“Eat. Sleep. Rest. Digest.”

That’s the holistic mantra Margaret Johnson lives by and what fuels her business, The Wellness Garden. Her path hasn’t been typical: From Chrysler to physical therapy, to now finding her purpose in helping others feel whole from the inside out.

“It’s not just about the income. It’s about the passion too.”

She lost her job at Replay and turned that setback into a comeback, applying (and losing) the DRIVE competition one year, only to return and win the next. Her story is proof that connections, resilience, and personal growth matter.

Margaret spoke alongside her son, Eli Johnson (Kokomo CEO Class of 2021), who’s now preparing to graduate from Rose-Hulman with a degree in Optical Engineering and already making waves.

He’s co-founding Zernike Precision Optics Inc., a startup developing tech to make custom aspheric lenses more affordable and accessible. These advanced lenses power cutting-edge imaging, sensing, and manufacturing systems, but are often expensive and slow to produce. Zernike is changing that, having just completed a pre-seed round to support product development and customer engagement.

Eli’s advice for students?
Ask great questions. Get involved. Use the ‘cute little student card’ while you still can.

We’re thankful for this powerhouse mother-son duo who reminded us that purpose, passion, and persistence go hand in hand.