Education: Ontario high school diploma (2002)
Biggest business achievement: Receiving an Immigrant Entrepreneur Award from the City of Ottawa in 2018.
Biggest obstacle overcome: As many (if not most) companies have experienced, not all customers are quick to pay. As the owner of a mostly self-funded company (I have received some financing for large-scale purchases), I have needed to scale my business very carefully and protect my cash flow. For this reason, purchases for new equipment or to expand my office or team have been more gradual than I would ideally like. Given that demand for our services is growing so quickly, we are all working long hours.
OBJ360 (Sponsored)
Esmee Bennison says she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life back in Grade 11, when she enroled in a technological design class at uOttawa. She had
Sharing “PapaJo’s” story to shine the spotlight on the Campaign to Create Tomorrow
Visitors to the seventh floor of The Ottawa Hospital’s General campus may do a double take outside Room 7123. A plaque beside the door references “PapaJo” Johns. Who, you may
Biggest influence: My dad. He has told me to never aim for second place and to treat everybody with the same respect regardless of their social standing or race. He always challenged me and encouraged me to aim higher and higher.
Most important lesson you’ve learned in business: If you consistently provide quality work with great customer service, your business will not only grow but flourish. Also, treat your employees and partners with the utmost respect and always over-deliver.
First job: Delivering pizza flyers.
Advice I’d give the younger me: Keep pushing and never give up.
Favourite pastime: Flying my drone.
