The Best is Yet to Come

A Reflection on the Past and a Lens to the Future of DCC

Determining what the future holds in most companies is not always predictable. But Dickinson Cameron is quite confident they know exactly where they are going. After all, they know precisely where they have been. More importantly, they know most definitively who they are. The company has been on a 30-year steady climb, resulting in some of the most highly regarded projects amongst the heaviest hitters in the construction industry. With a balance of gumption, grit, and grace, the company has persevered through many challenges that have set it apart from the competition and made DCC the preeminent leader in the world of construction management.

But it is not for its core values alone that Dickinson Cameron has achieved such success in the last 3 decades. The hand-picked pool of talented and highly respected individuals that call DCC home is the true bedrock of the business, and the commitment to building relationships with both clients and amongst the team itself is defining. Since its founding in 1994, DCC has relied upon a collaborative approach to business relationships that has helped shape the trajectory of the company. Leadership is nurtured and developed, especially amongst the youngest generation of managers, this mantra will certainly continue to ring true.

“We are building teams that work well together, no matter the project or challenges faced, we are all working together to a similar goal.” Brian Prescott, Director of Field Operations  

How has your definition of success changed over your career and what does success for Dickinson Cameron look like in the next 10 years?

John Schaub: When I was young, I thought of success monetarily. But as I look back over my career and really my life, the key to success is the relationships built with people both personally and professionally. I think success for DCC has always been and will continue to be the positive relationships we build with our team members, clients and subcontractors.

Brian Naliboff: I think my definition of success has evolved from becoming a successful general contractor to becoming a successful partner within the industry. To me, the most important thing is ensuring that what we do does not become commoditized and that we are able to maintain the importance of personal relationships between clients, architects and builders. In the next 10 years, I think DCC will see an internal transformation around a training program creating a career path for people to become successful construction professionals. I want DCC to become known for churning out highly skilled builders.

How do you hope to influence others in the company with your leadership?

Brian Prescott: By building trust and having integrity in the way we do business and by leading by example.

Maryam Samady: I hope to show leadership by really advocating for the people that work at DCC. I dedicate a lot of my time helping create careers for people and focusing on the “why” of this company. I hope to continue on this path and show leadership in a self-first capacity and by staying connected to our core values.

What impact do you feel DCC has on you and your colleagues and the work that you do?

Ron Gordines: DCC provides a great working environment and unlimited opportunities to grow personally and professionally. If you can envision the path and end results, the opportunity to achieve is there.

John Schaub: I would say the biggest impact DCC has on the work we do is allowing us to build long-lasting partnerships that carry an immense level of trust. DCC is about empowering its team members to think for themselves and make decisions.

What emerging trends are you most excited about when considering the future of DCC?

Maryam Samady: I look forward to seeing how AI changes the design and experience of how customers shop and how that translates into the stores we build.

Ron Gordines: I am most excited about all the opportunities for women in the business as both leaders and owners. Historically, owners, subs, and GCs have all been male-dominated positions. Now we see more female representation and I think it’s a great thing for everyone.

What would you like to recognize the company for achieving in the first 30 years? What would you like Dickinson Cameron to accomplish that it hasn’t in the first 30 years?

Brian Naliboff: I would like to continue to expand the scale of projects we build. We have only just started to develop our experience as a ground up/ core and shell contractor, and I would like to take that even further. A significant achievement would be to one day top the biggest project in our history which to date is Chanel on Rodeo Drive. Whatever project is bigger than that, I want to be a part of it.

Maryam Samady: I want to thank Frank and Ron for creating an environment where we are mobile, efficient, savvy, and have a customer-first mentality. Our foundation is strong, and we are very motivated to continue to be the leaders in this industry. As the company continues to grow and change, its focus and integrity will carry on and will maintain a keen eye on the ever-evolving landscape of the construction industry. They look forward to exploring technological advances, tackling environmental challenges, and building an extraordinary team of diverse, forward-thinking leaders. The next set of trailblazers at DCC are acutely aware of what has set them apart from competing construction management firms. And they plan to keep that momentum going for decades to come.

 “My fulfillment comes from knowing that what we worked for has been realized. Or, at the very least, has had an impact.” Brian Prescott, Director of Field Operations