In 2007, after spending four months in the Middle East teaching allied commanders and their staffs preparing for combat operations in Iraq, and after many years teaching at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, Mark Johnson decided to return to his roots, Longview College, Lee's Summit, MO, to be an adjunct faculty member and pass on his knowledge and experiences in leadership to the students there. After teaching one evening course initially, he now teaches three courses each semester and his popularity has grown dramatically. He has cultivated a substantial following at Longview, holds reunions for previous students, received an Alumni award for excellence, and continues to make a significant impact on the lives of many.
Motivating Students With The Right Message
Close to 100 people crammed into a tiny classroom at MCC-Longview last week when instructor Mark Johnson invited back every student that had taken his class.
"This is such a fun event where I can reconnect with my students and they can meet with others who have gone through the same business classes and maybe make a new connection out in the real world" Johnson said. The evening event, which included dinner, old war stories and a chance for every student to stand up and talk about the lessons learned from Johnson's class.
"He not only teaches in such a motivating way, but he also just embodies everything he preaches up there" said former student Chad Brestogianis, who had taken Johnson's class in 2007. "It inspires you to want to do the same and really get things on track for the future after hearing his talk."
Johnson, who is an alumnus of Longview, spent 20 years in the military and did tours in Iraq, Korea and Japan before returning to the states as an ROTC instructor and motivational speaker for Fortune 500 companies.
In only three years, Johnson's popularity has taken him from teaching one evening class to now hosting three full courses for the businsess and technology department. He does this on top of his already growing portfolio of teaching and speaking accross the country.
Even with all his travels and two published books, Johnson does not pull any punches about what motivates his work here.
"Longview is where I came from. this is where I want to be," he said emphathically. "Longview is my home."
Mark receives the Legacy Award from Longview
As part of Longview College's 40th Anniversary, Mark Johnson was honored by receiving the:
Legacy Award for Excellence, Innovation and Service.... "In honor of Longview alumni who have achieved outstanding performance in their careers and/or service to the community and college."
More About Mark
One of America’s top motivational speakers, Mark is recognized internationally as an expert in Leadership and Team Building. He has delivered over five hundred seminars and motivational training programs in more than forty states and ten nations, ranging from Fortune 500 companies and U.S. Government organizations to universities and high schools. He totals over twenty-five years of teaching experience, has authored two books, and was a former Department Chairperson at Pittsburg State University, where he was instrumental in establishing a Leadership program. He also spent eight years on the faculty of the prestigious U.S. Army Command & General Staff College.
Mark served twenty-one years as a highly decorated Special Forces, Green Beret officer, leading specially-trained and educated teams that our nation selected for the most dangerous and hazardous missions. He conducted sensitive and classified operations in over fifty nations on four continents.
Among his many awards, Mark earned the Bronze Star for his heroic leadership during the Gulf War. He is a Master Parachutist, having made over two-hundred jumps, and has been awarded the foreign parachutist badge from fourteen nations. He retired in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Mark continues to assist in the Global War on Terror, returning frequently to the Middle East and Asia. In addition to speaking to numerous high schools and universities across America, he is frequently called upon as a guest instructor at KU, K-State, and other universities and community colleges and is a leading member of the Kansas Leadership Forum.
Mark received his Associates Degree from Longview College; Bachelors degree from Kansas University; and his Masters degree from the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, where his thesis continues to be used to assist the Armed Forces in meeting their education challenges. He has been an adjunct faculty member at Longview since 2007.
As part of Longview College's 40th Anniversary in 2010, Mark Johnson received the Legacy Award for Excellence, Innovation and Service....being recognized and honored as a Longview alumni who has achieved outstanding performance in his career and service to the community and college."
In the "Spotlight" at Longview
Mark Johnson has seen the world. But he's is not just another tourist traveling from one destination to another. The MCC-Longview instructor is a decorated Green Beret officer who has been thrown into life-or-death situations in the Pacific, Middle East and elsewhere.
After 20 years of service, an unending number of awards - including the Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge - Mark still looks back at one place that he says got him on the path he has been fortunate to walk.
"It was here, Longview, that put me in the right direction," he said. "From there, I was just lucky to be in the right place."
Mark, a nationally recognized motivational speaker and teacher at ROTC programs and colleges, also teaches leadership and business skills at MCC-Longview where he has started to cultivate a following from students ? both current and former.
Along with his workload of classes, he also takes time to offer preseason pep-talks to the baseball team using the same skills he used in the military to get the players in the right mind set to win.
In March, Mark also organized a reunion of students who have passed through his previous business classes at Longview. The goal, he said, is to prove to those students sitting in class today that success stories do exist.
"They need to see what they can accomplish once they leave our classes," he said. "And it gives those students in the class another chance to connect and network with those who are already working in the business world."
In only two years, Mark's high-energy teaching style has taken him from teaching one evening class to now hosting three full courses at MCC-Longview.
Even with all his travels and two published and successful books, Johnson does not pull any punches about his motivation.
"Longview is where I came from and it's where I want to be," he said.