SHELBY JOHNSON

CEO | Business Owner | Entrepreneur | Advocate 

BIO

Shelby Johnson is the proud owner and president of Johnson Construction of Pensacola, Gulf Coast Home Designs, as well as the former president of the Home Builders Association of West Florida. Shelby also serves as the president of the Escarosa Beekeepers Association.

Successful Business Owner

Before he was an incredibly successful business owner, Shelby spent his childhood on a farm right here in Escambia County, raised to be a hard worker by his father and his grandfather.

Active Person

Shelby was an active young person, taking an immediate interest in building from his very first projects in the Boy Scouts. This interest in creating blossomed into an initial career as a carpenter.  Shelby then became a contractor and started his own construction company in 1994.

Proud | Passionate | Intelligent

With his work at Johnson Construction, Shelby prides himself on building new homes, commercial buildings, home renovations, and home additions that perfectly fit the lifestyle of the person he is building for. He is passionate about using eco-friendly materials and building techniques to build homes that not only save the earth but also save the owner money on their utility bills.

Business Achievements

In 1994, fresh from a four-year stint as a project manager for another construction company, Shelby Johnson set out to build a construction company that represented his values of creativity, attention to detail, and personal integrity. Johnson Construction of Pensacola has represented Shelby’s name and core beliefs for over a quarter of a century. Shelby is proud to have helped Pensacola not only grow in terms of new homes and commercial buildings, but also grow its eco-friendly building industry, and build back over the devastating tropical storms and hurricanes that have hit the gulf coast in the past 27 years. Resilience and innovation are at the core of Shelby’s building philosophy. Not only is Shelby the president of Johnson Construction, but he is also at the head of his own home design company, bringing his years of experience to home design services in the Pensacola and surrounding areas. Gulf Coast Home Designs, Shelby’s latest endeavor, specializes in designing beautiful and sustainable buildings of all types, from new homes to commercial buildings, to home additions and renovations. It is these home additions and renovations that are central to Shelby’s eco-friendly philosophy. He believes strongly in improving upon the home you already have in order to create the home of your dreams, instead of scrapping it and designing something new. He believes that if you can do it green, it is worth doing.

Nonprofit Work

When he is not busy managing Gulf Coast Home Designs and Johnson Construction, Shelby brings his passion for sustainability to his work as president of the nonprofit organization, The Escarosa Beekeepers Association. A subchapter of the larger Florida Beekeepers Association, The Escarosa Beekeepers Association is committed to protecting and growing the honeybee population here in Northwest Florida. Shelby proudly leads this organization, bringing local beekeepers together to form a community, as well as educating the public at events like the Pensacola State Fair and other workshops hosted by the organization. Honey bees are an essential part of our community, and Shelby is dedicated to growing their population to ensure their survival. If you are interested in learning more about the Escarosa Beekeepers Association, check out their website for more information.

Shelby brings passion, creativity, and innovation to each project he embarks on and is excited to bring those traits to all future projects in Escambia County.

Interview Questions

  • What are some ways you like to incorporate eco-friendly designs and materials in your construction practices?

  • Do you think the benefits of green design outweigh the costs?

  • How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect the construction industry and your businesses?

  • How has your work with honeybee conservation impacted the way you approach your business projects?

  • What personal philosophy has been invaluable in growing your business?

  • What innovations in the construction and home design space excite you?

  • What style and construction principles drive the way you design homes and commercial buildings?

  • What is a recent project you worked on that inspired you?

  • How have you overcome the challenge of running multiple businesses and how do you find yourself able to manage your time?

  • If you could solve one problem that you see every day in Pensacola, what would it be and why?