Chrissy Was Born.

The SHORT version: Born and raised in Chanhassen Minnesota. ELCA Lutheran. Girl Scout. Soccer player and referee. Graduated from Chaska High School… Soar Hawks! Graduated from UW- Eau Claire, Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Finance, and Communication Certificate… Go BluGolds! Married at Historic St. Huberts. Finance career began, quickly moved to supervisoring. Master’s Degree in Business Admin. New job finance job at telecom company. Traveled to 19 countries. Continually volunteering. Ready to give back to the community in a strong way!

The LONG version: I was born in 1983 at the local hospital to Jay and Sally Johnson and have proudly called Chanhassen home my entire life. Growing up in this wonderful community provided me with countless opportunities and experiences that shaped who I am today. From Girl Scouts and Twilight Camp to playing and refereeing Chan/Chaska soccer, and spending summers with friends at “the pond,” Kerber Pond Park. And nothing beat the Carver County Fair!

I was raised in the ELCA Lutheran faith at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior where I learned the importance of compassion, respect for others, and the value of supporting and nurturing our community and environment. My family volunteered often in the community. Public service was also instilled in me at a young age, with my family volunteering often. My father served on the Chanhassen City Council in the 1980s, and I’m told I was an enthusiastic and cute, five-year-old door-knocker during his campaign.

I graduated from Chaska High School in 2001, (Chanhassen High School was not built yet), where I focused primarily on theater and choir, then went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance along with a Business Communications Certificate from UW-Eau Claire. I married my high school sweetheart, Mike, at the Historic St. Hubert’s Church in Chanhassen. Every ten years, we return to the church to take updated family photos. We spent a year living in California, while Mike completed his military service, before returning home to Minnesota.

In 2006 I began my professional career in the banking world at a local financing company, focusing on providing financing solutions to schools, municipalities, medical facilities, and businesses. I built a strong foundation in customer service, process management, and cross-department collaboration. While working, I earned a Master of Business Administration and was promoted to manager of the department in 2013. Also spent evenings volunteering at the ICA Food Shelf.

In 2015 I accepted a position as Financing Operations Manager at a national telecommunications company. In this role, I managed relationships between our company, customers, and finance partners. My prior experience in the banking industry gave me a deep understanding of both the opportunities and challenges involved in financing decisions especially for counties and cities. I developed expertise in relationship management, contract review and negotiation, and helping organizations navigate complex financial arrangements successfully.

In 2021, Mike and I decided it was time for an adventure. We were able to take a journey around the world, visiting 19 countries, which was no easy task while the pandemic was active. Yet, being organized and frugal in nature made it an amazing experience. The most impactful thing I have learned through my travels is how much everyone is the same, not that different. We may have different traditions, foods, or languages, but we all want the same thing; to be loved, to be safe, to be able to grow our families and to be happy.

In 2022, I returned to my previous position at the telecommunication company. In addition to my professional career, I serve as Treasurer for a Minnesota House member and a Minnesota Senate candidate. (If you want to know about my frugal nature, talk with them as I never allow donated funds to be spent unless it has a direct benefit to the campaign!) I was awarded Volunteer of the Year by the DFL for my 2025 work starting the Chanhassen and Chaska protests, which have seen thousands of participants, and along with my work organizing and volunteering for area non-profits during Operation Metro Surge. I have come to deeply appreciate these dedicated organizations who strengthen our community. Their leadership and commitment inspired me to become a candidate for commissioner.