Christian Otto, a 1986 graduate of Johnson Creek High School, has been selected the Alumnus of the Year for 2023 by the Johnson Creek Education Foundation. After graduation Chris enlisted in the Army. He served his entire duty in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. as a part of the Fifth Engineers as a generator mechanic and Hornet Drive. In 1989, Chris returned home and began working in the concrete business. In 1996 he opened his own business, A-1 Concrete just outside of Johnson Creek. His business now employs 15 people.
The selection committee was impressed by Chris’s dedication to his volunteer work in Romania, British Columbia, and the US. From 2000-2008, Chris took his family to Romania where he started a business that built very small and simple homes for families. They built a school for an orphanage and missionary living quarters. The family lived in Romania for 2 ½ years, while he commuted back and forth between his business in Johnson Creek and his family and volunteer work in Romania. Over 25 times Chris made trips overseas to supervise his many projects including in 2020 when he assisted in the construction of a missionary farm.
In 2009 and again in 2012 a team, under the direction of Chris, poured concrete for the Chilcotin First Nations tribe in British Columbia.
In 2010 and 2022 Chris took on the mentoring of young men attending the Challenge Academy at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.
Locally Chris is involved as a preacher at his church, Summit Harvest, located in Concord.
Chris and his wife live just outside of Johnson Creek. They have 8 children, 4 of which are adopted. Through the years they have had many foster children in their home. In addition, they currently have 4 grandchildren.
Chris states: “I am thankful for the encouragement I received from certain teachers to push myself academically. I also have implemented some of the specific things taught to me into my business practices. When done correctly, almost everything in life, good or bad, can teach you something if you remain humble and teachable.”
|