Robert Johnson
For more than forty-three years, Robert Johnson has reported, managed, or campaigned issues on stages of all sizes, working with reporters covering local communities, and national and global issues. Partner and strategic communications officer of Riester Influence, Robert develops strategies to communicate important information to target audiences and directs successful campaigns for dozens of clients and public organizations.
Among his career highlights, Robert took the reins of the disorganized public affairs office at the newly formed Transportation Security Administration following the terror attacks of 9/11, turning the organization into an effective messaging operation that accurately and strongly delivered security messages that intelligence resources understood were being viewed by Al-Qaeda terrorists. His performance won him a promotion to head of communications for the U.S. Department of Transportation, and promoted again, to the department’s Chief of Staff, with responsibility for daily operations, 60,000 employees, and a $60 billion annual budget.
Robert has extensive crisis and storytelling experience, forged during his time in public sector work, for state departments, for elected and appointed officials, governors, and members of Congress. He also is credited with helping change policies and the make-up of several local elected bodies through his diligent messaging and audience targeting work.