Resume

CHRIS JOHNSON
kudzukid88@gmail.com
314 Kendall Court • Perry, GA 31069
706-315-7116

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Vice President of Communications, Fuller Center for Housing, Americus, GA
(June 2011-present)
During my tenure with this affordable housing nonprofit founded by Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Millard Fuller, we have experienced massive growth in recognition, allowing us to attract many key partners, increase fundraising and expand our work of building and repairing homes in partnership with families in more than 80 U.S. communities and 20 countries. Much of the growth can be attributed to increased awareness of The Fuller Center through more media reports, a steady flow of news articles and blogs on our website and increased footprint in social media. I have developed video production skills while enhancing my photography, social media, writing, publication design, direct mail, email marketing, scriptwriting and public speaking skills. Since November 2021, I also have directed communications and managed the website and social media channels and produced videos and print materials for one of our nonprofit partners, The People Helping People Network out of Indianapolis.

Among notable achievements:

• Increased Facebook followers from 1,800 to more than 19,000 as of May 2022

• Transitioned 6,000-page FullerCenter.org to WordPress platform, making it more user friendly and migrated it to a faster cloud server. Redesigned entire website in February 2019.

• Designed and produced new brochures, case statements and handouts

• Turned biannual print newsletters from a financial liability into profit generators

Columnist, Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, GA
(November 1998-March 2023)
My weekly humor column has become one of the paper’s most popular features. Even after I left for my current position at The Fuller Center, the paper insisted I continue writing the column (with permission from The Fuller Center). The column has won multiple first-, second- and third-place awards from the Georgia Press Association for Humorous Column in the state’s highest classification against such competition as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Macon Telegraph. Published three book-length collections: “I Heard It Through the Kudzu Vine” (1998), “The Best of Chris Johnson” (2010) and “Wastin’ Away on Margaritahill” (2017). Also spent a year doing weekly TV commentaries for WLTZ-TV.

Copy editor, writer & page designer, Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, GA
(Feb. 1997-June 2011)
The most versatile member of the newsroom, I wrote, edited and designed pages for news, sports, features, military and business sections and also handled some information technology duties. I quickly earned the trust of experienced editors and veteran colleagues while becoming a mentor to many younger journalists. Awards included Georgia Press Association first-place honors for Headline Writing and Page One. Inspired and was asked to lead “I-Team” tasked with coming up with innovative and out-of-the-box ideas for success from creative minds throughout the newspaper’s departments. Also led newspaper tours.

EDUCATION

Georgia Southwestern State University, Americus, GA (1988-1991)
English major with minor in journalism

Participant in GSW’s prestigious Honors English Program. “Dawn of a New Decade” Essay Contest winner and Delores Capitan Writing Award winner

OTHER INFORMATION

Volunteerism: 4-year volunteer and board member with the Perry Georgia Fuller Center for Housing. Volunteer efforts in Columbus included work with Ronald McDonald House and several projects mentoring students (including at-risk youth) on school newspapers; also helped with newspaper produced by residents at home for abused girls.

Technical skills: Print design, Adobe products such as Photoshop and InDesign, WordPress, Quark, Canva, Elementor, Mac & PC, MS Office, video filming, video editing & production, podcasting and audio editing/production, photography, scriptwriting, Constant Contact, MailChimp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn

Hobbies: Tennis, kayaking, golf, strumming the guitar, novel writing

References available upon request