CHICAGO, IL – National infrastructure builder F.H. Paschen announced today that Superintendent Nick Johnson has received the 2026 Johnny B. Safety Award. The announcement took place during the company’s annual safety picnic, held as part of the annual Safety Week celebration at the company headquarters and across their field offices.
The award was established in 2018 to honor the memory of former employee John “Johnny B.” Barkowski. It recognizes employees who lead jobsite crews with a proactive focus on safety while executing the company’s quality control standards.
A 20-year company veteran, Johnson joined F.H. Paschen in 2006 as a carpenter foreman and was most-recently promoted to Superintendent last year. By working closely together over a number of years, Nick became a trusted colleague of Barkowski; the award’s namesake.
Over his career, he has contributed to signature projects including a challenging assignment at Muddy River and serving as a leader on the award-winning Mile Long Bridge project as part of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) reconstruction in Illinois. Currently, Johnson oversees the grade separation project at O’Hare International Airport.
Colleagues nominating Johnson noted that his merit comes from his daily actions on the jobsite and his commitment to ensuring every crew member works safely.
“Nick is the kind of leader who doesn’t need a microphone to make an impact. He earned this recognition through twenty years of showing up and putting the safety of his crews first, said Dennis Kelso, General Superintendent at F.H. Paschen and one of the colleagues who nominated Nick for the award.
The Johnny B. Safety Award is a core part of the safety culture at F.H. Paschen. To be eligible for this award, the employee must excel in three categories: 1) successfully execute our Safety and Quality Control approach, 2) lead the men and women on our jobsites with a proactive, safety-focused approach, and 3) carry-out the legacy of John Barkowski.
The firm reported an Experience Modification Rating of 0.70 for the 2025/2026 period, which is notably better than the construction industry average. This performance is supported by weekly safety committee reviews and daily Job Hazard Analysis performed by crews.
Johnson joins a distinguished group of past Johnny B. Award recipients:
- 2018: Jeremy Roach
- 2019: Jason Pope
- 2020: Jason Cox
- 2021: Brian Dowdle
- 2022: Steve Hayes
- 2023: Travis Manteufel and Rick Bartelt
- 2024: Steve Boudreau
- 2025: Vicki Caruso
- 2026: Nick Johnson
“This annual award is a visible part of a much larger safety culture that we practice every single day at F.H. Paschen,” said Marcus LuMaye, Vice President of Safety and Quality at F.H. Paschen. “While we take this moment to recognize Nick’s leadership, our focus remains on the practical habits and operational standards that protect our teams everyday.”
F.H. Paschen is a general contractor and construction manager with operations spanning from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast. The company focuses on infrastructure projects and utilizes cloud-based applications to track safety audit data and tailor training for its workforce.
To learn more about F.H. Paschen’s commitment to safety and quality control, click here.
