Johnson prefers Madison lifestyle to big city
- A certified physical therapist, Stephanie Johnson is owner of Eagle Rehab Physical Therapy. CONTRIBUTED
MADISON – Having lived in big cities and small towns, Stephanie Johnson much prefers the latter, like in Madison.
She likes “a place where I can go to the post office and run into the mayor who not only knows who I am but will take time out of his day to chat,” Johnson said.
Madison’s traffic congestion doesn’t bother her. “It gives me time to be quiet and drink my coffee before my workday begins after dropping my kids off at school,” Johnson said.
Exceptional schools make Madison a great place to live. “Rivalry of two major high school football teams makes for one really fun night,” she said.
Breaking the traditional norm, Madison has few lifelong residents. “Such diversity broadens the community and brings together new and fresh ideas that makes Madison unique,” Johnson said.
Johnson lived in Springfield, Ill. until her ninth birthday when her family moved to Huntsville for her father’s aerospace engineering job. She earned a degree in physical therapy at the University of South Alabama and lived in Mobile five years. After stints in Muscle Shoals and Huntsville, she settled in Madison in 2005.
When Eagle Rehab opened in 2005, Johnson served as Chief Financial Officer and physical therapist. In 2007, she founded the pediatric physical therapy wing and added Director of Pediatrics to her title. In 2013, her role changed from CFO to CEO as sole owner of Eagle Rehab Physical Therapy.
“Having the right group of people working with you makes the job much easier,” Johnson said.
Her volunteering includes PTA Advisory Board at Calhoun Community College and Health Science Advisory Board at Bob Jones High School.
Two of Johnson’s major passions are the Firelight Program and Fund Like an Eagle Fun Run/Walk. Firelight is a monthly free screening by Johnson and speech and behavior specialists to inform parents of needed services for their child after diagnosis. Johnson will launch Fund Like an Eagle on Oct. 29 as a fundraiser for Chive Charities.
“My fantastic husband, Michael Johnson, and I have four boys between us … (who) attend three different schools. It makes for a fun morning at our house,” she said.
