Richard T. Johnson

Richard first joined the company as a part time associate in 2001 and then rose to the position of Director of Training for the law enforcement division (ExcelForce) in 2004. Prior to accepting this position Mr. Johnson was a Watch Commander at the University of Illinois at Chicago Police Department.

Strengthening the world of work through diversity is the mission of Souder, Betances and Associates Inc. The list of clients that Richard and his company have worked with include over 250 of the Fortune 500 companies, the United States Military, law enforcement agencies, community groups, government agencies and school systems. Richard recently conducted Diversity training, with an emphasis on strengthening police and community relations in the aftermath of a race riot, for more than 250 law enforcement professionals from the Michigan area where the June 2003 race riots occurred.

Mr. Johnson is a standing ovation quality speaker and a master trainer, and has been a featured presenter at many conferences including the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference, the North and South Carolina's Police Chiefs Association Annual Conferences, the Assistant United States Attorney School Violence Conference series, the Lorman Group Education Annual Conference, the Arrowhead EMS Annual Conference and the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs' Association Conference. He is also an adjunct professor for both Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command and Texas A&M's National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC). Richard has worked for over seven years with the United States Department of Justice's Regional Community Policing Institutes providing expert training in the fields of diversity, leadership, ethics and racial profiling.

During his career in law enforcement, Mr. Johnson accumulated numerous awards and was the highest and most decorated officer--receiving the Medal of Valor in 1992 as well as the Distinguished Service Award and the Life Saving Medal in 1996--in the history of his agency. In 1999, Richard received "The Carmen Romano, Law Enforcement Officer of The Year Award" and was highlighted on a segment of "Crime Watchers Television" in Chicago. He received his Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Knox College and earned his Master of Public Administration degree from The University of Illinois Chicago.