ZEC was founded by Paul Ziebarth in 1977. Johannes joined the company in 1987. Johannes has spent nearly 30 years learning every aspect of the business. From electrical apprentice, journeyman, foreman, estimator, project manager and Vice President of Operations, his commitment to gaining knowledge, his hard work ethic and his desire to succeed – coupled with his natural business sense – was difficult to match.
Johannes was named President and CEO of Ziebarth Electrical Contractors Ltd. (ZEC) in 2001. He has led the company in growth to an annual employee base range of 100-200 people since 2002.
Johannes has received a number of honours recognizing his outstanding commitment to both ZEC and the community –
In 2002 Johannes received the Outstanding Philanthropic Regional Corporation Award, at the time, the youngest recipient to receive this honour.
In 2004, ZEC received the Ottawa Business Achievement Awards – Silver Medal for Company of the Year.
In 2012 Johannes was nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young. Ziebarth Electrical Contractors was named the 2012 Consumer Choice Award winner in the category of Electrical Contractor for the greater city of Ottawa. In December 2013, Johannes accepted from the Prime Minister of Canada the Prime Minister’s Volunteer Award as Business Leader of the Year for Ontario and in this year also received Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee medal for his work in the community.
In the past, Johannes has served on the Board for the Electrical Contractors Association(ECA) and the Board of Directors for the Electrical Trade Bargaining Agency for the Province of Ontario. Currently, after 8 years away from the ECA, Johannes accepted a new appointment and has renewed his involvement with the Board.
Johannes has served on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity for 5 years including 3 years as Board Chair.
ZEC has been the longest corporate supporter of Habitat for Humanity in the National Capital Region. They have donated the labour, materials and funds required to wire 37 new homes and six retrofits. Johannes joined the board of directors in 2009 and served as President from 2011 until 2013.
Ziebarth Electrical Contractors Joined forces with many in the construction community and donated 80% of the material and labour and management to the construction of Roger’s House at CHEO.
Johannes recognizes that communities become strong, and remain strong, as a direct result of the efforts made to remain engaged within them.
Ziebarth Electrical Contractors Ltd. may practice philanthropy quietly, but the impact of their commitment is felt across the city and has become a model for regional businesses.
Johannes, and Ziebarth Electrical Contractors Ltd., exemplifies leadership in this community through support of Habitat for Humanity, National Capital Region YMCA-YWCA, Ottawa Hospital Foundation, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Elizabeth Bruyère Palliative Care Hospital, Rogers House palliative care facility for Children, Royal Ottawa Hospital for Mental Health and in education with Algonquin College’s Centre for Construction Excellence. In addition, many more local charities receive regular support. This is part of Johannes’, and the company’s, “Corporate Values”. ZEC also has a scholarship program for employee’s children who pursue a post-secondary education.
Outside of its core business in construction, Johannes has participated in a number of start-up companies as an Angel investor, as part of consortium of investors and in advisory and board positions. Most recently Johannes was the primary angel Investor, board member and helped found Camcloud.com a cloud video security company.
In its 4 years Camcloud is experiencing 80% year over year growth and was profitable in year 2. Camcloud has gone through 3 rounds of financing and its growth is accelerating brining further employment opportunities to the region.
Johannes is an investor and member of the Board of Directors at Pillar 5 Pharma Inc located in Arnprior. Since inception in 2009 Pillar 5 has passed the 20 million sales level with over 100 Employee’s and will double sales by 2019 due to new contracts with some of the worlds larges Pharma companies.