-= NMSU PANORAMA - Summer 2006 =- Alumni Profile: Journey to Success

Alumni Profile

Journey to Success

By Jeany Llorente-Ontiveros '00

Alumnus is co-president at Microsoft

Kevin '81 and June Johnson '81. Courtesy Photo

It was the early 1980s and they were fresh out of college. Newlyweds Kevin and June Johnson ’81 packed their belongings into their Pontiac Sunbird, and with a full tank of gas, $100 in their pocket and New Mexico in their rearview mirror, they set out to see what the world had to offer.

No one would have guessed that their journey would lead them to Seattle, Wash., where Kevin Johnson now helps run the multi-billion dollar company Microsoft.

A 1981 New Mexico State University graduate, Kevin Johnson is co-president of the platform products and services division at Microsoft, a position he obtained in September 2005. He is responsible for the division that includes the Windows Client, Server and Tools, and MSN groups.

Having a 14-year career at Microsoft wasn’t something he envisioned or planned.

“I never really anticipated where life’s journey would lead me,” says Kevin Johnson, who received a bachelor’s degree in business administration. “You can’t really plan things out too much. You have to follow your passion and experience life.”

Mr. Johnson noted that working at Microsoft provides many experiences and challenges.

“The environment that is created and the opportunity to work with such talented and passionate people is what I love the most,” he says. “It is an environment where people are very focused, committed and hard working.”

Recently, Microsoft was selected as one of the Top 100 Most Innovative Companies in the World by BusinessWeek Online.

Mr. Johnson joined Microsoft in 1992 after a seven-year stint with IBM. His primary role then was to build the company’s enterprise server capabilities through regional systems marketing.

Getting where he is today took a lot of hard work and determination.

To be successful, Kevin Johnson says, one must follow his/her passion, push out from the comfort zone, take on challenges, and build bridges while helping other people succeed.

At work, Mr. Johnson is a top-notch executive making decisions that affect millions of people and billions of dollars, but “at home he still takes out the trash for me,” says June Johnson, who received an associate of arts degree from NMSU and is a nurse by profession.

“Kevin has always been Kevin to me,” she says.“We live a pretty simple life and stay grounded to our family and what is important to us.”

As a family, the Johnsons like to ski, golf and “rock out.”

When their eldest son Christopher Johnson, now 21, was in high school he belonged to a rock ‘n roll band. Occasionally, the Johnsons would “moonlight” as roadies.

“As parents you do a lot to help and support your children,” Kevin Johnson says. “We carried equipment and helped tear down the stage.”

Christopher Johnson is a senior at the Berklee College of Music pursuing a degree in music production and engineering. Their youngest son, Michael Johnson, 18, finished his senior year of high school in the spring. The avid golfer is looking forward to studying environmental sciences.

Reminiscing about the past brought back fond memories of NMSU and the community.

“We miss the blue skies and the green chile,” says Kevin Johnson.

June Johnson also remembers the friendly environment.

“One thing I fondly remember is the warmth of the community,” she says. “Las Cruces is a college town and an inviting place.”

The opportunity to study business and computer systems, and the location of NMSU were the deciding factors that brought Mr. Johnson to the university from Los Alamos, N.M.

“(NMSU) was far enough away from home that I could move on and be independent, but close enough that I could go home on an occasional weekend and see my family. It seemed like the right place for me,” he says.

New Mexico State holds a special place in Kevin Johnson’s heart. Not only because his passion for computer science and business was encouraged by professors such as J. Mack Adams, professor emeritus in computer science, and James Mensching, a former faculty member in accounting and business computer systems, but also because NMSU is where he met his wife.

“June has been there every step of the way,” Kevin Johnson says. “She does so much for our kids, our family and me ... and that enables me to pursue the career that I’ve had. We’ve been through quite a spectacular journey together.”

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