Like Father, Like Son
As a proud second-generation alum, Rob Johnson remains one of Walsh’s longest supporters
Walsh College may have many generous supporters from among its alumni ranks, but perhaps few have given so continually for as long as Rob Johnson. Johnson began his education at Central Michigan University but transferred to Walsh in the mid-1980’s to earn both a Bachelor of Accountancy and then a Master of Science in Finance. His contributions to Walsh began then and have continued ever since, even as he donated to Walsh in other ways, including serving for many years on the Leadership Awards Dinner Host Committee and playing a pivotal role in bringing in several corporate sponsorships for the October 2021 event.
Walsh has been there every step of Johnson’s career. His connection with the school goes back even further, though, since his father graduated from Walsh back when the school was known as the Walsh Institute and was located in downtown Detroit. He says that choosing Walsh for his own education was one of the best decisions he ever made. He used Walsh Career Services to line up his interviews, that led to his first job, and in subsequent jobs, he worked with other Walsh grads.
“Walsh has been near and dear to my heart,” says Johnson, “just from my dad graduating from there and the opportunities that it provided to him. So, when I made the decision to move back home after attending Central Michigan University for two years, I looked at Walsh first and foremost to continue my education. That has certainly served me well. I’m very appreciative of my experience at Walsh and very thankful I made that decision.”
From Walsh he went to work for the public accounting firm Grant Thornton, moved on to a stint with a retailer, and then in 2000 joined Palace Sports & Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons. Johnson spent a dozen years there. His tenure included the Pistons’ 2004 NBA championship year, which also produced a Stanley Cup for the organizations Tampa Bay Lightning team in the National Hockey League. As a staff member, Johnson received championship rings for both teams. “What a great run! You don’t often find yourself enjoying those types of moments,” he says. “I’ve played sports or been a sports fan my whole life, so experiencing something like that was a lifetime dream.”
Once the Pistons and the Palace were sold to a new owner, Johnson moved into the technology field. Today he serves as chief financial officer for Shift Digital, a Birmingham-based digital marketing technology company. He enjoys spending his precious downtime with family, traveling, and golfing.
Like so many Walsh students and alumni, he appreciates the school’s trademark flexibility and practicality. “The professors and the instructors at Walsh have real world business backgrounds,” he notes. “Not only do they know the curriculum they’re involved with, but they can bring that practical side of teaching to the student, which is so important. It’s one thing to read the material and understand the material; it’s another thing to put that into practice, and the instructors at Walsh do a tremendous job of trying to bridge that gap for the students.”
His own career is a testament to the value of a Walsh education. “It’s been a great experience for me,” he says. “Without that Walsh education and accounting foundation, it would have taken on a different trajectory.”
