Alumni Spotlight: Herbert Johnson

Herb Johnson

In 1985, Mississippi State’s former National Alumnus of the Year Herbert Johnson sat in his garage in Houston, Texas, and founded HVJ Associates, a Texas-based public infrastructure engineering company.

“I've always had a natural inclination towards business,” Johnson said. “I wanted to be the boss of my career, take responsibility, create wealth and position myself for personal and professional growth.”

Thirty-eight years since its inception, the company is still making waves in the professional engineering market, generating $50 million in revenue yearly, pioneering a franchise business model and more.

The company offers geotechnical and construction materials engineering testing (CoMET), civil design, pavement engineering and environmental services across Texas. Primarily serving state and local governments, its projects include transit systems, water and wastewater facilities, sports venues, waterways, airports, major bridges and roadways. Some notable projects include construction on the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium, the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, the I-35 expansion and the Houston Ship Channel.

Johnson, a Como, Mississippi, native who received his bachelor’s and master’s in civil engineering from MSU, said the university prepared him to engage with the engineering profession at the highest levels.

“The education and experiences I gained at MSU have been pivotal in shaping my career, and they enabled me to achieve excellence and make significant contributions to the field,” he said.

Currently, the company holds a 20% market share on Geotech and CoMET in Texas, the largest presence in the market across the state.  He also spearheaded the franchise business model in the professional engineering market, franchising four offices with four more in the licensing process.

This year, the company was ranked 401 in the Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms, which ranks U.S.-based design firms based on the previous year’s revenue. They also consistently hold a net promoter score in the 80s, a market research metric based on the likelihood that an individual would recommend the company to someone. When asked about these accomplishments, Johnson said these recognitions are significant not only to him but to his employees, associates, franchise owners and executives.

“They signify opportunities for career growth, job security and reinforce our commitment to team excellence,” he said. “It's a collective achievement that underscores the value we bring to our industry and the exceptional standards we uphold.”

In return for the support he received from MSU, he established the Jessie and Sarah L. Johnson Endowed Scholarship in honor of his parents to help engineering students with financial needs. Additionally, he created the Bagley College of Engineering’s Dr. Oswald Rendon-Herrero Diversity Endowed Chair, honoring former MSU geotechnical engineering professor Rendon-Herrero, one of his favorite and most influential professors.

Johnson, who also was named the Bagley College of Engineering Alumnus of the Year in 2014, said he is deeply grateful for the doors MSU has opened for him and the recognition he has received.

“These recognitions are a testament to the strong foundation MSU provided me and my ongoing commitment to giving back to the community that shaped my career.”