Our Sales Team

Outside Sales

Mark Peterson: In 2005, Mark assumed the role of President and Owner of Johnson Company and is committed to providing the same great service that Johnson Company has been proud of for over 25 years. Mark attended college at the University of Minnesota, majoring in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics.  After several years working in the aerospace field, Mark moved to a local injection molding and tooling company where he managed both the sales and engineering efforts of the company. After a number of successful years, Mark made his final transition to Johnson Company in 2000. Mark and his wife, Dianna, live in Blaine with their three children.

Mark Johnson: Mark Johnson started out his career at one of the largest companies in Minnesota - 3M.  It was not long before Mark moved into the electronics business, starting his own distribution business.  In 1981, Mark founded Johnson Company.  After almost 25 years at the helm of the company, Mark is now taking on a slightly different role, focusing on some key accounts and advising the rest of the staff with his many years of experience in the industry and territory.

Matt Negaard: Matt graduated with a degree in international business and speaks fluent Spanish. After college, Matt lived in Costa Rica briefly, then moved to Minneapolis and helped the city to computerize their neighborhood development program. Matt then worked for a local electronic distributor before moving to Johnson Company in 1999. Matt's outstate territory includes South Dakota and Southwestern Minnesota.

Jim Sletten: Jim began his electronics career working for Honeywell Solid Sate Electronics Center (SSEC) in Plymouth, MN for ten years where they designed and manufactured state of the art integrated circuits.   In 1992, he entered into a Field Sales position with a National Distributor, Kent Electronics, and for nine years he sold interconnect, passive, and electrical-mechanical products including custom value added cable assemblies.  He grew his business into a very successful territory which included North and South Dakota, Western WI, and local Minneapolis accounts.  In 2001, Kent was acquired by Avnet Electronics and he continued his sales career with them through much of 2004. In 2005, Jim joined Sager Electronics to develop new medical and industrial accounts for the Minneapolis and Iowa territory.  June 1, 2006 he joined Johnson Company and is responsible for North Dakota and Minneapolis accounts.

Jeff Wagner: Jeff graduated from Tulsa University with an Electrical Engineering degree.  As an engineer at a design/manufacturing company located in Quincy, Illinois Jeff had the opportunity to learn first-hand some of the challenges within the electronics industry.  For the past ten years Jeff has been in sales in the electronics industry helping engineers find innovative solutions and facilitating the sourcing of parts for procurement.  Jeff joined Johnson Company at the request of several of our key manufacturers to expand representation into the St. Louis – Kansas City territory.

Trent Brown: Trent comes to Johnson Company with 15 years of sales experience in the electronics industry.  After he received his Bachelor of Arts in Physics he began his career as a District Sales Manager for a major connector company in our industry.  Trent also has 9 years as an independent sales representative in the local Minnesota market, specializing in various electro-mechanical products.  Trent has expertise in navigating through large corporations and following through to get the sale. In 2010, Trent joined Johnson Company and is responsible for Northern and Southeastern Minnesota.

Distribution and Inside Sales

Lora Bakke James : Lora is our Distribution Manager, and is in charge of distribution sales within our territory.  Lora maintains a presence with our distributors on a regular basis, promoting our Principals' products and services, keeping them in the forefront.  She also coordinates the distribution activity of our outside sales staff.  She graduated with a degree in Marketing and Psychology from Minnesota State University and joined Johnson Company after spending almost 20 years of sales and distribution experience in the electronics industry.  She has also been on the manufacturing side as a regional manager. 

Rich Earhart: Rich is our Inside Technical Sales Specialist who supports our outside sales staff with customer and factory interaction. Rich also keeps an eye out for small accounts with solid growth potential, an area he has significant experience in. Prior to joining Johnson Company, Rich spent more than 15 years working as an inside sales person for a local electronic distribution company (Sterling/Avnet).  Rich had direct responsibility for dealing with a variety of local OEM and Contract Manufacturing companies, all who are also current Johnson Company customers.  Rich is currently living in Lakeville with his wife, Linda, who works for a food equipment test supplier.

Sue Peters: Sue is our Office Manager and is often the first voice you hear when you call Johnson Company. She handles inside sales activities for our largest customers and is in constant communication with both our principals and customers to facilitate timely and accurate results. She has a background in Social Work and holds extensive customer service experience. Prior to coming to work with us, she was leading the customer service effort at a B2B technology company. Sue, her husband and three children currently live near White Bear Lake.

Contact our Sales Team