The Office of Experiential Learning in Freeman College of Management is pleased to share the 2025 Walling Lecturers will be: Matthew Johnson, ‘89, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of TruConnect and Nathan Johnson, ‘89, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of TruConnect.
Invitations to the Senior Celebration and Walling Lecture Dinner set for April 10, 2025, 5:30-7PM will be sent later in the semester.
Read more about the brothers below.
About the Walling Lecture
The Walling Lecture is funded by the Fitz Roy & Mary Jane Walling Management Endowment and honors Fitz Walling’s many years as a University leader. He served as the longtime dean of admissions; helped start the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Engineering and the former College of Business Administration; and established the Office of Planned Giving.
Matthew Johnson
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Matthew led TruConnect to prominence as the 4th largest wireless lifeline company and fastest growing in the United States with over 1,000,000 customers nationwide, in his role as Co-Founder, Board Member, and Co-CEO. With his brother Nathan Johnson, Matthew built the company with both internal growth and acquisitions including Telscape Communications, Sage Telecom, and TruConnect Mobile among others. Along with his focus on TruConnect, Mr. Johnson is also a Managing Partner and Board Member of Drake Star Partners, a global technology investment bank headquartered in New York with offices in eight countries. A member of Young Presidents Organization (“YPO”) and a three time finalist for E&Y’s Entrepreneur of the Year. Matthew also serves as Chairman for UCP Wheels for Humanity, a non-profit supplying wheelchairs to disabled children and young adults globally. Matthew holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Nathan Johnson
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Nathan is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and Co-CEO of TruConnect, where he oversees the strategic vision and effective governance of the organization. He has co-managed the overall operations and growth of the business with his brother for the last 15 years. TruConnect has earned significant recognition, being awarded Inc. Magazine’s 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies from 2000 to 2024. Nathan is also the Founder and Managing Partner of Drake Star Partners, a global M&A Advisory Firm with offices throughout the US and Europe, where he leads efforts on restructuring and bankruptcy advisory.
In addition to his entrepreneurial roles, Nathan serves as a board member of CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association), where he contributes to the advancement of policies and initiatives that impact the mobile and telecommunications industries.
Nathan’s accomplishments have earned him significant recognition, including being named E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist in Los Angeles for three consecutive years. Prior to his work with Drake Star Partners, Nathan was the Director of Overseas Finance for GM’s Treasury Office in New York, where he oversaw all M&A, divestitures, and investments in Latin America.
Nathan earned his MBA and MA from the Wharton School and the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, with a concentration in Finance and Multinational Management. His focus at the Lauder Institute was a specialized international management program with a concentration on fluency in Spanish and International Studies.