Rashod R. Johnson
For visionary leadership in founding The Roderick Group, Inc. and guiding its growth through acquisition into Ardmore Roderick; for building a multimillion-dollar, Black-owned infrastructure firm; and for an enduring commitment to community service, mentorship, and diversity, equity and inclusion
Chief Executive Officer, Ardmore Roderick
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B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, ’00
Rashod R. Johnson is a businessman who transformed his firm, Ardmore Roderick, into one of
the largest Black-owned infrastructure engineering and construction firms in the U.S. For four
consecutive years, the firm ranked in the top 20 on Crain's Chicago Business list of the 50
fastest-growing companies in Chicagoland.
Johnson founded The Roderick Group Inc. in 2005 and acquired Ardmore Associates LLC in
2017, forming Ardmore Roderick, a full-service infrastructure firm with more than 300
employees. Under Johnson's leadership, Ardmore Roderick has evolved from a local leader to a
multistate, multimillion-dollar powerhouse with offices in several states and Puerto Rico.
Demonstrating Johnson's commitment to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces, almost 60%
of Ardmore Roderick's workforce and leadership is diverse — 35 points above the industry
average.
Ardmore Roderick is actively involved in large-scale public and private contracts, with Johnson
serving as project executive for prominent projects for VIP clients, including the Chicago
Department of Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Chicago Transit Authority and the Obama
Foundation. The company is currently overseeing more than $20 billion in construction.
Before launching The Roderick Group, Johnson held positions as director of engineering for the
Mason Contractors Association of America, accounts manager for Applied Industrial
Technologies and assistant project engineer/engineering intern for Walsh Construction Company
of Illinois.
Within the industry, Johnson serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for St. Ignatius
College Prep and as a board member of the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
Association. He is also an active member of The Commercial Club of Chicago and the Young
Presidents Organization (YPO-Chicago).Johnson is a life member of the University of Illinois Alumni Association and actively supports
the Morrill Engineering Program.
A native of the South Side of Chicago, Johnson is committed to enriching his community
through partnerships with select nonprofit organizations across Chicago. He currently serves as a
board of trustee member for the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, and is an active
member of the African American Chamber of Commerce in Central Florida and Illinois.
Johnson's past community and association involvement include Year Up Chicago, YMCA of
Metropolitan Chicago, South Side YMCA, National Society of Black Engineers and Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity Inc.
Current as of February 2026