Forty Under 40: Mitchell Johnson

Swayed by a college adviser, Mitchell Johnson, 39, pursued a degree in accounting because of the influence accounting has on all aspects of a business. Now serving as the president and CEO of Ozarks Electric Corp. in Fayetteville, Johnson finds himself looking at more than numbers.

Overseeing about 150 employees and managing 55,000 customers across Arkansas and Oklahoma, Johnson spends the majority of his day finding solutions to personnel and customer concerns.

Every day I try to carry out our mission of providing electrical services at the most competitive prices possible, said Johnson. Savoring his daily interaction with members and owners, Johnson cites this involvement as the most rewarding aspect of his position.

A Springdale native, Johnson graduated from the University of Arkansas. After obtaining his CPA, Johnson worked in Fayetteville as an audit manager for Ervin and Co.

Johnson joined Ozarks Electric in 1991 when the position of accounting supervisor opened while doing an audit for the company. He has been at his current position since 1999 and plans on retiring from Ozark Electric Corp.

Johnson sits on the Arvest Bank board and is a member of the Arkansas Electric Cooperative and the Electric Research Management Co.