Entrepreneur Turns in Tie to Become Full-Time Dad

Corporate high-flyer Michael Johnson was accustomed to traveling in the upper echelons of the business world until last year when he turned in his tie for a kitchen apron, becoming a stay-at-home dad for two Ethiopian orphans his family adopted.

Johnson is well-known in Centreville for his work as a Southwestern Youth Association football coach and his other efforts in the community. This spring, he helped that is an overwhelming success.

Johnson was also head of H&R Block’s regional operations for the past several years after having risen through the corporate ranks in the commercial aviation industry – starting out as a baggage handler when he graduated from Oklahoma University with a history degree. Johnson easily braved the 70-hour weeks at H&R Block, helping the region win corporate awards.

However, Johnson and his wife Usma, wanted a bigger family and were trying to give their son, Raman, 12, some siblings. After years of trying, they decided to go the adoption route and contacted an agency that placed Ethiopian orphans.

As they were getting ready to finalize the adoption last year, frantic agency officials called and said there was a change in plans – could they take two children instead of just one, the agency asked. Two brothers had become available, their Ethiopian parents had been killed, and the agency wanted to place them together.

“We thought, ‘well, we did want to have a big family,’” Johnson said, “and we wanted to keep the brothers together.”

The Johnsons were elated, but then near-disaster struck. As Johnson was getting ready least year to jet to Ethiopia for the toddlers, the Washington-metro area was struck with the giant snowstorms in February. The federal agency officials responsible for a final sign-off on the adoptions were stuck at home and Johnson was at risk of losing his window to get the kids.

Frustrated but unflustered, Johnson called his congressman, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) and a diligent Wolf staffer was able to get all the paperwork signed in time for the travel. In March 2010, the boys, Huda, then-3, and Renyan, then-2, arrived at the Johnson’s Centreville home.

Johnson, an avid cook, volunteered to take off the time to watch the kids while Usma kept her corporate job at Dulles Airport. The two youngsters have adapted quickly, learning English and embracing American culture. “Yeah, it’s like they have always been here,” Johnson said.

It’s been a bit tougher on dad, who is quite used to working hard. Johnson, 43, who played quarterback in college and whose father was starting corner back for the Dallas Cowboys in the famous 1967 Ice Bowl championship game, is itching to get back to the business world.

“This has been hard work,” Johnson said. “I went from the corporate world to taking care of two kids who are totally dependent on you for everything. It’s been quite a change. It’s great, but it’s easier to work outside the home.”