Beth Johnson is a trailblazer. Her commitment to learning and reinvention informs her leadership style and has earned her the 2024 Nevada Top Workplaces Women-Led Company Award, based on employee feedback. As the CEO of Absolute Flood Response (AFR), which specializes in restoration and remediation, Johnson stands among the mere 1 percent of women CEOs in the construction industry.
“Good leaders are servants to their company, and they enable and inspire people to give their best,” said Bob Helbig, Energage, LLC’s media partnerships director, the research firm that administered the employee survey to determine Top Workplace recipients.
According to Johnson, great workplaces have three things in common: a commitment to training, intentional leadership and what AFR calls “the agreements,” 24 behaviors that shape the company’s foundation of success. These include things like having clear expectations (No.1), celebrating success (No.2) and listening generously (No. 13).
“Anytime we see somebody delivering legendary customer service (No.7) or practicing blameless problem-solving (No. 10), we highlight and celebrate it,” Johnson said.
AFR’s unique workplace culture is centered around her “pay it forward” philosophy, rooted in an experience she had as a teen. At her first job, someone took note of Johnson’s work ethic and offered her an opportunity to advance. “It changed my life,” she said.
A consummate learner who knows a company’s success hinges on its employees, Johnson created AFR University, a series of courses, some of which she teaches, and an apprenticeship program that’s seizing the moment.
Thanks to a rise in “blue-collar influencers,” more Gen Z people are interested in trade careers. AFR’s apprentice program is helping people, including many women, find their way into a specialized area based on a skills assessment followed by field training. The result: Employees have advanced to lead technicians, received certifications and, recently, a carpenter apprentice graduated to journeyman.
AFR employees must take two self- or professional development courses, annually, at no cost. “I believe it’s one of the things that helps us succeed. We’re all better together. We’re all winning together. That attitude carries across our company and to our customers,” Johnson said.
Courses include work in emotional intelligence training and Crucial Conversations, a deep dive into the art of discussing difficult topics. There’s also a financial education track with how-to classes, covering everything from improving one’s credit score to budgeting and planning for the future. One employee surveyed for the award said, “They’ve helped me grow so much here, not only within the work aspect but also in my personal life.”
Johnson understands how employee performance is influenced by the delicate relationship between one’s personal and life. When she saw new hires worry about covering the cost of good work boots, she created a plan to help ease the burden. She also employed the national Perks at Work program, which gives employees discounts on groceries and other household items. AFR also helps employees with counseling.
“Mental health is a huge deal. You don’t realize it until you see someone struggling. We want to make sure we’re supporting people here,” Johnson said.
“Beth has the most amazing innate ability to connect people and leave things better than she found them,” said Todd Walter, CEO of Boy Scouts of America, Las Vegas Chapter, where Johnson is a board member.
After a career in marketing, Johnson started as AFR’s business development person in 2010. To better understand the business, she put on a set of PPE, or personal protective equipment, went into the field and shoveled up sludge. Along with valuable insight into employee duties, she saw first-hand the company’s impact. “What we do is to help people through really hard times,” she said.
In 2019, a year after becoming chief operating officer, Johnson seriously considered her career trajectory. She joined a CEO training group. When she decided she wanted an ownership stake in AFR, she presented the idea to the company’s co-founders, Kathy Mason and Johnson’s now-husband, Jason. Mason was ready to sell her part of the business and retire, which meant an opportunity for Johnson.
Nationally, women make up only 14 percent of the construction workforce. While Johnson said she immediately fell in love with the industry’s camaraderie and unique challenges, she counts herself lucky to have had Mason’s mentorship. “For me, the No. 1 (lesson) was, ‘You belong in the room.’ Kathy really taught me how to feel and own that,” Johnson said.
She hopes more women will consider construction as a career path. “There are so many growth opportunities for women,” she said.
A visible industry figure, Johnson is on the Nevada Contractor Association’s diversity and inclusion committee. She speaks on panels at events like the recent industry roundtable hosted by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), a leading trade organization.
“Beth’s industry expertise, dedication to excellence, and ethical leadership make her an inspiring leader in the restoration industry,” said Holly Kimber, IICRC chief of staff.
Today, while raising three kids with her husband, Johnson is focused on evolving AFR University and growing the company. When asked about her legacy, she said, “I want to leave behind the importance of caring for your people. I want to leave behind opportunities for other people.”