About Us
Our team
Willie Rankin Jr. is a nationally recognized veteran, strategic advisor, and community-focused leader with over a decade of experience guiding public, private, and nonprofit organizations through innovation, growth, and high-stakes implementation. As co-founder and principal consultant at Ignite The Room Advisory Group, Willie works alongside education systems, government agencies, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs to deliver data-driven strategies that turn complex challenges into measurable results.
With a reputation for building what others only imagine, Willie has led more than $40 million in startup projects across Tarrant County, overseen the construction and renovation of early education centers and community centers, and driven community revitalization efforts that reduced violent crime by over 20%. He brings an unmatched blend of operational excellence, strategic insight, and public-sector know-how—earned through years of frontline leadership and a commitment to building sustainable solutions. From launching child care policy innovations to leading disaster response efforts and community outreach initiatives, his work is grounded in service, accountability, and results.
He’s a former U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant and an Executive MBA graduate from the University of Texas at Arlington, known for his sharp problem-solving, commanding presence, and ability to unite diverse stakeholders around a common goal.
Willie has been honored with numerous awards, including the Fort Worth Business Press 40 Under 40, the Dr. Marion J. Brooks Legend in the Making Award, and the Gold Star Impact Award for his leadership in early childhood systems. Beyond his professional achievements, he is deeply involved in civic life—serving on multiple boards and as Chairman of the City of Fort Worth Zoning Commission.
As a consultant, Willie helps organizations not only move forward, but build systems strong enough to carry their mission far beyond the moment. If you're ready to align your vision with clear action and lasting results, Willie Rankin Jr. is the partner who will help you ignite the change.
Our team
Andrea C. Johnson is a nationally recognized K-12 education leader, executive coach, and community strategist with 18 years of progressive leadership experience across public education, nonprofit engagement, and business development. As the founder and principal consultant of Ignite The Room Advisory Group, Andrea partners with school systems, leaders, and organizations to drive transformational results in student achievement, instructional effectiveness, and educational equity.
Andrea is best known for her ability to lead rapid school improvement and scale sustainable systems that elevate student performance and staff capacity. Her signature framework, rooted in data-driven decision-making, high-impact coaching, and culturally responsive leadership, has led to results like a 99th percentile growth ranking on NWEA MAP assessments and double-digit gains in reading and math campuswide. Whether improving failing campuses or guiding executive leaders, Andrea brings clarity, strategy, and bold execution to every project
A scholar-practitioner, Andrea holds an MBA, is ABD for an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Masters in Education, and earned a certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is a published author of Thriving Not Just Surviving: Practical Advice for School Administrators and contributor to TEPSA News. Her leadership has been recognized by the City of Fort Worth, Texas Association of Black School Educators, the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, and Prairie View A&M University’s Top 40 Under 40.
In addition to her consulting work, Andrea is deeply embedded in her community—serving on advisory councils for Cook Children’s, participating in voter engagement initiatives, and championing equity-focused education policy.
Clients seek out Andrea not only for her results, but for her authentic leadership, sharp insight, and deep belief that every student—regardless of background—deserves an excellent education. If you’re ready to shift culture, increase outcomes, and build lasting capacity in your school or system, Andrea Johnson is the trusted partner who will help you ignite the change
Our history
Ignite the Room Advisory Group was founded by Andrea C. Johnson and Willie Rankin Jr., two purpose-driven leaders with a shared mission: to help organizations implement bold ideas with clarity, strategy, and measurable impact. Drawing from their deep roots in education, nonprofit leadership, and community development, Andrea and Willie launched the firm to meet a growing need—supporting leaders and organizations struggling to turn vision into action.
Andrea, a nationally recognized K–12 education leader and executive coach, built a reputation for leading rapid school transformation and scaling sustainable systems that drive student achievement. Her data-driven, equity-centered approach has led to dramatic improvements in academic outcomes across struggling campuses and entire school systems. Willie, a Marine Corps veteran and seasoned nonprofit executive, brings over a decade of experience leading high-impact initiatives in community safety, early education, public-private partnerships, and organizational growth. Known for his ability to translate complex challenges into actionable strategies, he has helped guide multimillion-dollar projects and mission-driven businesses to success.
Together, Andrea and Willie created Ignite the Room Advisory Group to provide the kind of hands-on, implementation-focused support they knew leaders needed—but often lacked. Since its founding, the firm has helped education administrators, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs move beyond planning into powerful execution—igniting results that are sustainable, scalable, and rooted in community. Their combined expertise in leadership, data systems, outreach, and operational design has positioned Ignite the Room as a trusted partner for those ready to lead with purpose and get things done.
Our mission
At Ignite the Room Advisory Group, our mission is to equip education leaders, nonprofit organizations, and mission-driven entrepreneurs with the strategic guidance, tools, and support they need to turn bold ideas into sustainable, high-impact results. We exist to remove barriers to implementation, elevate leadership capacity, and ignite transformational change in the communities we serve.