Meet the Three Crowns Crew: Johnny Sandquist, CEO and Founder

Welcome to our latest “Meet the Team” blog. This week’s shining star is none other than the guy who started it all, Three Crowns CEO and Founder, Johnny Sandquist!

Meet Johnny

Hi there! 👋🏼

I’ve been working with RIA firms and advisor technology firms since 2009.

There are few things that get me more excited than helping companies create a brand and message that gets to the heart of what their clients care about.

As for the personal stuff, I’m a big Star Wars nerd. Autumn is my favorite season. Give me all the s’mores, please.

I’m married to my high school sweetheart and we have three awesome kids, plus one dog. If I’m on a hike or out in nature with them, I’m in my happy place.

Read on to learn more about Johnny’s daily life as Three Crowns’ CEO, his super-secret talent, and the one thing he carries in his wallet every single day.

Everyone here at 3C knows about your affinity for music (although we’re still waiting for you to share your old band’s tracks!). What’s your favorite song and why?

This is an absolutely impossible question. I love listening to and creating music just about as much as I love breathing.

It’s probably easier to choose favorite bands over favorite songs, but if I’m going to pin it down to one song that has resonated with me throughout my life it would be this one. It speaks to me just as much at 36 as it did at 13.

Do you have any secret talents you’ve been hiding?

Based on my kids’ reaction, I’ve got a really good impression of Super Mario’s voice.

Think of an item that has special importance to you. What is it and why is it meaningful?

I have kept the ticket stub of my first date with my wife in my wallet for the last 21 years. We went to a putt-putt place that’s since been torn down.

Every time I open my wallet and see the ticket, which is pretty worn now, it reminds me of how far we’ve come since those first awkward moments.

Picture this: You’re stuck on a tropical island and you can teleport one famous person to suffer alongside you. Who are you bringing?

I know you’re never supposed to meet your heroes, but I’m going with Bono.

Where are you from and how did you end up in Omaha?

I’m Omaha born and raised. I took a brief diversion to Colorado, but came back. We’re looking forward to venturing out again once our kids are grown.

If you could learn any other language, which would you choose and why?

I already have a passing ability to speak Spanish (thanks, Señora Ita) but if I could choose a different one to learn, it would be Old Norse.

What’s your go-to drink or snack while working?

Sparkling water and mixed nuts,

Either that or bourbon, depending on the day.

What sparks your creativity?

The right type of music is essential for a good creative session. “Hypnotize” by The Notorious B.I.G. is the song I put on when I have to get something done quickly.

I also just love seeing other people’s creativity in action!

What’s a 2023 goal you have that’s not work-related?

As Three Crowns has grown, I’ve gotten away from writing outside of work – things like fiction and poetry. I am building that habit back up this year.

What does a day in your life as CEO look like?

Every day is a little bit different, but most of them are some variation of meeting with clients, talking to (hopefully) new clients to be added soon, and working in around with what the rest of the team needs.

I typically am setting the larger strategy and vision on the projects we work on both internally and with clients, oversee content creation, and then I come back in to offer my edits and make sure that vision is getting clearly communicated back to the people we work with.

It’s never dull!

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