JD is a Partner of Blackbird and the CEO & President of Concise International which was acquired by Blackbird in May 2011.  Concise is a diversified precision metal fabricator focused on producing high-quality, close tolerance products.  Founded in 1974, Concise’s  long history boasts a client roster of Fortune 500 companies and under Mr. Johnson's leadership Concise has completed a significant restructuring, a renewed focus on top line growth and importantly a return to profitability and cash generation.  

JD is also the CEO & President of Baccara USA which Blackbird purchased from the parent company Baccara-Geva in January 2012.  Baccara USA is a manufacturer of high quality solenoid valves and fluid control solutions for the North America market supporting a wide range of OEM's and process applications. Baccara also provides custom engineered solutions to serve industries such as life science, water purification, food and beverage, digital printing, HVAC-R plus many other critical markets.  Under JD’s leadership, Baccara has experienced significant top line growth and improving margins.

Prior to joining Blackbird, JD was President of Norgren Americas, a component of the IMI Plc Fluid Power business platform.  JD had full P&L responsibility for the Industrial Business, Commercial Vehicles, In-Plant Automotive and Life Sciences markets with operations in Littleton CO, Seattle WA, Las Vegas NV, Detroit MI, Brookville OH, Farmington CT, Laredo TX, Queretaro MX (Norgren’s largest and highest performing manufacturing plant with over 700 employees and 96% OTD), Mexico City MX and San Paulo Brazil.  Mr. Johnson also had global responsibility for Norgren’s Life Sciences Sector and Norgren’s flagship product line, Air Filters, Regulators and Lubricators (FRL’s).

Prior to joining Norgren, Mr. Johnson was the Vice President & General Manager for the Power Electronics Division of C&D Technologies, Inc. with full worldwide P&L responsibility servicing the communication, industrial, aerospace, and medical markets.  During this time JD led a number of acquisitions including Datel, Celab, Newport Components and Celestica.

From 1986 through 1996, JD held a number of senior leadership positions including Global Vice President of Operations with ELDEC, a Crane Company, and a world-leading provider of proximity sensors, power supplies, and fuel flow monitoring for aerospace and military applications.  Mr. Johnson lead the due diligence and successful acquisition of INTERPOINT for Crane Company.  INTERPOINT designs rugged, miniature, high-density power converters and microelectronic circuits for aerospace, defense, implantable medical devices, and other high reliability applications.

Mr. Johnson hold a BS Degree in Engineering from Brigham Young University, is married with a daughter and three sons and currently lives in Denver, Colorado while spending significant time in Tucson Arizona and Nogales Mexico.