OX3's Director for Web and Internet Services, Jason C. "Jay" Johnson received a "Top 40 Under 40" Award on September 23 at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester, Massachusetts. Johnson selected OX3 President Gus G. Widmayer as his business mentor in the process of applying for this award. This fifth annual awards ceremony was sponsored by the Worcester Business Journal and Junior Achievement of Central Massachusetts. Johnson, age 27 is President of Hit Catcher, Inc. of Whitinsville, Mass and contracts part-time for the development of Internet and web services at OX3 Corporation. President Widmayer has been impressed by Jay before. In 1995, the young Johnson worked for OX3 Corporation after graduating from high school. He started in the Shipping Department and rapidly moved up the ladder to supervisory positions in the plant. After a couple of years, Johnson ventured out on his own and eventually started his consulting business while studying nights in database management and web development and deployment. Mr. Widmayer noted that: "Jay combines a very creative talent with amazing organizational strength. It is hard to find both qualities in one businessman. Jay is not afraid of hard work or of being original in that work. That independece and dedication was not something I noticed in the other 39 under 40. Today Johnson is OX3's Go-to man on all issues involved with its three web sites at OX3.com, Reelpak.com, and Reel.biz.
In its write up of Jason Johnson, the Worcester Business Journal wrote: "It was necessity that inspired Jason Johnson to start his own web-design and software-development company in May 2002. The dot.com bubble had burst and Johnson, who had been working in web application and software development for three years, found himself out of a job for six months.
To Johnson's surprise, Hit Catcher began paying for itself within 48 hours and has been growing ever since. Johnson, along with one newly hired full-time employee . . . hosts and designs websites and creates custom software for companies. With some 300 clients, the company had revenue of $77,000 last year and expects to bring in $100,000 this year, he notes. Most of what Johnson knows about computers, he taught himself by reading 'every book and online discussion I could get my hands on.' He attended college at U-Mass Dartmouth . . . A self-described 'entrepreneur through and through,' Johnson has plenty of plans beyond Hit Catcher's success . . . He would also like to get his MBA from Clark University.
Beyond the web, Johnson is active in the Uxbridge Rotary, its Peace of Bread project to feed the needy and Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for the needy. In fact, Johnson recently received the Rotary Vision award for his community service efforts. He is currently working on a Rotary-funded effort to put computers and internet access in elderly communities. 'I think those who give back will find that the community will give back as well.' Johnson says." Click here for a view of the original article including a picture of Jason C. Johnson.
