I first realized something was terribly wrong with Andrea Johnson when we were thrown together as college roommates. While I slept half my young life away, she was up by 6 on Saturday mornings doing insane things like making homemade maple syrup for our weekend pancakes. Her endless energy baffled me as much then as it does now.
I always assumed Andrea would outgrow her unnerving habits of responsibility, drive and mastery of all the things. Yet somehow age has not only brought grace, it has also brought Andrea even more things to be good at.
Yes she’s a mom to 3 teenagers (and a stepmom to 5 more). Yes she could pass as a professional chef and kombucha brewer. Yes she’s the ultimate plant lady and homesteader whose yard was featured on the Master Gardener Tour last year. And yes she is irritatingly ageless and looks better than she did when we were college roomates.
But she is also one badass businesswoman. From operations to personnel to business development to marketing, she is the face and voice (and part owner) of Allbritten, THE go-to for installation, repair and maintenance of light commercial heating/air systems, plumbing, and whole home water filtration.
Andrea recently pioneered Allbritten U, the first apprenticeship program offered by the company since its inception in 1932. The inaugural graduating class received paid training to learn valuable trade skills that they can now put to use as Allbritten employees.
Andrea’s passion for creating the happiest, healthiest work environment is apparent in her leadership style. She considers it an honor to support the livelihoods of almost 100 families. Her integrity as an employer manifests itself in weekly family dinners for her work fam, top-notch medical benefits, and a commitment to being a fiscally responsible company its employees can count on.
This others-centric worldview extends beyond the people in her professional care. Andrea has made it her mission to be of service: service to her employees, service to her customers, and service to her community.
Allbritten has been a faithful partner to organizations like the CV Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Home of Hope, and Kids Day benefitting Valley Children’s Hospital. This abundant Allbritten crew has also planted vegetable gardens at Valley Teen Ranch and trees for Leap for Nature, created gift bags for foster kids with Together We Rise, sponsored/maintained the cove by the dam at Shaver Lake, and hosted a blood drive.
The future is just as bright for Andrea and Allbritten as the present. Their long-term vision includes maintaining impeccable customer service, expanding the apprenticeship program, creating additional mid-level management positions, and facilitating more community service projects in the Valley.
Most of us can only aspire to Andrea’s level as an entrepreneur and human. But in true Andrea form, she offers us everyday folk some inspiration on our own journeys to greatness:
- Focus on personal development: read books and then read some more books! And listen to podcasts.
- Prioritize self-care: Take 15 minutes out of your day, even when life is wild with business and teenagers and lifeyness, to do what makes you happy and love life. For Andrea, that’s a walk, gardening, cooking, baking from scratch, or just being outdoors.
- Follow the fear: Face one fear or challenge every week. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Feel the fear and do it anyway.
- Keep it real: Andrea laments the time she wasted in life trying to mold herself into being the person that made other people happy. Her sage advice: Life is too short! Be unashamedly you and allow others to do the same.
If you’re looking to connect with this superhuman and her superb company, head to www.allbritten.com. Or throw it back to simpler times and just give them a call at (559) 292-4919.
Hindsight is 20/20. As I look back on over 2 decades of knowing Andrea Johnson, I realize that nothing was ever wrong with her. Everything that confounded, intrigued, and inspired me about her were all things good and right. She was my Woman Crush then, she’s my Woman Crush now, and my Woman Crush she’ll forever be. To know her is to love her, to admire her, and to continually be surprised and blown away by her.
I knew she was a beast, but I didn’t realize the extent of her beasthood 😳
She’s unparalleled in her beastliness!!! In the best possible way.