Leadership Team
Johnie Johnson serves as the President & CEO of Helo Perspective, LLC: a nationwide provider of Unmanned Aircraft Services (sUAS). Helo is based out of Broken Arrow, OK, and provides critical data and information to telecommunication, transportation, oil and gas, real estate, construction, public safety and many other companies though it’s national network of over 500 pilots.
Mr. Johnson brings more than 30 years of wireless and business experience in operating and managing rural, regional and national wireless companies. Mr. Johnson has held positions with Infiniti Broadband, Branch Communications, Nex-Tech Wireless, U.S. Cellular, Telecorp PCS, SunCom Wireless, AT&T Wireless and Mid-Missouri Cellular. Prior to joining Helo Perspective, Johnson held various leadership positions with wireless entities including President & CEO-Infiniti Broadband, Executive Vice President & CDO-Branch Communications, President & CEO-Nex-Tech Wireless, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer-Mid Missouri Cellular, Market Director-AT&T Wireless, Market Director-SunCom Wireless and General Manager-US Cellular. Johnson led Nex-Tech Wireless to become one of the fastest growing regional operators in the nation. During Mr. Johnson’s time at U.S. Cellular, he managed markets in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois in which he earned the highest company award for top operating unit in 1999 and again in 2000. Mr. Johnson joined Telecorp PCS to launch their Iowa markets in 2001 where he played an integral part in the build, launch and market development of this key market. Due to the many successes and overall strategic initiatives, Telecorp PCS sold to AT&T Wireless in 2002. At that time, AT&T Wireless recruited Mr. Johnson to manage operations in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois and South Dakota. In 2003, Mr. Johnson accepted an opportunity to join Mid-Missouri Cellular as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, where he played a key position in the revival and eventual sale of Mid-Missouri Cellular to Verizon Wireless.
Mr. Johnson joined Nex-Tech Wireless in August 2005 as Chief Executive Officer. His duties included overall financial accountability of the company, assessing market growth and expansion opportunities, company vision, strategic planning, government relations, sales, marketing and community relations.
Mr. Johnson served on the Board of Directors for CTIA-The Wireless Association. He served on The Wireless Foundation Board of Directors and held the title of Secretary & Treasurer and was a member of the Executive Committee and Audit Committee. Mr. Johnson served on the Board of Directors for CCA-The Competitive Carrier Association. Furthermore, he served as the 2008-2009 President and Chairman of the Rural Cellular Association Board of Directors and currently serves as Officer and Treasurer and also serves on the Executive Committee. In addition, he currently holds a seat on the Government & Regulatory Committee for Competitive Carriers Association. Mr. Johnson also was recognized by his industry peers and awarded the Rural Cellular Association’s 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award. In September 2012, Mr. Johnson earned the Outstanding Member Award for his support of Big Brothers and Big Sisters. On behalf of RCA and CTIA, Mr. Johnson testified before Congress in 2006 on matters relating to Universal Service Reform.
Additionally, Mr. Johnson has been an active part of his community having served as President of the Boys and Girls Club of America, a board member for the National Kidney Foundation, Rotary Club of America, Optimist Club, a founding member of the Hays Area Young Professionals, Hays Area Chamber of Commerce and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County. Mr. Johnson has earned top honors for his individual fundraising recordings at both the national and state levels, including his total amount of over $25,000 raised in 2012. In addition to Mr. Johnson’s services on civic, community and national boards, he has also serves on the Board of Directors for Commerce Bank, and Branch Communications.