Jodie Johnson Email Address

Director of Marketing and Communications

Through strategic solutions and unmatched service, First Business focuses on your business banking, private wealth, and specialty finance needs.

As a marketer, I’m weirdly enough a perfect blend of my parents. My dad was a pharmaceutical sales rep. He had - and still has - a knack for business and economics, and knows how to quickly connect with people to make a sale. My mom is a buyer for a gift store. She has an eye for design and the innate ability to understand what people want and how to position things in a way that draws them in. I studied both marketing and management at UW - Madison. After school I worked in B2B marketing at a company that specialized in SAS software. Next I worked at a manufacturing firm owned by GE Capital. I learned a lot, and decided to continue my education through an evening MBA program. It was during that time that I discovered First Business. When I ran across the marketing position, I didn’t know too much about the firm. But as soon as I met their leadership team, learned about their niche business, and witnessed their culture, I was in. I took a job as their first dedicated marketing employee. I got to work with an ad firm to execute a marketing strategy. I got to work with an incredibly smart senior management team, and over the years I developed an awesome in-house marketing team. First Business is fast-paced and entrepreneurial, and my job is constantly evolving and keeping me engaged. I’m currently the VP of Marketing for the entire First Business family of companies. I get to: develop and execute an annual marketing plan to build awareness with target audience members; drive and grow the corporate brand, ensuring it is relevant and engaging to our target audience; strategize in marketing and technology to provide business intelligence and marketing qualified leads to the business development team; successfully lead the First Business corporate marketing team and outside vendors; and engage as a workplace and community leader. I’m so glad I took the path that led me to First Business. I love my job and look forward to what the future holds.