Lee Johnston
Executive Vice President of Human Resources
Holder Construction
Lee Johnston is Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Holder Construction Company and a key member of its Executive Committee. Established in 1960, Holder's mission to provide clients with quality construction services has resulted in over 80% repeat business. Holder is a national, commercial construction services firm with experience in over 25 states and annual revenues of close to $1 billion. Holder consistently ranks as one of the nation's leading contractors in Construction Management, General Construction, and Design-Build.
Lee has guided the company's performance-based human resources strategy for more than 20 years. From her beginnings as Director of Corporate Services, she has led the company’s efforts to attract, develop, and retain the construction industry's best and brightest. As part of her role, she oversees human resources practices in recruitment, retention, associate relations, compensation, benefits, employment, recognition and development for the company.
Holder is committed to the principle that people are its most important assets and is proud of a culture in which its people are associates, not employees. Johnston has played a critical role in helping the company build and support the culture of teamwork, service and performance – a key factor in developing associates and building a strong company.
As the company has grown from annual revenues of $25 million in 1980, business decisions have been centered on the talent of the associates in the company rather than the volume of construction contracts. Proof of the overall human resources strategy at Holder lies in the exceptionally long tenure of the company’s leadership team, low turnover throughout the company, and the success in developing talent internally to lead the company.
Lee is a long-time member of both the local and national chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and has served Georgia as state director and has also served as president of the Atlanta chapter. She also has served on the board of the Atlanta Partnership of Business & Education for the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. She is currently serving as a member of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) HR Network Steering Committee.