2010 Forty Under 40 Winner: Alexander Johnson
Age 36, Member/Owner, Brown, Winick, Graves, Baskerville and Schoenebaum PLC
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In addition to raising four children with his wife in Runnells, which involves an endless rotation of soccer, baseball, football and basketball games, the 36-year-old has been identified as a leader at Brown, Winick, Graves, Gross, Baskerville and Schoenebaum PLC.
Since his July 2007 election as a partner in the law firm, where he focuses on commercial litigation, Johnson has moved quickly to help develop younger associates.
In early 2008, Johnson was appointed chair of BrownWinick’s associates committee, which is charged with helping to train new attorneys.
It was a natural fit.
“Sometimes law school can foster a competitive atmosphere,” wrote David Brown, owner of Iowa Proerty Exchange, “But Alex was always willing to assist others.”
“I was kind of a logical choice to be in charge,” Johnson said. “It was important to us to have somebody who related well to those younger attorneys and I had recently been in their shoes.”
Johnson said a defining point in his professional development occurred when he realized that life is more than an endless series of obligations.
“When I got to the point that I was so busy I didn’t have time to worry about not being confident or not knowing what I was doing,” he said.
That was when he found his groove.
Johnson’s graduation from the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute class of 2008-2009, has also helped him find more opportunities to learn, lead and get involved.
“I thought it was a great chance to meet other people in different professions around the metro area and to learn about different ways we could get involved,” he said, referring to his and his wife’s civic aspirations.
Today, Johnson is involved in numerous organizations, including the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, East Des Moines Economic Development Committee and the Altoona Area Chamber of Commerce.