Sherri Johnson McDonald is excitedly leading Johnson Roofing into the future. She is continuing a family legacy of integrity, business savvy, and strong Christian values. This legacy began in the 1920s with her grandparents, Jack and Margaret Johnson’s grocery store and construction business. It continued in the 1940s as her dad, Bill Johnson, was building Johnson Roofing into a widely successful company. Today, with over 150 employees, the company sits on an 850-acre horse and cattle ranch outside Waco, Texas.
Bill instilled in his two daughters a strong work ethic and a passion for excellence at a very young age. Sherri and her sister grew up showing and competing with their Appaloosa horses. They never rode for second place; they always strived to win, doing their best in all that they did.
After running her own construction company, Sherri came on board in 2008 during Hurricane Ike. She thrives on the fast-paced, high-stakes nature of the roofing industry. Though the roofing arena has long been male-dominated, more and more owners, managers, and top-level executives are women. Sherri notes that women need not be apprehensive about stepping inside the ring. “If you get involved in the trade organizations and network, it’s easy to meet other people in the industry. It’s competitive, but it’s friendly. We all bounce ideas off of each other and discuss solutions to tricky situations. The key to success is to surround yourself with those who have expertise and longevity in the industry who can help guide you.” Sherri says that the best business advice she has received and would pass on is simple, “The most important quality for leadership is credibility; people must be able to trust you, or they won’t follow you. Treat your team and your customers with honor and respect.”
As the company approaches its 80th anniversary in 2021, Sherri looks forward to building on the solid foundation that her dad and grandparents put in place. She is excited to see how roofing technology advances and for women-owned businesses in the construction world to become more common and less of a novelty. For her, business is all about good relationships. “We will continue to build strong alliances with manufacturers, architects, engineers, and our fellow roofing contractors to ultimately provide our customers with the very best roofs in the world,” Sherri says.
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