seven million hits per month. The newspaper ceased print publication in April 2009. The commercial printing, specialty marketing and business consulting operations still exist on a smaller scale.

Communications Manager
Promotional/Pre-Publication Services Manager                  Author Solutions, Inc.
1stBooks                                                                                 Bloomington, Indiana
AuthorHouse
February 2003 – May 2005
Oversaw all author marketing initiatives, new product development and co-operative advertising for the world’s largest provider of self-publishing services. Also acted as official spokesman for the company and traveled as the company’s representative at seminars and other engagements throughout the United States and Canada. Oversaw an entire staff of professional manuscript editors, copywriters, artists and support personnel.

Editor/General Manager                                                       Miles Publishing Co. Inc.
The Evening World                                                                 Bloomfield, Indiana
The Bloomfield News
March 2001 — September 2002
Oversaw all operations for a family-owned daily and weekly newspaper and commercial printing company. Ownership of the newspaper is absentee with the stockholders residing in North and South Carolina.

Marketing/Media Relations Manager                                   World Leader Marine Enterprises
Sumerset Custom Houseboats                                                  Somerset, Kentucky
July 2000 — February 2001
Conceived, designed and produced all advertising and promotional pieces for the world’s largest custom luxury houseboat manufacturer with annual revenues of nearly $50 million. Authored a customer-friendly owner’s manual for all houseboats sold.

Editor/Group Editor                                                              Community Newspaper Holdings
Commonwealth Journal                                                         Somerset, Kentucky
1999 — July 2000
Oversaw the production of a daily newspaper, including news gathering operations, layout, and design and community relations. Acted as consulting editor for six daily and multi-weekly publications.

Executive Editor/Co-Publisher                                              Thomson Newspapers
Coshocton Tribune                                                                  Coshocton, Ohio
1996 — 1998                                     
Managed a staff of 34 employees at a seven-day daily newspaper with annual revenues in excess of $2.6 million. Oversaw the technology transition from in-house printing to a remote publishing at a site more than 40 miles away.

Editor                                                                                      News-Tribune Publishing Co.
Mineral Daily News-Tribune                                                   Keyser, West Virginia
1994 - 1996                                        
Gathered news on a daily basis; wrote a weekly opinion column; designed, laid-out and produced a family-owned, six-day daily newspaper on the West Virginia-Maryland border.

Editor/Senior Editor                                                               News Media Corp.
Clinton Daily Journal                                                              Clinton, Illinois/Alamosa, Colorado
Alamosa Valley Courier
1991 - 1994
Edited two daily newspapers — one in Illinois and one in Colorado. Served as senior editor for a group of 32 daily and non-daily publications owned by NMC. Further acted as consulting editor for the company’s acquisition team while purchasing numerous properties throughout the United States.

Management and Bottom-Line experience dating back to 1982 in Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Colorado, West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana

Stuff that doesn't
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What I think
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Triumphs!
(and Failures)

Everyone has to
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Why are no awards
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What others are saying

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