Eric Johnson leads Aeon, a nonprofit multifamily housing developer that owns and manages 6,000 housing units serving more than 17,000 residents in the Twin Cities. In just two and a half years, Johnson has spearheaded a transformation not just for the Minneapolis organization but for the local affordable housing and real estate industry. He and his team secured $25 million in grants from the state of Minnesota and the federal government in 2023 to support organizational stability and the preservation of housing stability. Peers say Johnson’s leadership creates a culture at Aeon that supports creativity, innovation, and agility while navigating the challenging affordable-housing environment. A veteran of the U.S. National Guard and U.S. Army, he weaves veteran support into his work with Aeon, providing housing and services for the veteran community.