History

From our humble beginnings in 1940 to a wholly owned employee company today, Anning-Johnson is an industry leader with over 80 years of rich experience.

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A new partnership

On September 1, 1940 Harold E. Anning, a general superintendent for the United States Gypsum Company (USG), and Ernest B. Johnson, a sales manager for USG, formed a partnership to do acoustical ceiling and gypsum roof deck work in Chicago, IL. Their company was named H. E. Anning Company.

1940

The national expansion begins

Johnson opens an office in Washington, D.C. under the name E. B. Johnson Company.

1942

Ambitious Decisions

With savvy salesmanship from Johnson, the company is awarded the largest gypsum roof deck job in the Company’s history. It was not until 2 years later in 1945 that we knew the 2,500,000 sq. ft. of poured roof deck in Oak Ridge, Tennessee was for the Manhattan Project.

1943

A new name

H.E. Anning Company and E.B. Johnson Company are consolidated to form what is today known as Anning-Johnson Company. During this period, the Company is at the forefront of innovative changes in gypsum roof deck materials and installation techniques.

1946

A significant event

As the year comes to a close, the Company offers shares of company stock to a select group of employees. This was the beginning of what is today a wholly employee-owned Company.

1949

Innovative Installation Methods

A Chicago superintendent discovers a better method for unpacking, prepping, and installing ceiling tiles. The “buttering” process increases efficiency without sacrificing quality. The practice is adopted companywide and reinforces Anning-Johnson Company’s culture of continuous improvement.

1952

Another major win in Chicago

The acoustical ceiling department sells a 750,000 SF job – the first project where Anning-Johnson Company self-performs the lathing scope rather than subcontracting this phase. More than 60 years later, we continue to self-perform 95% of our work.

1957

new headquarters

The Company moves its corporate and Chicago offices from its humble beginnings at 1514 West Van Buren Street in Chicago to a new office-warehouse complex just outside the city at 1959 Anson Drive in Melrose Park (today’s current corporate and Chicago location).

1959

20 years young

A multi-million dollar company, Anning-Johnson Company has opened offices in 14 markets across the United States over its 20 year history. Anning-Johnson Company is a nationally recognized leader in poured gypsum roofs and acoustical ceiling systems.

1960

End of an era

Harold Anning and Ernest Johnson retire from their executive management roles after almost 25 years with the Company. They remain honorary co-chairman of the Board of Directors in recognition of their impact to the Company and all its employees.

1964

First Technology adopted

The Company installs its first computer, an IBM System 360 Model 20 and becomes one of the first in the industry to take this forward-looking step.

1969

Big Wins, including a US Icon

Anning-Johnson Company begins work on 2,500,000 sq. ft. of drywall at the new St. Mary’s Hospital and Medical Center. Chicago wins the company’s largest single contract at the time for building the iconic 105-story Sears Tower (today known as the Willis Tower).

1972

A brand name project

The Atlanta office is awarded the acoustical ceiling contract for the new 28-story Coca-Cola world headquarters.

1977

40th anniversary

After 40 years in business, Anning-Johnson Company reaches record revenues (260% increase from 10 years prior) with offices in 12 locations offering services in gypsum roof decks, insulating concrete, structural steel decking, interior drywall, fireproofing, and roofing.

1980

A corporate parent

Anson Industries was incorporated as a holding company for the subsidiaries: Anning-Johnson Company, Vertecs Corporation, Frontier Contracting, and AJAY Realty.

1983

A new business

Spun off from the purchase of Vertecs Corporation of Seattle, Washington, Restec Corporation was formed to specialize in asbestos removal. In 2023, Restec Contractors was brought under the Anning-Johnson name and specializes in mechanical insulation in the San Francisco Bay Area market.

1986

Another Milestone

As a 50-year old specialty construction contractor, Anson Industries has operations in 7 national markets and performs over 10 different professional construction services.

1990

A strategic plan

In an effort to assure the Company’s long-term success, a Strategic Planning Committee was formed of senior corporate officers and district managers. In this strategic plan, the company would adopt the mantra “Build Great Relationships” and would invest in the future by formalizing a college recruitment program.

The significance of these events is not only validated by the company’s growth, but also by today’s leadership whom many are a product of the college recruitment program.

1995

A half a century

A strategic plan is in place and “Building Great Relationships” is the priority. The company is setup for long term success as the proceeding years are some of the most successful in the company’s history.

2000

New markets and a focus on safety

Anning-Johnson Company enters the Portland Oregon and Minneapolis Minnesota markets through acquisitions of HDS Contractors and Cardinal Drywall.

There is a renewed focus on safety with the hiring of full-time safety officers to work with construction personnel on better safety procedures to minimize accidents.

2001

enters the desert oasis

Revenues are bouncing back from the early 2000’s recession. Building Great Relationships has been embedded in the company culture and hiring great talent is a top priority.

2005

Discipline and customer attention

While revenues were down due to the Great Recession, the company scaled effectively and never lost profit. Every project was paid close attention and there was a continued focus on the customer.

Looking to the future, investments were still being made in technology, process improvement, and hiring talent. The company even started an internal Building Information Modeling (BIM) department as it saw BIM as a growing trend in construction engineering.

2010

Light shines at the end of the tunnel

The Company emerges from the Great Recession stronger than at any other point in the Company’s history. Revenues reach pre-recession levels. The Company safety program starts to get wide ranging recognition from customers through job specific awards and winning new work due to Company safety standards.

2013

Stay Sharp

Anson Industries CEO’s message to the employee shareholders and the company is to “Stay Sharp” – Keep selecting the right projects, building the best teams and best relationships with the best customers. Maintain efficient and safe operations. Invest in yourself and your teams so that everyone meets their fullest potential.

2017

Celebrating 80 Years in Operation

This year (2020) marks 80 years of Anning-Johnson’s service to commercial construction, a milestone that puts us in the top 1% of the average U.S. company lifespans.

2020

The Road to 100 Years

At Anning-Johnson, our legacy extends beyond our rich history of over 80 years. We embrace a steadfast commitment to shape the future of the construction industry. From our humble beginnings in the drywall business to becoming one of the largest employee-owned specialty contractors in the United States, we've consistently been at the forefront of excellence in our industry. Our dedication goes beyond mere projects; it's about promoting a culture of hard work, accountability, constant improvement, building the best teams, and creating exceptional opportunities for our people. We strive to not only meet industry standards but to redefine them, ensuring that Anning-Johnson remains synonymous with quality, integrity, and a vision for a brighter construction landscape.