Chief Estimator Wins Journal Record Excellence in Construction and Real Estate Award

Sam Johnson has received the 2021 Excellence in Construction and Real Estate Award in the Estimator Category. Sam Johnson started back in 1983 in the construction business. Over time he has seen some big changes in the industry from taking proposals by phone and writing everything down to where the fax machine came in and people could fax proposals and bids that way. Now there is email, texting and other electronic ways to make it happen. “About 10 years ago, I saw that construction management process was being a way to deliver projects, so I started getting into that type of project delivery.”

Sam has estimated just about every form of commercial construction such as schools, churches, commercial buildings, bridges, treatment plants, highways, industrial work and now a lot of multi-family. “I find all types of construction interesting,” said Sam. A few years ago a tornado hit El Reno, OK, and it took out a lot of Canadian Valley Technology Center, and Sam recalls walking around the campus looking at the aftermath of the tornado when trying to price what was existing so that they could have an insurance claim to rebuild the project. “I have never done that before and I found it to be really interesting and really proud we could rebuild that campus better than it was,” stated Sam.

Sam is known to be a mentor to many. From being someone for team mates to lean on, teaching the college Interns that are hired for the summer at CMSWillowbrook, he also goes to schools and Universities to help shape minds of our future. Sam offers wisdom, guidance and what he calls programs and successes. Sam stated, “I think the most important thing is to know what your value is to the company that you work for. That means how you are going to return your salary back to the company plus a bit more. Also know what your personal value is to other people. How you are going to make their lives better by being around you.