Futura scores big with customers, employees

Susan Johnson is president of Clearfield-based Futura Industries, a major manufacturer of custom aluminum extrusions with customers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia and Europe.

The metals industry is a tough one, with keen competition and an often cutthroat mentality. But in her 15 years at the helm of Futura, Johnson has built a world-class firm by rejecting all of that in favor of a few simple values.

First, Futura's focus is on being reliable and responsive to customers in providing flexible, cost-effective solutions to their challenges. Johnson's goal isn't just meeting customers' needs; it is meeting those needs "superbly well."

In addition to providing thousands of quality products for its clients, Futura makes sure their needs are met by surveying 20 clients each month, asking them to rate their experiences with the company. This year, with 10 being the highest possible rank, the company is averaging a 9.39.

Second, Johnson cares for her employees as meticulously as she expects them to care for customers, rejecting what she calls "jump(ing) over dollars to save pennies." At a time when many companies have slashed health benefits, Johnson started an on-site medical clinic staffed with a board-certified doctor for her 300 employees and their families. When employees face unexpected catastrophic challenges, they can expect the company to step in with assistance and support.

At work, employee safety is paramount. Though Futura operates in the hazardous heavy-manufacturing sector, its safety record is nearly pristine. The company is one of only four in Utah to receive the OSHA Sharp award for voluntary compliance with every single OSHA regulation and for implementing programs to expand workplace safety beyond those requirements.

The payoff is clear: In addition to its enviable market position, Futura boasts admirable employee retention, with 60 percent of employees having more than 10 years with the company.