The Johnson Group is made up of individuals who bring a unique set of talents, experiences, and interests to their role. Let us introduce you to a few of our team members and what they’re passionate about in their professional and personal lives.
In South Carolina, college sports are a way of life. That’s why we couldn’t be prouder to have Cocky the Gamecock walking around the OTO office. Although you won’t see him dancing next to the water cooler, James Fowler, OTO’s Senior Regional Marketing Manager, cheered on USC as their official mascot for 4 years. James also hopped into the hearts of sports fans all across the Upstate as Stomper, the Greenville Swamp Rabbit’s mascot and Reedy Rip’It, the Greenville Drive’s mascot.
For Lori, being a good partner defines her, and though you may not realize it, her work has touched you. For the past eight years, Lori has been responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of all office buildings, retail, and residential properties that JDA owns in the City of Spartanburg, which totals nearly 800,000 square feet. Since COVID hit, her days look totally different, as she helps our companies and other tenants navigate the complexities of the pandemic. What keeps her passionate about her role, even when the phone is ringing at all hours? “I’m never bored. I love interacting with people and knowing that if you’re responsive, kind, and helpful, others will generally be very good back to you.
Philip works closely with financial spreadsheets, budgets, and data analysis on a daily basis to optimize the performance of the Self-Storage portfolio. While he loves the detailed nature of his role, his creative passions outside of the office have lent themselves to adding value in other ways for JDA and The Johnson Group. In his short 26 years of life, Philip has worked for a professional magician, paddled from Spartanburg to the Atlantic Ocean, and become SCUBA-certified. He has applied his entrepreneurial spirit by actively participating in SPARK's various initiatives. If you haven’t met Philip, get to know him – he may be the World’s Most Interesting Man…
Wendy spends her typical workday speaking with customers to assist them with their payment questions and account maintenance. But after the workday, Wendy speaks to a different audience. On Wednesday evenings, Wendy teaches small group bible study at Cornerstone Baptist Church. As a minister at her local church, Wendy finds fulfillment by connecting with her local community and serving those in need.
If you’ve ever engaged someone in the debate of left brain vs. right brain, most typically take a side. If you were to ask Chris which side he falls on, he may be the exception to the rule. During his 11 years with ACA, Chris has been a leader for ACA’s Corporate Risk Management teams, currently managing our Compliance Department; but his passion is one you may not guess. Chris has long been a performing musician, and recently played fiddle and mandolin in a supporting role for the Spartanburg Little Theatre’s January 2020 production of Hank Williams: Lost Highway. He also serves on the board of the Spartanburg Philharmonic, and chairs its Bluegrass Spartanburg committee, which has brought nationally recognized and award-winning bluegrass entertainment to Spartanburg.