In his professional position as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Carlson, Inc., John provides primary support to the company’s Board of Directors. Prior to his current role, John held numerous legal positions, including that of General Counsel, at Imation, Silicon Graphics, and Cray Research, Inc.

John is also active in local community organizations. He recently served as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Minneapolis Foundation. He is also the past Chair of the Board of Directors for the Regions Hospital Foundation. He also was an adjunct faculty member of the University of Minnesota Law School for three years.

John served on the Board of Directors of Minnesotans United for All Families, the organization that defeated the Minnesota Constitutional Amendment defining marriage as “the union of one man and one woman.” John has also served as President of the Board of Directors for the Jungle Theater; on the Board of Governors for The Children’s Theatre Company; on the Board of Directors for James Sewell Ballet; and on the Board of Directors for Grace House, an adult foster care facility for people living with HIV/AIDS.

John was a founding member of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Business Council in 1997 and served as its co-chair from 2001 to 2003. HRC is the nation’s leading civil rights organization working on behalf of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community. The Business Council is a national executive group that advises HRC and corporations on creating a safe and productive environment, and equality-based benefits programs, for all employees. John previously served on the HRC Board of Governors from 1999 to 2003 and served on the HRC national Board of Directors from 2003 until 2007. He recently completed his service as one of the original members of HRC’s Emeritus Council. John also served for one year on the Board of Directors of OutFront Minnesota, the organization serving the GLBT community in Minnesota.