Acting Metro District Manager, Minnesota Historical Society

Craig Johnson

Major(s): English, Theater Arts

Minor(s):

Additional Degrees:

Current Job Title: Acting Metro District Manager, Historic Sites Division. I have also worked steadily as an actor, director, producer, and writer at many area theatres over the past 25 years.

Organization: Minnesota Historical Society

Brief description of your job:

I administer operations of the metro district historic sites operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. These include: the State Capitol tour program, Historic Fort Snelling, James J. Hill House, Alexander Ramsey House, Henry Sibley House, Oliver Kelley Farm. It is a middle management position providing guidance and leadership to the individual site managers, and serving as a liaison with the upper management of the MN Historical Society. There is much budget work, strategic planning, advising on capital building projects, overseeing program development, etc.

Other job titles you have held:

Site Manager/James J. Hill House, Site Manager/Alexander Ramsey House, Program Manager/James J. Hill House.

How have you found these positions?

I started as a guide/costumed soldier at Historic Fort Snelling when I was 16 in 1977.

What skills from your degree do you use in your current job?

The written and oral communication skills I learned at the UM CLA inform my work every day, from leading group meetings, developing special events, writing donor letters, memos and reports. Although my work is more administrative at present, I've used my knowledge of theatre and English to train tour guides, write educational programs for school children, and deliver presentations at local, national, and international conferences. The discipline of the theatre is under‑rated and very applicable to most business settings‑‑absolute deadlines, 100% accountability, the ability to take direction, the skill to think on your feet and the flexibility to respond to instant changes.

What advice do you have for current students?