Luther Johnson, PhD, PMP, SAFe was born in Ohio and now calls San Antonio, Texas, home. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the Columbus College of Art & Design and began his career as a professional painter. His murals adorned well-known retail stores such as The Limited, Structure, and Bath & Body Works. Over time, Luther transitioned his creative talents to the television industry, where he earned the prestigious Telly Award for his art direction on the documentary Forjando Una Comunidad: Mexicans Forging a Community in Detroit.
Recognizing his aptitude for software development, Luther shifted his focus to technology and innovation, managing software projects and leading user interface teams across multiple industries. If you’ve ever deposited a check using your smartphone, you’ve likely interacted with his work—Luther contributed to an early iteration of the mobile check deposit software, which has since been patented and licensed by banks and credit unions nationwide.
With nearly 15 years of experience in the insurance and banking industry, Luther earned his MBA with a specialization in e-commerce and a Ph.D. in Business Management and Finance. Today, he is a seasoned music industry business manager. His diverse career journey—spanning fine arts, television, technology, finance, and authorship—reflects his dedication to creativity, innovation, and financial empowerment.
Statement of Teaching Philosophy
I employ a student-centered, discussion-driven teaching style that emphasizes critical thinking, real-world application, and collaborative learning. My approach blends theory with practice, encouraging students to engage deeply with course material while drawing connections to current events, professional experiences, and interdisciplinary perspectives. I incorporate technology, case studies, and reflective assignments to create an inclusive and dynamic learning environment that fosters curiosity, confidence, and academic growth.
Teaching Discipline Qualification
- Business Management
- Finance
- Marketing
- Art
Licenses and Certificates
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning University of Texas of San Antonio, 2025
- Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI Institute, 2005
- SAFe 4 Product Management/Product Owner (PM/PO), Scaled Agile, 2015
- Series 6 – Investment Company and Variable Contract Products, FINRA, 2019
- Life and Health Insurance, Pearson VUE, 2019
Formal Education
- PhD, Business Management, specializing in Finance
- Capella University, Minneapolis, MN
- MBA, E-Commerce
- University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
- BFA, Fine Art and Illustration
- Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, OH
Industry and Professional Experience
Corporate Trainer, Balancing Life’s Issues, February, 2024 — Present
Leadership. Leveraged expertise in financial management and adult education to create and implement interactive and engaging virtual training programs for adults. Developed course materials and lesson plans designed to meet diverse learner needs, ensuring real-world application of financial concepts. Result: Increased student engagement and learning outcomes across personal tax, small business finance, and marketing topics.
Training Session Facilitation. Designed and implemented virtual classes on personal and small business financial topics. Fostered a supportive online learning environment, providing individualized feedback to ensure students’ understanding of course material. Result: High retention rate of participants and positive feedback on the course’s practical value.
Technology Integration. Utilized online learning platforms, video conferencing tools, and digital resources to enhance course delivery and engagement. Stayed updated on the latest tax laws, marketing strategies, and small business best practices to integrate the most current and relevant information into the curriculum. Result: Streamlined virtual learning experience with increased participation across digital platforms.
Quality Control/Improvement. Continuously refined instructional materials, assessments, and teaching strategies to align with adult learning principles and evolving industry trends. Result: Achieved an improvement in student satisfaction through tailored content and more effective teaching methods
Financial Services Professional, New York Life Insurance, October 2018 – December 2022
Leadership. A strong foundation of leadership, goal-setting, and strategic execution was demonstrated through a commitment to excellence, performance-driven strategies, and consistently exceeding monthly and quarterly performance goals. Result: Earned the prestigious NYL Gold Award for surpassing $50,000 in annuity commissions.
Client Relationship Management. Actively developed and nurtured New client business cultivating strong relationships with individuals and businesses. Result: A client-focused approach ensured that tailored financial solutions were effectively designed and delivered, meeting both immediate and long-term financial needs.
Technology Integration. Educated clients on market trends and the financial products best suited to their needs through data-driven insights and digital tools. Leveraging technology played a key role in providing up-to-date financial information. Result: Ensured clients had access to the most relevant and beneficial investment opportunities.
Client Relationship Management. Conducted comprehensive financial analyses to define clients’ needs and develop personalized plans aimed at protecting their assets and income. Result: By aligning solutions with clients’ long-term goals, risk management strategies were incorporated to ensure financial stability and security.
UX/UI Producer, USAA Federal Savings Bank, August 2011 – October 2018
Leadership. Spearheaded the design and development of USAA’s mobile check deposit software using SCRUM methodology. Leadership in this project demonstrated a commitment to user interface design, regulatory adherence, risk management, and technological advancement. Result: Secured a nationwide patent/license and ensured compliance with financial institution regulations.
Project Implementation. Collaborated with product managers, developers, and researchers to create seamless user experiences. Focused on operational risk oversight in payment systems while simultaneously mentoring team members. The ability to coordinate across teams and guide implementation efforts contributed to the project’s success, ensuring efficiency and adherence to best practices. Result: Successfully patented mobile check deposit software, showcasing expertise in usability design, streamlining financial accessibility, and improving technology infrastructure.
Technology Integration. Leveraged Agile methodologies to facilitate alignment across multi-disciplinary teams, improving coordination and execution. Applied user research insights to address customer pain points effectively, ensuring that technological solutions met real-world financial needs. Result: The production of design deliverables, including high-fidelity prototypes, wireframes, and annotations, further streamlined the integration of innovative features into the system.
Quality Control/improvement. A strong commitment to quality control was evident in the meticulous approach to user experience design, ensuring that all features adhered to compliance requirements and industry standards. The innovative ‘Saver to Investor’ feature enhanced financial accessibility and underscored a focus on continuous improvement, aligning with risk management strategies and computer science principles. Result: BX (Best Experience) Award, USAA, award for creating banking customer investment user interface, September 2017
Technical Project Manager, Consolidated Graphics, Inc., May 2008 — August 2011
Leadership. Established and effectively communicated project timelines to ensure on-time and within-budget delivery. Maintained clear expectations and provided strategic direction. Result: Stakeholders remained aligned throughout the project lifecycle, fostering efficiency and accountability.
Project Implementation. Developed tailored software solutions by understanding of business needs translating them into effective technological implementations that streamlined workflows and enhanced productivity. Result: Client operational efficiency was significantly improved, saving 400 work-hours over 18 months.
Technology Integration. Placed strong emphasis on designing usability and information architecture for software projects and prioritized user-centered design principles. Result: Software solutions were developed to enhance accessibility, navigation, and overall functionality, ensuring a seamless experience for end users.
Quality Control/Improvement. Focused on attention to detail in software usability, architecture, and quality control to ensure that solutions met both technical and user requirements. Result: Continuous refinement and adherence to best practices allowed for the delivery of high-performing software aligned with client objectives.
Entrepreneurial Experience
Business Manager, Althea Rene Productions, January 1999 — Present
Leadership. Leveraged expertise in business administration and IT project management, to develop strategic partnerships and alternative revenue streams. Ensured sound decision-making and problem-solving for sustainable group by providing corporate risk management strategies and advice. Result: 22% increase in overall income from merchandise and endorsements.
Negotiation/Client Relationship Management. Negotiated and finalized key agreements with labels and vendors which played a pivotal role in strengthening the business framework while optimizing contractual terms to maximize financial returns. Result: 25% rise in revenue from music sales and licensing.
Technology Integration. Aligned branding, marketing, and user experience principles to explore alternative revenue streams for enhanced financial performance. Result: The approach supported the integration of digital platforms, leveraging technology to expand reach and engagement within the industry.
Quality Control/Improvement. Maintained strict compliance with contractual and royalty agreements, ensuring risk control and adherence to industry standards. Result: Operational efficiency was improved by optimizing budget allocation for tours and recordings, reducing costs by 20%.
Operations Manager, Colors & Song, January 2019 – January 2025
Leadership. Supported program planning to better align operations with overarching strategic objectives, ensuring cohesion and synergy between operational activities and strategic direction. Result. Developed department and individual performance evaluation and development goals with actionable metrics to align institution, department, and individual goals with Colors & Song’s mission and vision.
Project Implementation. Managed and developed a diverse team to provide technical support to project grantees, including development opportunities and performance reviews that fostered a culture of continuous growth and improvement. Supported the integration of contract work and continuing education (CE) management within the training programs, enhancing offerings and expanding revenue streams. Result: Smooth execution of 50+ training events annually.
Technology Integration. Spearheaded managing and enhancing an online training portal to supplement live training sessions and enhance training effectiveness. Result: Ongoing product management/strategic roadmap that aligns organizational goals and client needs, driving operational excellence.
Quality Control/Improvement. Developed company branding, workflows, and dashboards to streamline processes and facilitate collaboration within the team, enhancing administrative processes. Result: Implemented controls/metrics to monitor and assess operational performance, resulting in compliance with quality standards and the identification of opportunities for improvement.
Articles and Research
- Johnson, L. (2025). Small Businesses, the Valley of Death, and COVID-19: A Qualitative Inquiry (Order No. 31848543). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (3181064342). https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/small-businesses-valley-death-covid-19/docview/3181064342/se-2
- Johnson, L. (2022). Estate Planning for Business Owners. Business Matters, 004, 25–26.
- Johnson, L. (2021). Every Business Owner Needs a Team of Trusted Advisors. Business Matters, 003, 20–21.
- Johnson, L. (2020). Help Shield Your Retirement Income From Future Tax Hikes. Business Matters, 002, 22–23.
- Johnson, L. (2019). Crypto vs Precious Metals: A Strategic Analysis and Recommendations for the African-American Community. Business Matters, 001, 18–19.
- Rene, A., & Johnson, L. (2018). Becoming Chocolate Barbie: A Guide for Professional Women in the Music Business. Electric Lizard LLC.
Subject Matter Expert
- Business Management
- Software Development
- User Experience Design (UED)
- User-Centered Design
- Graphic Design
- Communication
- Fine Art
- Web Design
- Web Development
- User Interface
- Project Management
- Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis
- Qualitative Research
Highly Competent Subject Areas
- Car Loans
- Savings Accounts
- Credit Cards
- Financial Services
- Finance
- Financial Analysis
- Marketing
- Business Analysis
- Requirement Analysis
- Usability Engineering
- Problem Solving
- Interpersonal Communication
- Digital Strategy
- Audio Recording
- Video Production
- Marketing Management
- Quantitative Data
- Quantitative Research
- User Experience Testing
- Teaching
- E-Commerce
Software and Tech
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Python
- Pandas
- GitHub
- Jupyter
- Anaconda
- Visual Studio
- HTML/CSS
- SQL
- Java Script
- Adobe Creative Cloud
- Figma
- Sketch
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Slack
- Asana
- Jira
- Monday.com
- Visio
Honors and Awards
- #1 Amazon Best Seller for King Conversations: An Anthology of Men, 2024
- NyLife Securities Annuity Elite Award, 2021
- Capella University, President’s List, 2020
- New York Life Insurance Gold Award, 2019
- Capella University, President’s List, 2019
- Capella University, President’s List, 2018
- USAA Federal Savings Bank BX User Interface Award, 2015
- First Prize Winner, Detroit Festival of Arts, 2001 and 2003
- Bronze Telly Award for Forjando Una Comunidad: History of Mexicans in Detroit, 2000
Corporate Training and Lectures
- 2024: Tax Tips for Balancing Life’s Issues Business Management Consultants
- 2023: Asset Preservation Fundamentals for the Roseville Housing Trust
- 2023: In-Service Withdrawals for the Friends in Business Network
- 2022: Business Tax Fundamentals for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- 2021: Tax Bracket Manipulation for the Friends in Business Network
- 2021: Financial Literacy in the Black Community for the Nu Pi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- 2021: Sequence of Return Risks for the Friends in Business Network
- 2020: Rule of 72 and Financial Basics for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation 2020: Term versus Perm Insurance for the Alpha Education Fund
- 2020: Business Credit Strategies for the Matthew Business Network
- 2020: Building Your Economic Legacy for the Alpha Alpha XI Omega Chapter of Alpha
Civic Engagement and Community Service
- 2021: CIS-SA Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive
- 2020: San Antonio MLK Dream week Voter Apathy Panel Discussion
- 2020: Alpha Counts Census Initiative
- 2019: A Voteless People is a Hopeless People-Voter Registration Drive
- 2018: Stop the Hate Town Hall Forum
- 2018: Did Integration Ruin America Community Forum
- 2017: Gun Violence Town Hall Forum
- 2017: United We Stand: Surviving Racism in Today’s America Town Hall Forum
- 2016: Back to School Fair & Book Bag Drive