Rashod R. Johnson, P.E., President/CEO of The Roderick Group, Inc.,

Rashod R. Johnson, P.E. currently serves as the President/CEO of two engineering firms located in the Chicago area: The Roderick Group, Inc., a 48-person full service infrastructure engineering design firm, and Material Service Testing Laboratories, Inc., a 44-person construction materials testing laboratory. With over 20 years of construction, engineering and business experience, Mr. Johnson prides himself on being a “business professional who practices engineering” versus an “engineer who owns a business”. This distinction has resulted in success for both firms in both good and bad economies. Previously, Johnson worked for a major general contractor in Chicago, served as the Director of Engineering for a national trade association and led a testing laboratory before founding his two engineering firms.

Mr. Johnson currently serves in many leadership roles in both technical and non-technical organizations. He sits on the Board of Directors for American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) C-12, the Planning and Design Board of Directors for the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association (IRTBA) and is the Chairman for the National Council for Masonry Wall Bracing. Over the past 10 years, he has taught over a hundred technical seminars for contractors, architects, engineers and inspectors throughout the country. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for Year Up- Chicago and South Side YMCA, the Board of Managers for YMCA of Metro Chicago, and the Board of Regents for St. Ignatius College Preparatory.

Mr. Johnson earned a B.S. and M.S. in civil/structural engineering from the University of Illinois, a MBA from the University of Notre Dame and holds professional engineering licenses in five states. He is an active and life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and has a 7 year old daughter, Leila Elyse.