Walter Craig Johnsen (born December 15, 1950) is the chairman and chief executive officer of Acme United Corporation, which is a supplier of cutting, measuring and safety products for the school, home, office, hardware and industrial markets.
Johnsen joined Acme United in January 1995 as a board member and became CEO later that year. Under his leadership, Acme United became the leading scissors brand in the United States and one of the leading ruler brands in North America. In addition, Acme United has become one of the top-3 producers of first aid kits in the United States.[1]
Johnsen was born in New York, the son of Walter S. Johnsen, a co-founder of Armel Electronics and Therese Johnsen, a high-end residential real estate sales agent. His father was Norwegian, while his mother's family was from Denmark.
In 2006, Johnsen established the Rosenblatt Faculty Fellow Endowment to honor the memory of Frank Rosenblatt, a former professor and mentor at Cornell.[4] Dr. Rosenblatt drowned in the Chesapeake Bay during a boating trip, while being accompanied by Walter Johnsen and another student.[5]
Johnsen first joined Pfizer Inc., where he was a process engineer and later production supervisor making penicillin and other sterile pharmaceuticals.[6]
After Johnsen received his MBA, he joined Smith Barney, where he held various venture capital positions. He became Managing Partner of the firm's West Coast private equity activities.[8] Amongst others, he was a general partner of First Century Partnership II and First Century Partnership III, which was one of the early investors in Apple Inc.[9]
In 1986 he and an associate acquired Marshall Products, Inc., a distributor of medical, home health-care and juvenile products based in Lincolnshire, IL. Marshall grew from $18 million to $40 million in annual revenues in four years, and became the largest supplier of blood-pressure units and stethoscopes in the US.[10] In 1990, Marshall Products was sold for $25 million to Omron Corp, a Japanese electronics manufacturer.[11]
After the leveraged buyout of Marshall Partners, Johnsen became a special limited partner at Harvest Partners. He also founded Johnsen Properties, which invested in real estate in southeast Connecticut.
In January 1995, when his non-compete ended with Omron, Johnsen joined Acme United Corp. as a board member.[12]
After a disastrous 1995, in which Acme United reported a loss of $8.7 million, Dwight Wheeler II was replaced by Walter Johnsen as CEO. Johnsen immediately initiated a fierce cost reduction program. He shut down five plants, moved most of the production to a modern, lower cost, facility in North Carolina, reduced the company's inventory and laid off about 800 people, including nine senior managers.[13]
The company lost another $3.2 million in 1996, mostly due to restructuring charges.[14] In 1997, production shifted to China. The savings generated from that switch were invested in innovation and laid the foundation for Acme United's further growth.
From 2005 until 2014, Johnsen was a member of the listed company council of the New York Stock Exchange to advise on issues and concerns affecting small and mid-cap companies.[15]
In January 2016, Johnsen joined the Board of Directors of TOMI Environmental Solutions, Inc.[16]
Personal lifeedit
Johnsen is one of the founding members of the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club and was commodore of the club between 2007 and 2009. He also enjoys history and global economics.[17]
He is married to Wendy Davies and together they have one son.[18]
Referencesedit
^"Rival buys First Aid Only for $13.8M". columbian.com. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.
^"TOMI Appoints Three New Independent Members to Its Board of Directors". globenewswire.com. February 2016. Retrieved on June 6, 2016.
^"30-to-1". opi.net. 30 November 2008. Retrieved on June 4, 2016.
^"Cornell Student and Academic Services Annual Report 2006—2007" (PDF). cornell.edu. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
^"Frank Rosenblatt" (PDF). cornell.edu. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.
^"Acme United 10-K 1996". sec.gov. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.
^"TOMI Appoints Three New Independent Members to Its Board of Directors". globenewswire.com. February 2016. Retrieved on June 6, 2016.
^"Acme United 10-K 1996". sec.gov. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.
^"Prospectus Apple Computer Inc". yumpu.com. Retrieved on June 4, 2016.
^"Cornell Alumni News". cornell.edu. Retrieved on June 5, 2016.
^"Business Day Briefs". The New York Times. 23 January 1990. Retrieved on June 5, 2016.
^"Corporate Governance - Biography Walter Johnsen". corporate-ir.net. Retrieved on June 8, 2016.
^"Acme United 10-K 1997". getfilings.com. Retrieved on June 8, 2016.
^"Acme United 10-K 1997". getfilings.com. Retrieved on June 8, 2016.
^"American Stock Exchange Announces New Listed Company Council". prnewswire.com. Retrieved on June 7, 2016.
^"TOMI Appoints Three New Independent Members to Its Board of Directors". globenewswire.com. February 2016. Retrieved on June 6, 2016.
^"30-to-1". opi.net. 30 November 2008. Retrieved on June 4, 2016.
^"Wendy Davies Wed to Walter Johnsen". The New York Times. 15 July 1990. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.
External linksedit
Acme United Corp. Company Website
October 27, 2023
walter, johnsen, walter, craig, johnsen, born, december, 1950, chairman, chief, executive, officer, acme, united, corporation, which, supplier, cutting, measuring, safety, products, school, home, office, hardware, industrial, markets, walter, johnsenjohnsen, v. Walter Craig Johnsen born December 15 1950 is the chairman and chief executive officer of Acme United Corporation which is a supplier of cutting measuring and safety products for the school home office hardware and industrial markets Walter C JohnsenJohnsen visiting the New York Stock ExchangeBornWalter Craig Johnsen 1950 12 15 December 15 1950 age 72 New York City New York U S NationalityAmericanOccupation s Chairman and CEO of Acme United CorporationBoard member ofAcme United CorporationTOMI Environmental Solutions Inc SpouseWendy Davies m 1990 wbr Children1Johnsen joined Acme United in January 1995 as a board member and became CEO later that year Under his leadership Acme United became the leading scissors brand in the United States and one of the leading ruler brands in North America In addition Acme United has become one of the top 3 producers of first aid kits in the United States 1 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and education editJohnsen was born in New York the son of Walter S Johnsen a co founder of Armel Electronics and Therese Johnsen a high end residential real estate sales agent His father was Norwegian while his mother s family was from Denmark After graduating from Ramsey High School in Bergen County New Jersey Johnsen attended Cornell University from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering and a Master of Science in chemical engineering 2 During those years he was an intern in the US House of Representatives Banking and Currency Committee where he worked on a loan guarantee for Lockheed 3 In 2006 Johnsen established the Rosenblatt Faculty Fellow Endowment to honor the memory of Frank Rosenblatt a former professor and mentor at Cornell 4 Dr Rosenblatt drowned in the Chesapeake Bay during a boating trip while being accompanied by Walter Johnsen and another student 5 Johnsen first joined Pfizer Inc where he was a process engineer and later production supervisor making penicillin and other sterile pharmaceuticals 6 In 1978 he graduated from Columbia Business School where he received a Master of Business Administration 7 Career editAfter Johnsen received his MBA he joined Smith Barney where he held various venture capital positions He became Managing Partner of the firm s West Coast private equity activities 8 Amongst others he was a general partner of First Century Partnership II and First Century Partnership III which was one of the early investors in Apple Inc 9 In 1986 he and an associate acquired Marshall Products Inc a distributor of medical home health care and juvenile products based in Lincolnshire IL Marshall grew from 18 million to 40 million in annual revenues in four years and became the largest supplier of blood pressure units and stethoscopes in the US 10 In 1990 Marshall Products was sold for 25 million to Omron Corp a Japanese electronics manufacturer 11 After the leveraged buyout of Marshall Partners Johnsen became a special limited partner at Harvest Partners He also founded Johnsen Properties which invested in real estate in southeast Connecticut In January 1995 when his non compete ended with Omron Johnsen joined Acme United Corp as a board member 12 After a disastrous 1995 in which Acme United reported a loss of 8 7 million Dwight Wheeler II was replaced by Walter Johnsen as CEO Johnsen immediately initiated a fierce cost reduction program He shut down five plants moved most of the production to a modern lower cost facility in North Carolina reduced the company s inventory and laid off about 800 people including nine senior managers 13 The company lost another 3 2 million in 1996 mostly due to restructuring charges 14 In 1997 production shifted to China The savings generated from that switch were invested in innovation and laid the foundation for Acme United s further growth From 2005 until 2014 Johnsen was a member of the listed company council of the New York Stock Exchange to advise on issues and concerns affecting small and mid cap companies 15 In January 2016 Johnsen joined the Board of Directors of TOMI Environmental Solutions Inc 16 Personal life editJohnsen is one of the founding members of the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club and was commodore of the club between 2007 and 2009 He also enjoys history and global economics 17 He is married to Wendy Davies and together they have one son 18 References edit Rival buys First Aid Only for 13 8M columbian com Retrieved on June 3 2016 TOMI Appoints Three New Independent Members to Its Board of Directors globenewswire com February 2016 Retrieved on June 6 2016 30 to 1 opi net 30 November 2008 Retrieved on June 4 2016 Cornell Student and Academic Services Annual Report 2006 2007 PDF cornell edu Retrieved 23 July 2016 Frank Rosenblatt PDF cornell edu Retrieved on June 3 2016 Acme United 10 K 1996 sec gov Retrieved on June 3 2016 TOMI Appoints Three New Independent Members to Its Board of Directors globenewswire com February 2016 Retrieved on June 6 2016 Acme United 10 K 1996 sec gov Retrieved on June 3 2016 Prospectus Apple Computer Inc yumpu com Retrieved on June 4 2016 Cornell Alumni News cornell edu Retrieved on June 5 2016 Business Day Briefs The New York Times 23 January 1990 Retrieved on June 5 2016 Corporate Governance Biography Walter Johnsen corporate ir net Retrieved on June 8 2016 Acme United 10 K 1997 getfilings com Retrieved on June 8 2016 Acme United 10 K 1997 getfilings com Retrieved on June 8 2016 American Stock Exchange Announces New Listed Company Council prnewswire com Retrieved on June 7 2016 TOMI Appoints Three New Independent Members to Its Board of Directors globenewswire com February 2016 Retrieved on June 6 2016 30 to 1 opi net 30 November 2008 Retrieved on June 4 2016 Wendy Davies Wed to Walter Johnsen The New York Times 15 July 1990 Retrieved on June 3 2016 External links editAcme United Corp Company Website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter Johnsen amp oldid 1088132072, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
