3 minute read
Mary Johnson
PHOTOS BY KAREN DAY
The Bookkeeper Who Became a Builder of Dreams
BY APRIL NEALE
If you drive around the Treasure Valley or visit the Capitol Building, you have seen Catapult 3’s handiwork. A colorful, passing bus, a giant sign on a downtown building or a sophisticated trade show display — their work is ubiquitous in Ada County. Operating since 1987, the company took a leap forward when Mary Johnson did the same, seven years ago, and went from being a part-time, $8.00 an hour bookkeeper to the boss.
Since Johnson became owner and President seven years ago, she has added vehicle graphics, signage, ramped up technology to make lenses and various large format artistic design pieces fabricated in their expansive, Boise warehouse. “We take on projects from a vision and help people, whether a trade show, a booth exterior sign, or office areas, redesign. Doing the production files and researching how to build things...we put our minds together and figure out the best way to produce the finished product. And it can get complicated.” It can also get expensive. Johnson just invested in a new, $300,000 state-of-the-art large format printer.
So how did a downhome Idaho mother of two and part-time bookkeeper become the CEO? “ I am a question-asker, which allows me to manage projects and understand how materials work. Then in 2014, the former owner decided to retire…that’s when I closed my eyes and jumped.” If you ask Johnson where she found the confidence to take that plunge, she immediately tears up, describing her father, whose name portrait are displayed in the Catapult 3 offices. “He was so influential, a good man. That’s why he’s there, to remind me that [my parents] made sure we had what we needed to succeed. I was fortunate as a child; we didn’t have much, but we had no idea of my parents’ struggles.”
Johnson added, “The thought of failing scares me to death, every day. But every day, I come in and just put one foot in front of the other and get it done.” Johnson is hands-on- whatever- the- job, even helping her male crew wrap city buses if needed. “A long time ago, I realized no one was going to care about Catapult as much as I did. I don’t think it’s micromanaging, but I will help my team if they need it. We are a small company, and you have to do that.”
Mary Johnson made a successful leap from part-time employee to owner of Catapult 3
PHOTO BY KAREN DAY
Catapult 3 is the builder of visions. They design, build, pack and ship trade show booths for companies like Micron, as well as design, print and position large artistic installations for the City of Boise, Idaho Power, Boise State, Riverstone International School, and the Capitol Building, where historical displays created by Johnson’s team are displayed. “We can drive around town and see so much of our work on display,” she said, a glimmer of pride sparks in her blue eyes.
“We’ve been around for 30 years, and our growth has all been word of mouth. First and foremost, we are service oriented and will bend over backward for a client, keeping alive that old Boise way of doing business and maintaining our client relationships. This is my life and I love what I’m doing – growing, innovating, and coming Mary Johnson made a successful leap from part-time employee to owner of Catapult 3 up with new ideas.”
