James Johnson grew up in South Pasadena California, a small suburb of Los Angeles. After graduating from South Pasadena high school in 1984,

In 1986, James enrolled in Los Angeles Trade Technical College in the culinary training program. Almost immediately James began a career in the food service industry. After receiving his certificate of chef training in 1988 James worked in several restaurants in the Pasadena area. Relocating to Carson City Nevada in the early 90’s, James continued working in the food service industry at the same time enrolling in Western Nevada Community College to earn his associate degree in general studies.

In January of 1995 James found himself relocating to Tucson Arizona. Within six months James was enrolled in Pima Community College on course to transfer to the University of Arizona.  Funding his education through working in local hotels, James graduated from the University of Arizona in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Education after graduating, James began teaching at Marana High School in Marana Arizona. James taught introduction to culinary arts, advanced applied culinary principles, communications, physical education, and Nutrition.

In 2017 James and his wife Heather opened their own place, “The Atomic Frog”, Ice cream Parlor and Café’. After only two short years James fell and fractured his spine and was unable to meet the physical commitment of operating the Atomic Frog and after a great deal of heartache and soul searching, James and Heather Decided to Close the Frog for good.

James then started to focus full time on CES, this was a natural direction since from an early age James has always loved teaching.