The Johnson file
Stan Johnson
Director
Veteran’s Affairs San Diego Healthcare System
Born: Bloomfield, Iowa
History: I joined the Navy and came to San Diego in 1972. I did my boot camp here and served here. I was in the Navy for four years, and they were kind enough to support my education and training, so after that, I went back to Iowa and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Iowa.
What is the best business lesson you’ve learned?
Listen to the patient. Involve your staff and your customers in your improvement efforts.
What traits or skills are essential for a business leader?
The key is to develop good working relationships, be transparent and treat people fairly.
What is your definition of success?
For me, it boils down to hearing firsthand from our customers that we’ve done an outstanding job for them.
