Christian S. Johansson facts for kids

Governor Martin O'Malley swears in Maryland Business and Economic Development Secretary Johansson.

Christian S. Johansson was born on May 9, 1972. He is a government official from Maryland, with both Swedish and American roots. He became the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) on April 9, 2009. Governor Martin O'Malley chose him for this important role. Before that, he was the Acting Secretary for a few months. In 2010, he received awards for being an "Innovator of the Year" and a "Special Advocate." These awards recognized his positive impact in Maryland.

Christian Johansson's Early Life and Education

Christian Johansson has a very interesting background. His mother, Fannie Gaston-Johansson, is African- and Native-American. His father, Sonny Johansson, is Swedish. Christian was born in Mölndal, Sweden, which gave him a multicultural start. He spent his childhood in Sweden. Later, he moved to the United States to finish his schooling.

He graduated from Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1991. In 1995, he earned a bachelor's degree in Biology from Brown University. Right after college, he started his first company. He later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University in 2002.

Christian Johansson's Career Before Government Service

Before working for the government, Christian Johansson had a busy career. He was the CEO of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore for five years. He was one of the youngest people to lead such a large economic development group at age 31.

Before that, he worked as a Senior Consultant for the Sag Harbor Group in Boston. In 1999, he started his own software company called Inka.net. In 1995, he also founded Dola Health Systems. This company focused on medical assessments and had offices in Baltimore and Stockholm, Sweden.

What Does a Secretary of Business and Economic Development Do?

As the Secretary of Business and Economic Development, Christian Johansson worked to help Maryland's economy grow. He focused on creating jobs and attracting new businesses to the state. He also supported small businesses, which are very important for the economy.

During his time as Secretary, the Department restarted the Maryland Economic Development Commission. He also helped create other important groups. These included the Federal Facilities Advisory Board and the Governor's Commission on Small Business.

Supporting Small Businesses and Maryland's Strengths

Christian Johansson strongly believed in helping small businesses succeed. He also wanted to use Maryland's special advantages. For example, Maryland has many highly educated workers. It also has many federal government offices and military bases.

In 2011, he said that small businesses were key to Maryland's recovery from a tough economic time. Maryland's public education system was ranked among the best in the country. Many people in Maryland also have advanced degrees. These factors make Maryland a great place for businesses.

Johansson focused on attracting high-tech industries. These included biotechnology and aerospace. He also worked to make Maryland a leader in cyber security.

InvestMaryland: Helping New Companies Grow

To help new companies get money to grow, Johansson helped create InvestMaryland. This program raised money by selling tax credits to insurance companies. The program was expected to bring in over $70 million for new companies in Maryland.

Johansson believed this program could create many jobs. He hoped it would help create the next big companies, like Under Armour or Google.

Maryland's Economic Recovery During His Term

Christian Johansson took on the job in early 2009. This was a challenging time because the state's budget was being cut. However, Maryland's economy started to recover during his time in office.

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. These projects planned to invest over $4 billion and create more than 15,000 jobs.

Boards, Commissions, and Honors

Christian Johansson has served on several important boards and commissions. He is a board member for the Carson Scholars Fund. As DBED Secretary, he was part of many state groups. These included the Governor's Subcabinet for International Affairs and the Maryland Economic Development Commission.

He also advised President-elect Barack Obama's team in 2008-2009. 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. Christian Johansson is married and lives in Baltimore City with his wife and daughter.