People You Should Know: Tad A. Johnsen

Water & Light Director, City of Columbia
AGE: 49

YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA: 32 years

ORIGINAL HOMETOWN: Lamoni, Iowa

JOB DESCRIPTION: Direct and oversee Columbia’s Municipal Water and Electric Utility. This utility also operates a short-line railroad and trans-load facility.
EDUCATION: Graduated from Urbandale High School in Urbandale, Iowa, in 1979. Bachelor of science in electrical engineering with emphasis on control systems and economics.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Challenger Baseball, Pride Soccer Club, Optimist Club, St. Thomas More Parish and Newman Center, Columbia Catholic School, Boy Scouts and Camp Wonderland.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: During college I worked as a graduate school assistant at the University of Missouri. After graduation, I began working as a computer system designer for Tengco, an importer of utility and specialty fasteners. I was promoted to purchasing agent and held this position for the final three years of employment. I started with the city of Columbia in the Parks and Recreation Department in electrical maintenance then transferred to the Water and Light Department and started as the power plant controls technician.
A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON I ADMIRE AND WHY: Howard Eiffert. He’s a hardworking businessman who took the time to understand his customers, enjoy the importance of family and be involved in the community.
WHY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT MY JOB: Work in the public service sector gives me a great sense of pride and satisfaction. Working for this municipal utility gives me pride by knowing my efforts can have a direct benefit to our water, electric and rail customers. I also get satisfaction from knowing I am working for our customer and not just for a profit.
IF I WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, I WOULD: Be a military pilot or racecar driver. I have always wanted to be in a line of work that applies technical knowledge to solve problems.
BIGGEST CAREER OBSTACLE I’VE OVERCOME AND HOW: During my sophomore year at MU, I had to miss a semester of school for surgery due to a detached retina. This obstacle gave me time to evaluate my life goals with a new perspective.
A FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT: Completing an addition to our home.
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROFESSION: Providing water, electric and rail services for a community requires a wide diversity of disciplines working together to efficiently operate. Although understanding the technical and financial details is the base, good customer communication and service are necessary to be successful.
FAMILY: I have been married for 18 years to Vicki, and we have six children: Emily, Sandy, Annie, Sally, Tucker and Marissa. We also have five grandchildren: Savanna, Brayden, Zachery, Carlie and Kallie. Pets: Jake, Murphy and KeKe.
WHAT I DO FOR FUN: As an MU sports fan, I enjoy football, wrestling and baseball games. I also enjoy watching my daughter Marissa’s soccer games. Family camping, boating and trips to the beach are some of my favorites.
FAVORITE PLACES IN COLUMBIA: Home, then dining with my wife at CJ’s restaurant, biking with the family on the MKT trail and Faurot Field after a win.
ACCOMPLISHMENT I’M MOST PROUD OF: Marrying my lifelong friend and our family.
MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT I… would rather read a technical manual than a novel and have always enjoyed mowing grass. I took my parents lawn mower apart as a kid and had two extra parts after reassembly, but it still ran. Also, I wrestled in high school