MEET THE GUY WHO OVERSEES ALLEN’S PRODUCTION TEAMS WHILE WORKING HANDS-ON WITH OUR PRE-CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT, ERIC JOHNSON, VP OF CONSTRUCTION.
What do you do at Allen Construction?
I started at Allen in March of 2012, when the company was Allen Associates. It’s been fun to watch the company change and grow, just as my position has along the way. I was hired as a project manager and have worked as a pre-construction project manager, a division manager for Santa Barbara, and now, in my current position, as Vice President of Construction.
What kind of projects do you work on?
I work with our sales and production teams from San Luis Obispo to West Los Angeles. I specifically enjoy meeting new clients and helping to find a way to make their vision a reality. An early shared vision with lots of communication around expectations helps make the production side of the project move easier and more efficiently.
How did you get started in the construction field?
Arvid Dahlstrom sponsored my grandfather’s family when they immigrated from Sweden. He owned a small concrete business that employed several Swedish immigrants. So, it became a family affair. As a teenager, I went to work with my Dad, who was a general contractor. I worked for him as a general laborer, carpenter, and Jr. Superintendent. It was during these early years that I was first introduced to the construction scene in West LA. We worked for several well-known clients including Cher, the Hilton family, and Jerry Seinfeld. I am super happy to have landed at Allen Construction. It is, in my experience, the best construction company there is.
Eric in Hawaii with his wife, Trisha, and twin daughters, Kenya and Anika.
Where do you live?
I moved to Oak View three years ago and I love it. The population is under 5,000 and the sun shines almost every day. I live on a one-acre ranch with my wife Trisha, our twin daughters, Kenya and Anika, three very large tortoises, several chickens, two turkeys, a cockatiel, and our main man, Gridley the dog.
How has your daily routine changed since having to work from home?
We lost two goats and a magnificent ram to a mountain lion early in the stay at home order. It was a trying time for the family, especially Trisha, as she cares incredibly deeply for our animals and the animal kingdom in general. Otherwise, I find periods of intense focus working at home. I also find times I want to pull my hair out. I do miss interacting with teammates and hearing about their goings on. Construction is a “boots on the ground” industry and homes don’t get built without people power. I am immensely grateful to all of the teams that run our jobsites all day, every day, during the pandemic.
What is your proudest achievement?
By far, my family. It is no small task to maintain a home life that is a refuge from it all. When my home life is good, I can handle anything life throws at me. Thank you to Trisha, the girls, and all the others that make up the extended Johnson clan.
What was the last book you read?
The Overstory by Richard Powers. It is a story of activism and of trees. It tells of the effort to save old growth forests and about the tree you had in your back yard as a kid. I really enjoyed the way the author wove several different adventures into one.
We wouldn’t know it to look at you, but…
I love long distance ocean swimming. This spring and summer have been really good because of the warmer water and flat surf. The lifeguards in Ventura spotted a great white on July 9th, so that added a bit of energy to the outing. For my birthday this month, I’ve asked my family for an ukulele. I’m excited to get started practicing for the Allen Construction talent show…
What advice would you give someone starting out in the construction industry?
Do not be afraid to ask for help. There is a moniker in construction that you can only get better with time, which is true to a point. However, you can reduce that time by advancing your understanding of the industry by talking and listening to others. Let those that have been around teach you about the mistakes they’ve made and how they’ve resolved them.