Christian S. Johansson facts for kids

Governor Martin O'Malley swears in Maryland Business and Economic Development Secretary Johansson (second from right).

Christian S. Johansson (born May 9, 1972) is a government official from both Sweden and the United States. He worked in the state of Maryland. Governor Martin O'Malley chose him to be the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED). This happened on April 9, 2009.

Before that, he was the Acting Secretary for a few months. In 2010, he was named an "Innovator of the Year" by The Daily Record. This award recognized his positive impact in Maryland. He was also honored at the Top 100 Minority Business Enterprise Awards.

Christian Johansson's Early Life and Education

Christian Johansson was born in Mölndal, Sweden. His mother, Fannie Gaston-Johansson, is African- and Native-American. His father, Sonny Johansson, is Swedish. This gave him a background from different cultures.

He spent his childhood in Sweden. Later, he moved to the U.S. to finish his schooling. In 1991, he graduated from Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska. He then earned a bachelor's degree in Biology from Brown University in 1995. Right after college, he started his first company. In 2002, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University.

His Career Before Government Work

Before joining the government, Johansson had several important jobs. He was the CEO of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore for five years. He was only 31 when he got this job. This made him one of the youngest people to lead a major economic development group.

He also worked as a Senior Consultant for the Sag Harbor Group. In 1999, he started his own software company called Inka.net. Even earlier, in 1995, he founded Dola Health Systems. This company helped with medical assessments in Baltimore and Stockholm, Sweden.

Helping Maryland's Economy as Secretary

As Secretary of Business and Economic Development, Johansson worked on many projects. He helped bring back the Maryland Economic Development Commission. He also helped create new groups like the Federal Facilities Advisory Board. Another group was the Governor's Commission on Small Business.

He also helped write a federal law. This law aimed to give $1.5 billion in credit to small businesses. He even spoke to the House Committee on Financial Services about it. Later, he joined Governor O'Malley when President Barack Obama signed the bill into law.

Supporting Businesses and Growth

Johansson believes in helping small businesses grow. He also thinks Maryland has special strengths. These include a highly educated workforce and many federal offices. In 2011, he said that small businesses are key for economic recovery.

Maryland's public education system was ranked best in the country from 2008-2010. Also, many people in Maryland have advanced degrees. The state is home to over 50 federal facilities and 12 major military bases. Johansson used these strengths to attract high-tech industries. He focused on areas like biotechnology and aerospace. He also worked to make Maryland a leader in cyber security.

Boosting Investment in Companies

To help new companies get money, he helped create InvestMaryland. This program sells tax credits to insurance companies. The money raised helps new Maryland companies get over $70 million in investments.

Johansson said this program could create thousands of jobs. He hoped it would "unlock millions, if not billions of private capital." The goal was to help create the next big companies, like Under Armour or Google.

Maryland's Economic Recovery

Johansson took office in early 2009. This was a tough time for the economy. The department faced budget cuts. But after he took office, Maryland's economy started to get better.

A report from March 2011 showed good news. In 2010, 364 new business projects were announced in Maryland. This was a 25 percent increase from 2009. Businesses also planned to invest over $4 billion. They also planned to add more than 15,000 jobs.

Awards and Community Involvement

Christian Johansson serves on the board for the Carson Scholars Fund. As the DBED Secretary, he was part of many state boards and commissions. These included the Governor's Subcabinet for International Affairs. You can find more details in the Maryland Manual.

He also advised President-elect Barack Obama's team in 2008-09. He was a member of President Obama's Executive Committee for Urban and Metropolitan Policy. In 2003, the Baltimore Business Journal named him one of their "40 Under 40" emerging leaders. Johansson is married and lives in Baltimore City with his wife and daughter.