Brice Johnson Will Lead Humanitarian Non-Profit In
Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota

“We are pleased to announce that Brice Johnson has been named Regional Chief Executive Officer for the Minnesota and Dakotas Region of the American Red Cross,” said Cyndi Lesher, Twin Cities Red Cross Board member and search committee chair.

“I’m excited to join such a dedicated team. The incredible contributions of Minnesota and Dakotas Regional volunteers, blood donors, employees and financial partners impacts not only our three states, but also the work of the Red Cross around the country,” said Johnson. “I’m looking forward to working with each of them and our partners to continue this high-level service and build more resilient communities.”  

The Red Cross serves 7.3 million people in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Douglas County (Superior) in Wisconsin through nine chapters. There are over 2,000 volunteers and 600 paid staff members in the Region.

“In this key role, Brice will lead an organization which has five areas of focus: Disaster Cycle Services, Biomedical Services, International Services, Training Services and Service to the Armed Forces,” said Lesher. His first day on the job will be Thursday, July 13.

Johnson comes to the Region from the Central Indiana Chapter of the Red Cross, where he has served as the executive director since 2020. The Chapter covers 17 counties in Central Indiana. Prior to the Red Cross, Johnson spent the last two decades leading non-profit and higher education organizations in the United States and Europe. His time in Europe was spent living in Germany and leading a team helping international families and organizations navigate the challenges of global transition. 

With family roots in South Dakota, Johnson grew up in the northwest United States and attended Pacific Lutheran University, graduating in 1999 with a BA degree in Communications. He and his wife Katherine have four children, two dogs, and enjoy spending time traveling, in the water, or with family.

"After a rigorous national search for our next Regional CEO, we were thrilled to find the strongest candidate right here in our North Central Division, with the right choice being inside our Red Cross family," said Lesher.

About the Minnesota and Dakotas Region

The Minnesota and Dakotas Region of the Red Cross serves 7.3 million people in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota and Douglas County (Superior) in Wisconsin. There are over 2,000 volunteers and 600 paid staff members in the Region. In 2022, the Red Cross in Minnesota and Dakotas Region:
 

• Responded to hundreds of home and apartment fires, helping over 4,000 individuals and families.
  
• Collected more than 269,000 blood and blood product donations – the most of any Region in the United States, through an average of 30 mobile blood drives every day in Minnesota, eastern South Dakota and eastern North Dakota, and at blood donor centers in St. Paul, Arden Hills, Bloomington, Minneapolis and St. Cloud.
• Provided 106,000-plus training courses to individuals and groups.
• Helped hundreds of people reconnect with family and loved ones internationally. Supported more than 6,000 members of the American armed forces and their families.
   

Regional chapters: 

Twin Cities Chapter and Regional headquarters, located in Minneapolis, MN

Northern Minnesota Chapter, headquartered in Duluth, MN

Central Minnesota Chapter, headquartered in St. Cloud, MN

Southeast Minnesota Chapter, headquartered in Rochester, MN

Southwest Minnesota Chapter, headquartered in Mankato, MN

Eastern North Dakota and Northwestern Minnesota Chapter, headquartered in Fargo, ND

Western North Dakota Chapter, headquartered in Minot, ND

Eastern South Dakota Chapter, headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD

Central and Western South Dakota Chapter, headquartered in Rapid City, SD
 

About the American Red Cross

The Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. It shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood supply; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is not a governmental agency, but rather a not-for-profit humanitarian organization.

The American Red Cross is part of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian disaster relief network around the world. This network includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) societies. The network is united by a shared commitment to seven Fundamental Principles, including humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.  For more information, please visit redcross.org/mndaks.