Member Spotlight: Foreman Christina Johnson

Talk about a quick riser.

Christina Johnson has been a member of IBEW Local 11 for more than five years, having just turned out of the apprenticeship program in October.

Two months later, she got promoted to Foreman for Taft Electric. She’s currently onsite working on the new Compton High School.

“I’ve always been hands on,” Johnson said of what drew her to the electrical trade. “ It seems a little more challenging than the other trades. I like a challenge.”

Johnson was a retail manager for 12 years, but wanted something more. A friend from another trade suggested looking into the IBEW.

“There’s tons of challenges,” Johnson said. “I’ve been with Taft for five years now. It kind of happened so fast, growing from an apprentice to a journeyman and then being a foreman a couple of months later. That in itself is a challenge. I enjoy learning new software, planning, scheduling, and time management.”

The promotion meant a lot to her.

“It definitely made me feel good that they trust me to do that, get the work done, be reliable and consistent,” Johnson said.

Taft Superintendent Brandon Parlopino said that it was Johnson’s drive and motivation that made her stand out.

“She worked for me as an apprentice and always showed drive and eagerness to want to learn and do better,” he said. “Attitude was the biggest thing.”

For her part, Johnson, 36, wishes she had learned about the union sooner.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s changed my life for the better since I got in. My high school didn’t have any introduction to the trades or anything like that, and I wish I knew sooner.”

And what of the union?

“The opportunities are endless,” Johnson said. “The work is always there as long as you’re working hard. The benefits, taking care of me and my family more so than any other career I’ve chosen. I feel like it literally is a brotherhood. I firmly believe in that. If anyone needs help, I’m always saying we’re a brotherhood, or a sisterhood. We’re supposed to be there for one another, on the job, outside of the job. I love it. I wouldn’t change it for anything.”