Gene Brokaw, Vice President in charge of all field operations for TC Construction Co., Inc. shown here in his Legend race car.

Terry Cameron, President and Owner of TC Construction Co., Inc.

TC Construction is a $40 million a year enterprise in the underground business. Owner and President Terry Cameron has seen a positive growth in his company each year since its inception in 1977. One would think that this kind of business is in his genesÑand it is. He is a third generation Cameron in the construction business; Terry's grandfather was a stonemason in Santee, CaliforniaÑwhere both Terry and his father live today.

When Terry was 16 years old, he began working for his father's company, Cameron Bros. Construction Co. During the summers he worked as a laborer. Once out of school, he worked his way up to pipe-layer; and from there to Foreman, learning equipment operation in between. Cameron Bros. is a general contractor, and Terry worked in the underground division. After several successful years of this, it became evident to him that his father was probably never going to retire. Feeling the urge to be on his own, he formed his own company in 1977.

His father is immensely successful. Cameron Bros. started back in the early 1940s. Today they own and develop land throughout San Diego County. And they also own and operate several car dealerships, farms, ranches, hotels, and even a golf courseÑamong other business interests as well.

But Terry had to start small, and work his way up. The first four years required him to continue working for his father, as he moonlighted evenings to bid on jobs, and on weekends doing small projects on his own. These were mostly little sewer laterals, and little pieces of water line. The jobs increased, and Terry was able to hire a foreman to run his jobs while he continued to work for his father. After four years, Terry had acquired enough capital to go entirely on his own. That four-year period saw annual earnings go from a humble $20 thousand, to $1.5 million by the 4th year.

Today TC Construction is a thriving enterprise. They do underground pipe, sewer, water work, concrete structures, culverts, pump stations, and sewer and water lift stations. They recently added a new demolition devision to the company which Terry believes will grow dramatically in the coming years. TC Construction does almost all the work themselves, with the exception of some electrical and finished plumbing work. 25% of their work is as a general contractor, and they are subcontractor the remaining times. Evidence of their huge growth is the 16,000 square foot office building scheduled to be built adjacent to their current location. It will be ready for occupancy in 2002.

A few years ago TC Construction did a job as the general contractor for Fieldstone Communities that allowed them to display their diversity and depth. As the general contractor, TC Construction was responsible for the grading, sewer, water, storm drain, curb gutter, paving, sidewalks, landscaping. This $18 million project was the largest to date for them.

TC Construction was the general contractor on this $18 million job for Fieldstone Communities.

TC Construction recently added a new demolition division.

Amazingly, their biggest difficulty is with personnel shortages. Both Terry and Gene Brokaw (the Vice President of TC Construction in charge of all outside field operations) and Jack Cameron (General Superintendent) are concerned about this developing problem. They attribute their success to their dedicated employees. This concern and respect for their employees is reflected in the awards they render: a $1,000 vacation package at the end of five years, and a $2,000 award at the end of ten years.

Terry believes that there needs to be greater awareness about the benefits of the construction business in our high schools and colleges. It would seem that many of these students are being lured to computers and technology and are not being made aware of the tremendous opportunities in the field of construction.

He is glad that this is being addressed in associations like AGC, EGCA, and the BIA. And so Terry devotes much of his time to associations. TC Construction was the first open-shop contractor to join the AGC in San Diego. He has sat on the Board for the EGCA, and even served as Secretary/Treasurer. TC Construction was awarded Contractor of the Year by the EGCA in 2000.

Valuing family and friends, Terry takes time to enjoy with them some of his favorite activitiesÑboating, snow-skiing, motorcross, or Harley runs. Terry has a place on the Colorado river where he and his family go water-skiing, jet-skiing. It's also a nice place to just relax. Terry has three children: Austin, his oldest son; daughter Tracy who is married with two children; and Chad, his youngest son.

(Above left) Terry Cameron with his son Austin posing next to one of Austin's five Winston West Series race cars. (Above right) Austin Cameron, who has won five National Championship Titles and the US-wide International Championship and Rookie-of-the-Year, Winston West series. Austin is also a superintendent for TC Construction Co., Inc.

It was Austin who was bitten by the race bug when Terry took him to a go-kart track when he was only eight. So Terry bought him a kart, and Austin ended up winning the championship his first year out. He then went on to win five National Championship TitlesÑeven the US-wide International championship. As he aged, Austin kept moving up to bigger cars; and he kept winning. Now he competes in the Winston West Series, where he again won Rookie-of-the-Year. His impressive line of sponsors includes: Hawthorne Machinery, Creative Touch Interiors; Cement Cutting, Inc; and McMillin Realty. His race shop is a full-service garage located at the rear of the property; and he has five race cars in all.

Austin is a superintendent for TC Construction. But where did he get his knack for racing? From his father, Terry, who, in days of yore was very involved in drag racing boats and cars. So the tradition continues both with business and family.