JOHNSON DEVELOPMENT - Key Persons


Annette Black

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Vice President of Human Resources
Annette Black is Vice President of Human Resources for Johnson Development and has more than 20 years of Human Resources (HR) experience with large and small companies. She is also the HR advisor to the Executive Management Team. Ms. Black is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) by the Human Resources Certification Institute and a Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) by the Society for Human Resource Management. She also has an AAS degree and HR training from Rice University. Ms. Black is motivated by her passion for providing HR solutions for all employees at Johnson Development and always strives for performance excellence.

Christen Johnson

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Senior Vice President of Marketing
  • Senior Vice President of Marketing / Learn More
Christen Johnson serves as Senior Vice President of Marketing of Johnson Development, directing the strategic brand management and overall marketing efforts, and guiding the company's team of experienced marketing professionals. With more than 20 years of real estate experience, she joined the company in 2001 as marketing director for Riverstone, leading it to one of the best-selling communities in the nation. Ms. Johnson is a two-time recipient of the ‘Marketing Professional of the Year' award from both the Greater Houston Builder's Association and the Texas Association of Builders and is a member of Urban Land Institute.

Elizabeth York - Chief Legal Officer, SVP

Job Titles:
  • General Counsel
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Senior Vice President
Elizabeth York brings more than 25 years of real estate experience to her role as General Counsel of Johnson Development, having worked previously with prestigious law firms in Houston and the United Arab Emirates. In 2012, the Houston Business Journal named Ms. York Outstanding Solo General Counsel of the Year. She is a member of numerous local organizations, including the Houston Bar Association, where she has served as chair of the real estate section.

Jennifer Johnson

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Vice President of Commercial Sales
  • Vice President of Commercial Sales / Learn More
As Vice President of Commercial Sales, Jennifer Johnson plays the lead role in the sale of multiple property types within Johnson Development's many master-planned communities. She has sold more than $250 million of commercial land for a variety of uses, including grocers, big box and neighborhood retail, multi-family, senior housing, office, self-storage, restaurants, schools, churches and more that add immense value to Johnson Development's master-planned communities.

Kirk W. Boswell - SVP, Treasurer

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Senior Vice President
  • Treasurer
As Senior Vice President and Treasurer for Johnson Development, Kirk Boswell manages a team of Financial Analysts that creates and maintains financial models crucial for Johnson Development communities. Mr. Boswell joined Johnson Development in 1985, and in 2005 was promoted to Senior Vice President when he assumed responsibility for managing the Financial Analyst Team. Mr. Boswell has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Finance from the University of Texas. He is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Texas, and raises cattle on his farm in Giddings, Texas in his spare time.

Matt Lau

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Vice President of Commercial Development
Matt Lau directs the development, marketing and sales of Johnson Development's commercial reserves, representing the company to developers, tenants, operators, financial institutions, governmental agencies and public officials, as well as in community relations. His experience extends to commercial and residential real estate, structured finance, private equity and operational finance. Previously, Mr. Lau was responsible for creating DMB Associates, Inc.'s commercial investment strategy in Scottsdale, Arizona, was CIO for Frank Investments, Inc., and held analyst positions with Maplewood Partners, LP and Banc of Americas Securities, Inc.

Michael Cox

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • President of Johnson Development Services
  • President of Johnson Land Ventures
Michael Cox is a seasoned real estate development professional who has been involved in the development of award-winning residential, commercial, and resort projects in the United States and the Caribbean over his 40-year career. Johnson Land Ventures provides equity placement, transaction management, and development services for large land owners, many top-tier builders, investors, and lenders that do not have or don't want their own MPC development departments. Johnson Land Ventures is actively developing and searching for opportunities in multiple Texas markets. Mr. Cox is an active member of the Urban Land Institute as a past chair of a ULI Community Development Council. He also participates in the Houston Home Builders Association and works with various Realtor and community-related organizations.

Michael J. Smith - CEO, President

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • President
As President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Smith is responsible for the overall business operations of the Company including corporate policy, acquisition activities, and strategic visioning. As President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael J. Smith oversees the overall business operations of Johnson Development, guiding corporate policy, acquisition strategies, and long-term vision. Celebrating 25 years with the company, Mr. Smith has played a pivotal role in its growth, shaping some of the most successful master-planned communities in the nation. His leadership has been instrumental in expanding Johnson Development's footprint, driving innovation in community design, and fostering strong relationships with homebuilders, investors, and commercial partners. With a decades-long career in large-scale land and community development, Mr. Smith brings deep industry expertise and strategic insight to every project. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Master's Degree in Business Administration. A respected leader in the industry, he is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, the Greater Houston Home Builders Association, the National Association of Home Builders, and various Economic Development Organizations. He is also a dedicated member of Rotary Club International and a proud veteran of the U.S. Army.

Rusty Campbell - VP

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Vice President
  • Vice President / Learn More
Rusty Campbell, Vice President for Johnson Development, has 30 years of experience in real estate development. Mr. Campbell joined Johnson Development in 1999 to manage special projects for Johnson Development. His responsibilities while at Johnson Development include commercial sales on all of the Houston projects, General Manager of Berkshire, Interim General Manager of Silverlake, Interim General Manager of Trinity Falls and General Manager of Fall Creek. Prior to joining Johnson Development, Mr. Campbell served as Assistant Vice President of Mellon Properties Company, a subsidiary of Mellon Bank, N.A., from 1988 to 1999. A 1985 graduate of Sam Houston State University, Mr. Campbell has a B.A. in business and is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Texas.

Terry L. Henderson - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Member of the Leadership Team
Terry L. Henderson, CPA, serves as Johnson Development's Chief Financial Officer. He oversees the accounting and reporting functions, as well as treasury, audit, tax, risk management and IT for Johnson and its development projects. Having previously successfully managed the financial affairs for various enterprises, he served a combined 24 years with the Hines and Senterra organizations. Mr. Henderson holds a BBA from Texas Tech University, is a member of professional accounting societies, and is active in church ministries and charitable organizations.