Melissa is an exceptional partner in regional economic development. Her ability to coordinate seamlessly with Alliant Energy ensures that Winnebago and Worth counties are always positioned for growth. She is proactive, deeply knowledgeable, and highly collaborative- bringing her into a project early is a guarantee that things will move forward efficiently and successfully.
— Chad Hansen , Alliant Energy
JPEC November 2025 Entrepreneur of the Month
13 Nov 2025
News
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.
Alisha Johnson spent nearly 25 years working as a hairstylist before deciding it was time for a change. She wanted a career that gave her more flexibility. “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.”
That new path became A. Johnson Trucking, LLC, a company Alisha owns and operates in Northwood, IA. The business currently has eight employees and takes on a wide range of work. “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. We haul grains and salt, and we also do gravel road maintenance for townships. We operate trucks with belly dumps, end dumps, hoppers, flat beds, and dump trucks.”
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