Johnson Family Takes Care of Business in Southeast
When Jessica Johnson started her job at SIGMA 26 years ago, she was not aware she was creating a mini-dynasty. She began working at SIGMA in customer service, where she describes learning critical lessons: “As a CSR, I learned the importance of taking care of customers and understanding their needs. That was key.” From there, she moved to shipping and receiving, then accounts payable, and soon began moving into leadership roles. She ran the OEM Birmingham facility, then was moved to Operations Manager for Alexander City. Later, Jess managed the SIGMA Polymer Enclosures facility and was soon promoted to her current role of Director of SIGMA Polymer Manufacturing. She credits her success to the uniqueness of her SIGMA journey: “I had the opportunity to experience nearly every part of the business first- hand, so I gained valuable insight into how every department contributes to our success. I’ve also been able to see an order’s entire lifecycle from the moment a customer places it to the day it leaves our doors. That has given me a deep appreciation for the people, the processes and teamwork that make SIGMA run so well.”
Jess is credited with bringing on board her son Brett, who is a Procurement and Operations Associate. But long before he took on the current role, Brett grew up with SIGMA, learned about the opportunities the company offered, and starting in 2016 during his high school years, worked summer jobs there. Like his mom, Brett has covered a lot of ground, working in production, shipping, purchasing, and operations. His current role involves purchasing raw materials and supplies, managing vendor relationships, supporting production planning, overseeing inventory levels, and assisting with operational improvements across all facilities. He describes his experience working at SIGMA: “I enjoy the people, the opportunity to continue learning, and the ability to make a meaningful impact on the business. I also appreciate the trust and responsibility I’ve been given along with the opportunity to grow professionally within the company.”
The third member of the extended Johnson-SIGMA family is Bethany Ann Watkins. She followed in her Aunt Jess’s footsteps to SIGMA and started her career in operations as a shipping clerk.
She now works in SIGMA Polymer Operations, and has continued to expand her skills and responsibilities, supporting quality control efforts, and using Kanban to optimize workflow for the Alabama, Colorado, and Texas facilities. Bethany comments, “As SIGMA continues to grow and expand, I remain committed to growing alongside the company, broadening my knowledge base and gaining new skills that will advance my professional development and contribute to the success of SIGMA.”
Jess sums it up well: “I am especially proud that SIGMA has been more than just a workplace for me; it has been a part of my family's story. I was the first person in my family to work for SIGMA, and during my time here, I've raised two children while building my career. SIGMA has been there through many of life's milestones, and I am grateful for the opportunities, relationships, and experiences that have shaped both my professional and personal life.”
We thank the Johnson family for their dedication to the company and congratulate them all on their professional success. Keep up the great work!