Dr. TaRita Johnson, Senior Vice President of Talent and Diversity at The Right Place, is a bridge builder connecting employers, educational institutions, community organizations, workforce development partners, and the State of Michigan. She leads a team responsible for developing strategies in talent attraction, sourcing/recruiting, development, and retention, linking regional employers, educators, and community-based organizations to strengthen the workforce pipeline.

A sought-after keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, Dr. Johnson equips executives and leaders with tools to strengthen leadership excellence, emotional intelligence, personality insights, workplace culture development, psychological safety, managing multiple generations in the workplace, inclusion, and more, all aimed at bringing out the best in people and organizations.

Recognized as one of Crain’s Grand Rapids Business Notable Black Leaders (2024), a Notable West Michigan Leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2024), and the West Michigan Chapter of PRSA’s JEDI Communicator of the Year (2023), Dr. Johnson cultivates collaborative relationships throughout Greater Grand Rapids to grow the region’s talent bench. She serves on multiple boards, including Best & Brightest, Hello West Michigan, Michigan Colleges Alliance, STEM Greenhouse, The Source Advisory, West Michigan Works, West Michigan Tech Talent, Global Detroit Advisory, Truth’s Table Foundation, and the West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology, and is a founding member of Rockstar Women. Beyond her professional work, she ministers at Lighthouse Full Life Center, serving on the intercessory, baptism, and belonging teams.

Before joining The Right Place in 2021, Dr. Johnson was Director of Calvin University’s Career Center, Adjunct Professor, and Talent Acquisition Manager at Meijer, where she oversaw corporate recruiting for Accounting & Financial Services, Human Resources, Technology, Legal, Properties, Procurement, and Real Estate. She also served as Vice President of Colleges and University Relations at KeyBank, directing national college recruiting. Her earlier career includes roles as Assistant Director of Admissions at Baldwin Wallace University, Enrollment Management Officer at Pennsylvania State University, Psychiatric Specialist Counselor at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, and Program Specialist for TRIO’s Educational Talent Search at Savannah State University.

Dr. Johnson earned her PhD in Higher Education from Azusa Pacific University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Work from Miami University. She also holds certifications in Cultural Intelligence, Unconscious Bias, DDI Targeted Selection, and Korn Ferry Leadership Architect.

Book a meeting with TaRita here.