Digging into what’s possible makes construction a rewarding and exciting career. Learn how V3 Senior Project Manager Dianna Johnson helps transform environments through supportive leadership and industry expertise.
Finding the blueprint
Construction runs deep in Dianna’s family. Growing up, her father was the road commissioner for her local township; she has many fond memories of him showing her his projects and letting her ride along to plow snow. She was always interested in how he brought projects to life. Her brother Dan followed in their dad’s footsteps, furthering Dianna’s exposure to the trade. When it came time for college, she forged her own path towards business management, eventually earning her MBA.
Dianna was the business manager at a local newspaper, then after a brief break from work when her son was born her brother offered her a role in construction project management. This opportunity combined her lifelong curiosity in construction with her talent for organization, oversight, and support of successful operations.
“Early on I knew my gifts lie in management. I was drawn to those challenges more than actual construction at first, but now I love it. From a young age these types of projects sparked my interest but now I get to be involved in a way that excites me.”
Building a strong foundation
Dianna followed Dan to V3 in 2002 where she helped start our firm’s self-perform construction division. As one of the first three employees of the group, she was instrumental in developing the team’s structure. The process required everything from hiring crews to getting set up with unions, renting and buying equipment to setting up a new billing system.
“It was sometimes challenging, sure, but also very exciting. V3 as a whole was so supportive, with lots of different people and departments pitching in. Although we had a construction group at the time, we weren’t self-performing, so everyone was eager to see this service grow.”
After landing the group’s first big project with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, the wheels were in motion, and after the first year the team had built a healthy backlog of work. V3’s reputation for excellence has kept Dianna busy ever since.
As a senior project manager, Dianna juggles several projects at a time, ensuring she visits all her active job sites at least once a week to check in on progress. She is an expert at solving problems and providing field crews with what they need to keep moving forward.
One of her favorite projects was the Springbrook Creek and Wetland Restoration in Warrenville, IL where she helped overcome unique constructability issues. The project required experts across service lines to create over a mile of new creek construction and 97 acres of wetland and woodland restoration.
“I love when all our different specialties can come together and create something new. Some projects last months or years, but when you see the transformation from what it was to what it becomes, it’s so beautiful.”
Under contract
When Dianna takes off her work boots, she loves spending time with her family. She reads everything from historical fiction to thrillers, and never misses an opportunity to bake a batch of her favorite sugar cookies.
Dianna’s impressive career streak continues with more complex projects on the horizon. She’s proud of what she’s built and looks forward to more growth.
“I plan to stay at V3 until my retirement. I enjoy my job immensely and the people I work with make it fun. We’ve been together a long time yet there’s always something new to learn. We give our clients the best we can; we have a good reputation, so I guess they like us!”
Work with Dianna and our self-perform construction team
Our professional approach to construction is evident in the way we can deal with field variables, identify options, and confidently implement construction strategies to optimize project outcomes. Connect with our team to learn more.