Johnnie entered the Boys & Girls Club Movement in 1959 with the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Baltimore. During his 37 years of service to the Movement, he served on numerous committees, including the National Commission, the National Advisory Group and the National Task Force to rewrite the Boys Club of America manual of operations.

Johnnie also served on the national committee to recruit minorities and females for executive positions, and was very active in the Association of Boys & Girls Clubs Professionals. During Desert Storm, Johnnie was applauded for successfully recruiting military families into Boys & Girls Clubs program, while also giving years of service as a member of the Northeast Region Manpower Development Committee.