John Carr

34 • COO and partner •

Mark Guho Construction Company • Boise

It is relatively common to follow in the footsteps of your family, often reluctantly, but John Carr has filled his father’s shoes with ease and enthusiasm. He was raised in the construction industry and knew from a relatively young age that it would be his life’s purpose.

Today, he serves a partner and COO for Mark Guho Construction Company.

Carr graduated with a bachelor’s degree in construction management from Boise State University. He is part of the St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital Advisory Board. But perhaps his most immersive volunteer experience is with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Carr competed for the society’s Man of the Year title in 2017 and, throughout the 10-week campaign period, raised $56,000.

“John’s unselfish and very active involvement in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society exemplifies the strength of his core values,” says Mark Guho. “Through hard work, perseverance and dedication, he has been very instrumental in raising a significant amount of funds for this noble cause.”

Carr spends much of his time working with and raising money for various nonprofit organizations. His colleagues believe that this same spirit translates into his professional and personal lives.

“John’s generosity extends to everyone around him,” says Matt Guho, president of Mark Guho Construction Company. “His family is always first, and he’s always ensuring his construction family goes home safe every night. … John doesn’t view people to work for him, they work with him.”

Family life is an important component of Carr’s success, and he attributes much of what he learned over time to his late father, who tackled a variety of construction projects and became a role model to Carr.

According to Carr, his father taught him that “what’s fair is fair, what’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong.”

While he learned a number of important mantras from his parents, including the importance of following through with promises and generosity with time, Carr believes the most important may be the way he chooses to absorb information from others.

“I don’t go a day without learning something new,” Carr says. “You can always learn something from everybody. It was always a thing for me to communicate and talk with people, and I push myself as a result.”

Whether Carr is working professionally or to better the lives of others charitably, he furthers his career on a foundation of generosity and loyalty and describes himself as fortunate to have gained so many impactful mentors on his professional journey thus far.

Although he is unsure of the driving force behind his desire to give back, Carr is determined to support as many individuals as he can, both in his nonprofit work and in his career.

“I believe that achievements can only be measured by the number of people they benefit,” Carr says. “I believe that competing against myself is the only true measurement that counts.”