Algunas de las empresas de más éxito nacen de la oportunidad. Otras nacen de la determinación frente a los retos de la vida. Johns Brothers es ambas cosas.
En 2011, Eric y Earl Johns prosperaban cada uno en su propia carrera: Earl en agricultura y excavación y Eric en construcción comercial. Después de 16 años, tenían las habilidades, la ética de trabajo y el conocimiento de la industria. Pero cuando su madre se enfrentó a una grave enfermedad, los dos hermanos se encontraron pasando más tiempo juntos y reflexionando sobre lo que realmente importaba.
“Out of that season we decided, ‘Hey, we ought to just quit our jobs and start a company,’” Eric says. “And that’s exactly what we did.”
Con un préstamo de $100.000, una vieja alicatadora de los años 80 y una retroexcavadora, se lanzaron a la aventura. Lo que empezaron siendo dos hermanos con maquinaria prestada se ha convertido en una empresa multigeneracional con una facturación de $4 millones al año y una docena de empleados, la mayoría familiares.
Una empresa familiar
Family is the foundation of Johns Brothers, shaping how the company works and why it thrives. Out of 12 employees, only three aren’t related, although every member of the team is treated like family.
Eric and Earl’s older brother, Don, joined the business in 2013, keeping the fleet in top shape as a mechanic while also running excavators. Eric’s son, Andrew, came on after earning a business degree from Grace College in Winona Lake and is preparing to carry the company into the future. Earl’s son-in-law, Air Force veteran Tyler Skinner, joined in 2018 and now operates excavators and dozers on some of their largest projects.
Eric also points to longtime employee Nick Ames. “Nick kind of runs with the commercial excavating side of things,” he explains. “We depend on him a lot, especially on the big dairy farms. He’s a huge asset to us.”
Behind the scenes, Earl’s wife Stephanie manages the office from Francesville, handling billing, payroll and bookkeeping. Eric’s wife Maurie, a nurse, keeps the shop running by stocking food and drinks, washing work clothes and making sure the crew always has what they need.
“It’s such a dirty job that we even provide their work clothes,” Eric says. “It’s one of those little things that makes life easier for the guys.”
De pequeños trabajos a grandes proyectos
Cuando la empresa empezó, un trabajo de alicatado de $20.000 era un gran negocio. Hoy en día, Johns Brothers aborda con regularidad proyectos de azulejos de medio millón de dólares que abarcan cientos de hectáreas.
“We still do the small jobs,” Eric says. “They’re not always the most profitable, but that’s what built our business. It’s also an investment in future work, so we keep at it.”
Their work now extends far beyond field drainage. Johns Brothers handles about 75% of Titan Construction’s commercial dirt work and maintains strong relationships with large dairy operations in the region.
Su mayor proyecto lechero fue una instalación para 8.000 vacas en la que se encargaron de todas las obras, incluida la construcción de lagunas. Solo este año han excavado estanques de retención de aguas pluviales, preparado terrenos para nuevas instalaciones de terneros y excavado para un digestor de biogás.
“There’s never a shortage of work,” Eric says with a grin.
Una flota preparada para cualquier trabajo
Desde sus humildes comienzos con dos máquinas, Johns Brothers posee ahora más de 30 equipos, entre los que se incluyen:
- 7 excavadoras
- 5 bulldozers
- 4 alicatadoras
- 2 minicargadoras
- Varios camiones semirremolque, volquetes y vehículos de apoyo
Owning their own equipment, or as Eric would say, “owning their own iron,” gives them the flexibility to take on nearly any job without waiting on rentals or outside resources.
Una asociación con la que pueden contar
Since day one, Johns Brothers has trusted Fratco for their drainage solutions. The connection runs deeper than business. Eric, Earl’s wife and several Fratco employees, including President and CEO, Chris Overmyer, all grew up together riding the same school bus. That lifelong bond built a foundation of trust.
“It’s not a perfect world,” Eric says, noting that in such a dynamic industry, mistakes are bound to happen. “But when they do, Chris is our guy—he always makes it right. That’s why we keep going back.”
For Johns Brothers, dependability is everything. “They’re always there to supply what we need,” Eric explains.
In this business, timing is everything. If we call, they make sure we have it. That’s the kind of partner you hold on to.
Eric explains, “John Danford is my go-to guy. He always makes sure we have what we need. He has had the guys load pipe up for us overnight so I could get it the next morning. He’s also been very flexible and accommodating if they didn’t have exactly what I needed, usually because of my lack
of planning.”
Eric also appreciates the no-pressure approach of Fratco Sales Rep Jade Crum. “I don’t like to be pestered by salesmen,” he says. “If I need something, I call him and he takes care of it. That’s how I like to do business, and Jade
honors that.”
Guiados por la fe
Desde el principio, Johns Brothers ha operado bajo un verso rector:
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.”
– 1 Corinthians 10:31
This scripture isn’t just a motto on the wall. It is the principle that directs how the brothers lead their crew, treat their customers and think about their future.
With the next generation already stepping into leadership roles, Eric and Earl know that Johns Brothers’ foundation of faith, family and hard work will continue to carry the business forward for years to come.
