Anthony Johnson’s Post

Let's Go!! Huge congratulations to our client ENTEK Manufacturing LLC, on the receipt of their $1.2B loan commitment from the US Department of Energy for their battery separator plant in Terre Haute, Indiana. Clayco broke ground on this factory last fall, with Governor Eric Holcomb as well as the CEO and President of Entek in attendance. #usmanufacturing #manufacturingconstruction #artandscience

Happy Independence Day!! After 248 years, America is still the beacon of hope and dreams that it was back when the Continental Congress adopted our Declaration of Independence. My family and I are grateful that we are, as our founding fathers laid out, endowed with “unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  So as we celebrate this day, we invite everyone to truly remember the reasons behind the picnics, parades, and fireworks: The mutual pledge we made to one another in 1776 of “our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” Happy 4th of July! 

Internships! Internships are a hands on way for young, aspiring professionals to get to learn an industry, build relationships, and witness first hand how business is done. They are also an opportunity for companies to tap into the best and the brightest at a young age, and help inspire their dreams and shape their future. At Clayco this summer we have over 140 interns that have joined us at our job sites and offices throughout the country. This week, I've been proud to watch this young man (my son!!) soak in the truly unique culture we have at Clayco - and learn how he can personally make an impact in business and in the world. Here's to a great future ahead!

Let the "Cranes" Begin!! Exciting things continuing in downtown Phoenix for our Southwest Team! The skyline continues to grow, with this integrated design-build delivery by Clayco and our award winning architecture firm Lamar Johnson Collaborative. Let's Go!! #phoenix #designbuild #integrateddelivery https://lnkd.in/g4_Hrx3W

"Oh my gosh - that is SO COOL!" My kids loved our little detour we took on the way home from a Lacrosse tournament in Nashville. We stopped by to show them Clayco's manufacturing plant we are building for Hankook Tire in Clarksville, TN. Big Cranes and Big Buildings - what's not to love!?! #manufacturing #artandscienceofbuilding

I was honored to contribute to Engineering News-Record’s 2024 list of Top 400 Contractors for an in-depth survey of the entire construction industry from a sector-by-sector perspective, to share my observations on the industry and the economy.   While cost increases are a more manageable and predictable challenge than they were a couple of years ago, economic headwinds in light of booming demand still presents challenges for the construction industry as a whole. In addition, as I had indicated last winter – we continue to not be reliant upon any effects that would result from any material change in interest rates until 2025.   However as new opportunities continue to arise from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (IIJA), CHIPS and the Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Clayco continues to engage with new technologies and the communities we serve.   The pressure of demand is reshaping the entire construction industry, it’s a challenging (but exciting) time to be a builder. This industry deep dive is a must-read! https://lnkd.in/g2Cs9CwH

On Memorial Day we honor the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform. When answering the call in defense of freedom, Americans have shown global leadership that stretches beyond our borders. Whether it’s heeding the call to enforce sanctions against totalitarian dictatorships, providing search and rescue operations in international waters to vessels in need, or working with our strongest allies to defeat pure evil regimes like Nazi Germany, our armed forces are always at the ready, always humble, and always willing to help.   Today we remember these soldiers’ commitments and sacrifices throughout our great nation’s history. We must never forget - the sacrifices (and the subsequent pain and sorrow of that soldier’s family) that go into making the United States the land of the free and the home of the brave.    Thank you to those that served, and those that gave literally everything.  

The question on every buyer's mind when shopping for an electric vehicle is: "Will it get me to my destination?" For many years, Clayco has been on the front edge of the latest EV technology and #manufacturing plants in the US. We’ll soon see 500-mile range EVs that can fully charge in under 15 minutes. This is longer range than most ICE vehicles, and about the same time to charge as it is to get a tank of gas and stop inside for a coffee. This great graph from Visual Capitalist shows just the amount of ground we’ve covered - literally -  since 2010. That’s why this year, we are exploring new avenues in the energy production space—particularly renewables. As demand for #EVs and energy storage continues to increase, Clayco will be at the forefront of developing and ‘recharging’ America’s aging and over-strained energy grid. 

The topic of how we to attract more young people to careers in Engineering and Construction is always ranked at the top of the most important discussions we have when it comes to discussing our future growth plans at Clayco. Right now, the US is facing a crucial skills shortage in the trades, so I’m not strictly talking about college as the only option. The freedom that a master craftsman has to take jobs on sites anywhere in the country right now is incredible. Plus, some people were just born to work with their hands. Because the US is changing so quickly right now as we approach the renewable energy ‘tipping point’ we’re going to need all the help we can get. And soon. As we continue to adopt data-hungry AI solutions, we’re going to need someone to design/build the data centers. As we approach carbon net-zero, we’re going to need big thinkers to plan the next generation of power plants, whether those be nuclear, solar, wind, tidal, or some other form of power we haven’t even dreamt up yet. Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment you feel when you’ve produced something for your client, who placed their trust upon you. This is what makes Construction and Engineering the most exciting industries in the world.