Short Bio on Rod L. Johnson, MA, RIA, JD

Rod L. Johnson is an entrepreneur and an experienced legal professional with an executive-level vision arising from over 20 years of combined service to individuals, courts, government agencies, and corporations.  Rod combines a wealth of legal expertise with the ability to enhance marketing efforts toward closing the sale.  He is a national presenter, who while serving as a Division Director at the Michigan Supreme Court, provided statewide management and technical assistance and oversight to local governments, state lawmakers, trial courts, attorneys, and countless human service organizations.     

Rod was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan where he graduated from Thomas M. Cooley High School.  After high school Rod served three (3) tours of duty in the United States Marines, where he volunteered for several special assignments and received numerous decorations and honors.  

After his military service Rod returned to Detroit where he completed a bachelor’s degree in
criminal justice/psychology at Wayne State University.  Prior to that, Rod majored in Asian Studies at the University of Maryland’s Asian Division, where became proficient in several languages.  Rod did his graduate studies at the University of Toledo and earned a law degree from Thomas M.Cooley Law School.  Rod is also a graduate of the Midwest Academy, a leading national training institute that advances movements for social change by teaching a strategic, rigorous, results-oriented approach to social action and organization building.  Further, Rod is Registered Securities Representative with FINRA (formerly NASD) as well as a licensed Financial Services Professional and Investment Advisor.

Rod brings nearly two dozen years of dynamic and progressively more expansive management
experience, which includes successfully leading hundreds of mission staff toward organizational objectives.  Rod has spent well over a dozen years of his professional career in the service of underserved, delinquent, abused, and neglected children whom he continues to serve as an Attorney and a community volunteer.

In addition to successfully managing several human service programs, most recently, Rod served as a technical consultant to the Michigan Department of Community Health and has directed the development, maintenance,  and enhancement of relationships with local, state, and federal law and policymakers on behalf of the School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan, a statewide membership organization committed to ensuring that all of Michigan’s children have access to affordable and comprehensive primary healthcare.  

EDUCATION

MILITARY SERVICE

Ø      United States Marine Corps: Active Duty (1981 - 1987), Reserves (1987 - 1989).

Ø      Assignments:  Marine Security Officer; Marine Drill Instructor; Primary Marksmanship Instructor; and, Platoon Leader.  Military honors include numerous citations and medals and three Honorable Discharges.

LANGUAGES

Japanese, Korean, and Thai

Presently, Rod serves as a Legal Counselor to businesses and individuals in the following practice areas:

Legal Practices Areas:

Ø      Wills, Trusts, & Estate Planning

Ø      Asset Protection

Ø      Divorce & Child Custody

Ø      Child Protection & Juvenile Law

Ø      Immigration

Ø      Business & Tax Law

Additionally, Rod serves as a Consultant for businesses and nonprofit corporations in the areas of:

Ø      Corporate Finance

Ø      Financial Resource Analysis

Ø      Strategic Planning

Ø      Feasibility Studies

Ø      Corporate Tax Reduction Strategies

Ø      Business Continuation Planning

Ø      Risk Management

Ø      Corporate Compliance

Ø      Organizational Learning and Performance Improvement.

Rod lives near Livonia, Michigan with his wife and daughter where he is involved in numerous civic activities.

Affiliations:

Ø      Member, American Bar Association

Ø      Member, State Bar of Michigan

Ø      Member, Michigan Association for Justice (Formerly "Michigan Trial Lawyers Association")

Ø      Member, Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association

Ø      Member, Washtenaw Trial Lawyers Association

Ø      Member, Westland Chamber of Commerce

Ø      Treasurer, Board of Directors, School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan

Ø      Member, Michigan Foster Care Review Board

Ø      Secretary, Board of Directors, Dhammasala Forest Monastery

Ø      Holder of Dan grade registered in the Kukkiwon

Ø      Registered Securities Representative, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)

Ø      Graduate, Midwest Academy

Ø      F&AM, Wayne Lodge No. 112

Ø      Member Attorney Network, LawGuru.com

Ø      Expert Attorney, JustAnswer.com