How DJ Johnson Built a Well-Oiled Machine at Professional Fire Restoration

Professional Fire Restoration (PFRS) has one of the most recognized jingles in the Capital Region. It's a hallmark of the family business that owner DJ Johnson has taken to the next level by leveraging the important ways they outpace the competition.

• PFRS not only offers cleaning and mitigation but also repair and construction, so homeowners don't have to worry about hiring multiple contractors after an emergency.
• PFRS has a 20,000-foot warehouse where salvageable personal belongings are cleaned, deodorized and stored during restoration.
• PFRS's prices are always fair, which fosters strong relationships within the insurance industry.

Johnson and PFRS are part of The Leadership Team because his company dominates its industry in conjunction with its efforts to support the community. Its focus is spread evenly across not for profits and local colleges, arenas, adult and youth sports and many other ways. 

He sat down with Rodger Wyland to share how his team is always ready when called upon to help a capital region family in crisis. Listen to the full interview here or keep scrolling for a condensed version:

The Leadership Team Podcast with Rodger Wyland on ESPN Radio

Rodger Wyland: How have you built your business to get as big as you have gotten in the Capital Region?

DJ Johnson: Everything comes down to the people we have. As we started to grow, our employees started to bring in their brothers, their sisters, their wives, because they saw how locked and loaded I was and how we were getting into the community. The business and the people have been with me for 15, 20, 30 years — unlike a lot of people who are going through the temp services because they can't find people. I've been fortunate enough to pay them the right amount of money and to keep them rocking and rolling.

Rodger Wyland: Your business is second to none. You've been able to take it to the next level. How do you handle the volume?

DJ Johnson: My team. We're on call 24/7. I'm the face of the company. I'm the one people think they're calling, but they're also getting the people behind me: the painters, the carpenters, the electricians, plumbers, cleaners, and my secretary. It's a well-oiled machine. The phone rings and everyone knows what they need to do.

Rodger Wyland: They respond very quickly.

DJ Johnson: We have to. When our phone rings, somebody's got a hole in their roof, they have no electricity, it's winter, there's water all over the place, it stinks, and their dog's running around crazy. They don't know what to do or where to go. They put in a phone call to us immediately. They have to call their insurance company first and then they call us. Immediately, they know we will start working on a plan.

Rodger Wyland: What's the most satisfying part of what you have built?

DJ Johnson: It's hands down, at the end of the job, giving the keys to somebody to a brand new house. A lot of these are blessings in disguise. They're older houses, and we hand the keys to them —now the house they lived in is brand new, brought up to current code. It's all designed the way they want to do it. It's literally like, "Holy cow, we just had this mind-boggling thing but 6 months later, we have a brand new house." It's a journey; we're in it together for 6 months, 7 months, however long it takes.