2007 40 Under 40 Honoree: Eric Johnson

Jessica Lindsey

Posted online May 20, 2007 | 11:00 pm

Eric Johnson was a 2007 honoree at SBJ's annual 40 Under 40 awards event. Click here for the full list of the 2007 honorees and information on the 2008 event, scheduled for May 8, that will introduce a whole new class. The special publication profiling each of the 2007 honorees is available here.

Both personally and professionally, Eric Johnson is committed to helping Springfield-area residents be healthier and more active.

Johnson is a health and wellness supervisor for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board.

“Under the umbrella of community health, I work on projects and initiatives that are designed to increase physical activity, improve nutritional habits and reduce obesity in our community,” he said.

His responsibilities include coordinating the fitness areas within Doling Family Center and directing a series of health and wellness events such as Kid’atholon at Meador Park and the Lake Springfield Family Scramble and the annual Turkey Trot.

Outside of work, Johnson spends a lot of time in the community volunteering with various organizations that have similar goals regarding community health.

He is the founder, past president and current club coach for the Ozarks Multi Sport Club, and a volunteer run coach for a twice-yearly running group that prepares beginners and veterans for racing.

He also serves as an e-mail mentor for a Parkview High School student, and he speaks at area middle schools about health and fitness careers.

For the past year and a half, he has served as president of the Midwest Regional Federation for USA Triathlon, the governing body for the sport.

Johnson is a certified personal trainer and is training to become a certified strength and conditioning specialist, and he’s also in the process of opening a coaching and consulting business to work with endurance athletes.

“I hope to someday transition to motivational speaking,” Johnson said.

Johnson and his wife, Lissa, have “two small dogs, some birds living in our attic, and a handful of squirrels that like to torment the dogs,” he said.

Stats

Position: Health & Wellness Supervisor, Springfield-Greene County Park Board

Age: 31

Favorite professional sports team: Team Discovery (pro cycling) – “I am extremely excited for the Tour of Missouri to come to Springfield in September.”

A quote to live by: “Every day is a gift. Don’t waste a single one.”

Information accurate at the time of the honor.[[In-content Ad]]