Welcome to

Bright Cedar Coaching

A man wearing a black shirt and dark gray blazer smiling outdoors in a forested area with green foliage.

Hi, I’m Mark O. Johnson.

I’m a business leader with more than 30 years’ experience, recently retired from the corporate world to launch my dream coaching business: Bright Cedar Coaching.

In the U.S. and abroad, I’ve led diverse teams with a wide range of company cultures from start-ups, to not-for-profits, to Forbes 100.  My expertise is in strategy, portfolio management, and change management.

I hold a Master’s Certificate in Project Management and I’m a Certified Professional Coach, ACC-accredited through the International Coaching Federation.

Keep reading for more about me, my background, and why I coach.

ICF Credentials and Standards badge for Associate Certified Coach (ACC) from ICF, encircled by a blue, orange, and white border.
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“Whatever your goals or challenges, I strongly recommend Mark to support you and your team on your journey to greater joy and success in life and at work. He leads with integrity, humility, respect, authenticity, and genuine care for your well-being and success.”
— Mike Ruiz, MPA, MBA, Senior Project Manager
“Growth and change—whether personal or organizational—are rarely easy or simple. Mark has a way of honoring this complexity while staying focused on what matters to a client and celebrating when they make progress. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking a coach who offers integrity, accountability, humility, structure, and ‘a lightness of touch’.”
— Nora Perry, Operations Manager

Coaching is My True Calling

Throughout my career, I’ve been recognized for my integrity and for my talent building high-performing, engaged teams.

I’ve always been sought-out as a coach for leaders, my peers, my team, and even other leaders’ teams.

My Secret Sauce?

Mindfulness.

I’ve had a daily mindfulness practice since 2008, and have participated in many silent meditation retreats in multiple traditions.

I’ve taught mindfulness for a decade, including a Community of Practice at Providence Health System.

By practicing mindfulness, I continue to grow my capacity for curiosity, non-judgment, acceptance, and compassion for both myself and others. Mindfulness practices cultivate deep listening and awareness, and form my foundation as a leader and coach.

Bright Cedar Coaching is not a meditation business.

However, I have found that the incorporation of certain mindfulness techniques—such as breath awareness— helps people feel centered, build resilience, and get unstuck.

If you’d like to hear more about my mindfulness-informed approach to coaching, please click to schedule a Free 30-Minute Consultation.

“Mindfulness is the awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally”
— Jon Kabat-Zinn
“I have been fortunate to learn from Mark via several pathways: a Mindfulness Facilitator Training cohort, a Deep Listening group, and through 1:1 Coaching.

Mark’s genuine care and kindness allowed me to be vulnerable and authentic. His own practice of deep listening was evident.

Through Mark’s coaching, I found myself prioritizing self-compassion again, and this empowered me to begin releasing some of the unnecessary pressures and expectations that I had placed upon myself. This release created space for me to take the next step and move forward.”
— Angelica Siador, UX & Learning Designer
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More About Me

I love the outdoors. I hike, ski, backpack, bike, and wrangle two giant dogs, Panda and Teddy.

I grew up in Montana, and I’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest—with a few years in Puerto Rico—since 1989.

My brilliant wife, Kylie, and I have a blended family of four kids: one in college, another in high school, and two adults who’ve launched out into the world.

When I’m not spending time with my family, outdoors, or coaching, I’m probably on a silent meditation retreat.

A smiling man and woman taking a selfie together indoors, with the man slightly behind the woman, both wearing bright floral shirts. The man has glasses and dark hair, the woman has long, wavy brown hair.
A man and a teenage boy sitting together outdoors, smiling, with the man wearing a green t-shirt and sunglasses on his head, and the boy wearing a maroon hoodie, in front of a stone wall and green plants.
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More about my Career

As the International Director for AT&T Wireless and member of the executive start-up team, I helped build 9 companies across 9 different countries in the Caribbean in less than 2 years.

As the Director of Project Management and Operational Excellence for Providence Health, I led managers and professionals implementing strategic objectives and improving processes for 14 years.

These are just a couple of examples from my career. For more, please check-out my LinkedIn

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A man wearing glasses, a dark gray blazer, black shirt, and jeans, smiling and standing outdoors near green trees.
A man wearing glasses, a black shirt, and a dark blazer, smiling and looking down in a wooded outdoor area with green foliage.
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