NIACC Pappajohn中心和SBDC认可A. Johnson卡车运输公司的Alisha Johnson为2025年11月的月度企业家

MASON CITY, IOWA – The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are proud to announce Alisha Johnson of A. Johnson Trucking in Northwood, IA as the November 2025 Entrepreneur of the Month.

阿丽莎·约翰逊（Alisha Johnson）做了近25年的发型师，然后决定是时候改变一下了。 她想找一份更灵活的工作。 “I needed to get out from behind the chair and be able to be home,” Alisha said. “That’s when I decided to start something new.”

这条新道路就是阿丽莎在伊利诺斯州诺斯伍德拥有和经营的a . Johnson Trucking， LLC公司。 该公司目前有8名员工，承担着广泛的工作。 “We do a lot of aggregate work for subcontracting with larger construction companies for road construction,” Alisha said. “We also do flatbed hauling for Wells Concrete, which is pre-stressed concrete. 我们搬运谷物和盐，我们也为乡镇做碎石路养护。 We operate trucks with belly dumps, end dumps, hoppers, flat beds, and dump trucks.”

她的灵感来自家庭需求和周围环境。 住在砾石坑附近，每天看着卡车经过，激发了她的兴趣。 “It’s just the location where we live,” she said. “Seeing all that truck traffic, that energy and industry, I thought, I want to be a part of that.”

阿丽莎参加了卡车运输法规、保险和交通部要求的在线课程。 她还卖掉了自己的沙龙，以筹集启动资金。 但她很快意识到，她需要帮助建立联系，并获得航海证书。 That’s when she turned to the NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa SBDC.

“Everywhere I hit a dead end, someone told me to go to the Pappajohn中心,” she said. “That was such a blessing. 他们帮助我通过了交通部的DBE认证。 They connected me with the Women’s SBDC, with CIRAS at Iowa State, and with people who could help me get certified for the state of Iowa’s Targeted Small Business program. Even when I wanted help making a capability statement, they knew exactly who to connect me with.”

阿丽莎面临的最大挑战之一是为商店选址。 布鲁克·伯姆勒和SBDC帮她联系了温沃斯博彩公司，该公司为她获得土地提供了所需的支持。 “They were tremendous in helping me with that process,” she said. 阿丽莎还与她的会计一起建立了一个强大的金融投资组合，并与Heartland Powers经济发展项目合作，提供赠款和低息贷款。 “Having that support system made it possible to take those big steps forward,” she said.

随着卡车运输和建筑领域的新机会出现，业务每年都在持续增长。 Alisha is exploring grubbing work — clearing ditches with skid loaders — as another way to expand. 未来的计划还包括增加一家柴油修理店，为她自己的车队和更广泛的太阳城app服务。 她还利用NIACC的资源招募司机，并与CDL项目的毕业生建立联系。

对阿丽莎来说，创业最有价值的部分是它提供的自由。 “I like being in charge of the decisions,” she said. “I needed flexibility in my personal schedule, and now I can be available for my family while still running a business. 我也喜欢向我想要的方向自由成长。 There are limitless opportunities in trucking and construction.”

她给其他企业家的建议既实际又直接。 “Get your business plan rolling and reach out to the Pappajohn中心,” she said. “They will keep you oriented in the right direction. 确保你自己的财务状况良好。 I wouldn’t have been able to do this without good solid credit. Building connections can be hard if you don’t know where to start, but with the right support, it’s possible.” She adds: “Always be ready and eager to work your business from every aspect. Your business success depends on your personal commitment to its growth.”

阿丽莎认为约翰逊货运不仅是一门生意，而且是未来的基础。 “Every year brings something new,” she said. “It’s exciting to have the opportunity to keep opening new avenues in this industry.”

NIACC John Pappajohn创业中心是农村商业创新和成功方面的专家。 In partnership with North Iowa’s Small Business Development Center, together we provide tools, support, and resources to Iowa’s entrepreneurs. 我们为新的和现有的当地企业提供咨询，从主要街道到行业领导者。 We’re growing Iowa’s entrepreneurial culture through grade school initiatives, college and community programs, and business training and development. 请致电641-422-4111或pappajohn@niacc.edu与NIACC Pappajohn中心联系。 Visit the NIACC Pappajohn中心 online at www.pappajohncenter.com.

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