Capacity Ep. 13 - Scott & Courtney Johnson of Johnson Metal Works
It’s one thing to dream about quitting your day job and starting a business. It’s another to pack up your family, move back home to Montana, and launch a metal fabrication company with a half-million dollars of borrowed capital and no customers yet. That’s exactly what Scott and Courtney Johnson did when they founded Johnson Metal Works in Bozeman. Today, they’ve built a specialty subcontracting operation that handles structural fabrication, industrial manufacturing, and more — spread across multiple facilities and a 60-person team.
In this episode of Capacity, Scott and Courtney share their story of juggling risk, running a family, and figuring out “the recipe” for a thriving manufacturing business:
From “Big Boy Toy Box” to Startup Founder
Scott took an unconventional path into fabrication. He graduated with an engineering degree, worked in high-end stainless shops, and ended up running a multimillion-dollar operation in California. The experience ignited his passion for welding, machining, and “big boy toy boxes.” But as Scott puts it, Montana was always calling them home—so they returned with a plan to start fresh.
Balancing Dreams and Details
While Scott wanted to build something big from day one, Courtney’s more analytical approach helped them lay the groundwork. She worked full-time as their financial safety net (and carried the family’s health insurance) while nights and weekends became “kitchen-table strategy sessions.” They hashed out a business plan—plus a “wife contract” to make sure home life wouldn’t get lost in the shuffle.
Growing Fast (and Almost Breaking Things)
Johnson Metal Works wasn’t interested in inching along. Scott invested heavily in large equipment—lasers, breaks, and more—to compete for bigger, more challenging jobs. Within just a few years, they outgrew their original shop, added new locations, and confronted the messy reality of rapid hiring. According to the Johnsons, you can either refine your profit margins or focus on scaling, but doing both perfectly is tough. At every stage, they had to rethink their processes and communicate a clear vision for the next leap forward.
Culture, Communication, and Nerf Guns
One key theme? Communication. Scott quickly learned that if he tried to be the “knower of everything,” he’d become the company’s biggest bottleneck. Multiple buildings meant new leadership roles, processes, and group chats instead of sticky notes. Their secret weapon to break down friction? A thousand dollars’ worth of Nerf guns—helping teams loosen up before solving big problems.
The Whole Team on the Same Bus
Johnson Metal Works has always been about teamwork. “He was never sitting in an office,” Courtney says of Scott’s early days, recalling how he’d jump on the floor to weld (until the crew kicked him out to fix his work, of course). As they’ve grown, that shoulder-to-shoulder spirit—fueled by genuine trust and open dialogue—has become the blueprint for how they lead. Now, they’re focused on building a structure that both sustains their team’s well-being and allows Scott (and everyone else) the freedom to step away and actually live life.
Watch the Full Conversation
If you’re curious how two self-proclaimed risk-takers overcame fear, planned for chaos, and grew a fabrication business without losing sight of family and culture, tune into the full episode with Scott and Courtney Johnson. Their story is a testament to balancing ambition with good process—and embracing a little mess along the way.
