Ann Johnson

Ann Johnson – How a $250,000 Employee Theft Changed One Business Forever

Ann Johnson is the Founder and Owner of Waste Tech Services, a nationwide trash consulting and brokerage firm that negotiates waste contracts and reduces disposal costs for businesses. Since its founding, Waste Tech Services has negotiated thousands of contracts for clients and has saved millions of dollars for the companies it represents. With decades of experience in waste management, Ann built the company by forming buying co-ops, reviewing invoices, resolving service issues, and securing optimal contract terms.

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn

[1:50] Ann Johnson’s Nashville roots and early career guiding visitors through the Country Music Hall of Fame
[3:56] How Ann launched Waste Tech Services after seven years in the waste management industry
[9:57] The discovery of a $250,000 employee theft and Ann’s decision to involve law enforcement
[15:15] Why Ann chose to release resentment after the fraud began affecting her health
[18:30] Ann talks about handing daily leadership to a trusted CEO and preparing the company for its next chapter
[24:51] Perspectives on peer learning, EO involvement, and business growth

In This Episode

Trust is essential in business, but it can also expose an owner to risks that are difficult to see from the outside. When a longtime employee quietly steals from the company, how does a leader respond without letting the betrayal define everything that follows?

Waste-industry expert Ann Johnson built her career by understanding contracts, pricing, service structures, and the hidden costs clients often overlook. That attention to detail became critical when her company uncovered that a trusted bookkeeper had created false businesses, opened unauthorized accounts, and stolen $250,000 over the course of a year and a half. Ann helped build the case, strengthened internal controls, and eventually confronted the toll the experience took on her health. Her experience is a reminder for business owners to strengthen safeguards, share responsibility, and make space for their well-being when the weight of running a business becomes personal.

In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline sits down with Ann Johnson, Founder and Owner of Waste Tech Services, to discuss how she rebuilt trust and leadership after a major employee theft. Ann explores how the $250,000 scheme was uncovered, the safeguards she put in place afterward, and why the experience led her to prioritize her health and hand daily operations to a trusted CEO.

Quotable Moments:

“When new people come into a company, they don’t really know who I am or what I do.”
“I’m so different now than I was when I started my company.”
“I can be and love to be happy, healthy, joyous, and free.”
“I would love to see a forum that has people that are really wanting to sell their companies.”
“I don’t give advice; I only give suggestions.”

Action Steps:

Tighten access to financial records and company property: Limiting keys, restricting off-site work, and implementing stronger controls over accounts can reduce opportunities for internal fraud.
Investigate unusual transactions immediately: Reviewing unexplained payments, unfamiliar companies, and account activity helps uncover misconduct before losses grow.
Document evidence before confronting suspected wrongdoing: Building a clear case and involving law enforcement gives the business a stronger foundation for taking action.
Delegate leadership when the business becomes too demanding: Training a trusted executive to manage daily operations protects continuity while giving the owner space to focus on health and long-term direction.
Educate clients and new decision-makers about your value: Clearly explaining services, pricing structures, and cost savings helps preserve relationships when contacts or company leadership change.