Employee Spotlight

A JRU Success Story

Pursuing Excellence in Mentoring

Jerry Allen and Tanner Davis

Jerry Allen (left) mentors Tanner Davis (right)

Q&A with Tanner Davis

What were you doing before working at Johnson Roofing?

Before working at Johnson Roofing, I worked at a roofing company as a laborer. I worked at Sanderson Farms doing sanitation, and I worked in a steel mill doing quality control.

What attracted you to want to work at Johnson Roofing?

It was a family-owned company with plenty of room to learn and grow. Also, that Johnson Roofing takes the time to teach you a trade that you can do for the rest of your life.

What year were you first hired, how old were you, and what was your first position?

2011, I was 20 years old and hired as a laborer.

What has been your career path at Johnson Roofing (first position to current position)?

Laborer, Leadman, Foreman, Field Superintendent, Project Manager, Senior Project Manager.

How were you able to advance your career?

I advanced by working hard and always striving to be the best I could be, regardless of what others were doing.

What role did/does Johnson Roofing University (JRU) play in your career advancement?

JRU allows me to take-off my work hat and put on my learning hat. Being able to slow down and take-in what subject we are going over in JRU is a huge benefit. We learn a lot in the field, but taking the rush out of learning is great.

What would you tell someone with no roofing experience and minimal work history about looking for a job at Johnson Roofing?

Johnson Roofing is a place of endless opportunities. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it and vise versa. If you work hard and take ownership of what you are doing, you will have a very rewarding career at Johnson Roofing.

Do you still attend JRU trainings?

Yes, I completed FMI’s Project Management Institute in 2021. We are continually training on new products from manufacturers, and I also attend industry events.

What are your plans?

My next goal is to be Operations Manager followed by Director of Operations.

Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood

Within about two years of being hired at Johnson Roofing, Tanner had advanced to leadman, where he assisted foremen. In this role, he worked on the largest new construction project in Bell County, the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood. This design-build project replaced the existing Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Ft. Hood with a new, stateof- the-art healthcare facility for service members and their families. It consisted of constructing a 612,000-square foot hospital building, three clinic buildings totaling 324,000 square feet, a 25,000-square foot central utility plant, and three parking garages totaling 1,062,000 square feet. Darnall is the largest project to date funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It is the largest design-build project in the Department of Defense’s (DOD) medical construction.

A few thoughts about Jerry

For several years, Jerry mentored Tanner, and here’s what Tanner has to say about their relationship: “Jerry has taught me to take the time to do things by the book and actually to worry about the small stuff. It’s not in my nature to focus on small things, but Jerry has taught me how big the small things can turn out to be if not adequately addressed. Jerry is a great boss and a great mentor, and a friend to my family and me. When I need someone to talk to, he has always made me feel welcome and accepted. He is a great man and role model that many have had the opportunity to learn and grow from.”

Jerry’s work at Johnson Roofing began in 1972. Back then, Bill Johnson mentored Jerry, and it soon became apparent that Jerry had excellent estimating skills coupled with an ability to notice and understand things clearly. After leaving to pursue other opportunities, Jerry returned in 1989, and thankfully, is still part of the company’s core leadership team today. When asked about Jerry, Sherri describes him as wise, second-to-none, knowledgeable, technically astute, and highly regarded in the roofing industry. It’s not surprising that he received RCAT’s prestigious “Outstanding Service to the Roofing Industry” award. Congratulations to Jerry for his 32 years at Johnson Roofing, and the entire Johnson Roofing family thanks him for his dedication.

Jerry Allen accepting RCAT’s “Outstanding Service to the Roofing Industry” award

“In both my personal and professional life, Jerry has been a respected mentor to me. Still today, I depend on his wise counsel. He is a mighty Man of God, and it is truly an honor and blessing to have him in my life.”

— Sherri Johnson McDonald, CEO Johnson Roofing