Ronnetta J. Johnson, M.A. is Chief Executive Officer of Waymakers, bringing a visionary approach to the future of an agency that has served the Orange County community for 50 years.
Since originally joining Waymakers in 1995, Johnson has held the positions of Program Director for Victim Assistance Programs, Director of Human Resources, Director of Victim Assistance Programs, and, since 2015, Chief Executive Officer.
Johnson has focused on strategies that will ensure the agency’s vital services will be available for future generations. These strategies have included a rebranding effort, which changed the agency’s name and messaging, a change in the leadership structure, program expansion, and the facilitation of staff and board development.
During her tenure with Waymakers, Johnson has been instrumental in founding the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, establishing a crisis response team for mass victimization, opening two new crisis residential shelters, and expanding the youth development programs.
Through her efforts, in partnership with her team members, Waymakers has gained national, state, and local recognition for best-practice service models.
Johnson is committed to mentoring and professional development for future generations of leaders, and this commitment goes beyond the confines of Waymakers, sharing her expertise regionally and statewide.
For almost three decades, Johnson has served as a core member of the curriculum development and implementation team for the California Crime Victim Assistance Association. Currently, she is an executive coach for the Fieldstone Leadership Network and serves as board chair for the Coast Community College District Foundation.
In 2025, Johnson received the Waymakers Visionary Award recognizing 30 years of exemplary service to the agency and was included in the Orange County Register’s list of 125 Most Influential People.
Johnson holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership, with a certificate in servant leadership, from Gonzaga University and has earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Utah.