Contractor gives back: from a summer job to award-winning contractor.

Silvio Di Gregorio is one of of the Thunder Bay's biggest promoters.

As one of the founders and directors of Ambassadors Northwestern, giving a financial leg up or offering some encouragement or mentorship to young people is one of the best contributions one can make to the community

"We all recognize we're getting older and we need to empower our youth."

Di Gregorio is secretary-treasurer of Bruno's Contracting, a company he started with his brother Bruno in 1972 as a way to earn some money during the summer.

They went door-to-door doing whatever odd job was available, be it painting houses or shingling roofs.

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Silvio was attending the University of Western Ontario, combining a business and law degree.

It was a no-brainer to make Thunder Bay his professional home.

"I'm a Northerner."

The business evolved through the 1970's into paving parking lots and driveways, and eventually into municipal roads, before branching out into land acquisition and subdivision construction in the mid-80's.

Today, the award-winning 300-employee-firm is one of the largest road and bridge builders in Northern Ontario. It's also Thunder Bay's largest home builder with subdivisions either underway or on the books for the flow of new doctors and researchers arriving in the city.

His business interests include the Mink Mountain Resort on Lake Superior and the upscale Whitewater Golf Club, a Tom McBroom-designed 18-holer, being built out into a larger 27-hole golf complex and housing development of estate homes, townhouses and condos. It's being marketed as King George's Park.

"We've done well here. We've made money and it was our way to say thank you to the community."

By IAN ROSS

Northern Ontario Business

RELATED ARTICLE: QUICK QUESTIONS

... to Silvio Di Gregorio

Biggest challenge in business?

Right now the biggest challenge for my business is staff. Very difficult to find skilled trades and experienced senior management. This problem I will believe will continue to grow and will be a major challenge for all business.

Biggest surprise in business?

There no big surprises in business if you ask the right questions first.

What have you learned the most in business?

Hire experienced, loyal staff that will be with you in good times and bad.

What's the best advice you were given?

Get up early in the morning.

What's the secret to success?

Honesty, integrity, hard work, hire the right people and deliver on what you say.

What's the best advice you have to give?

Manage your growth. I have seen many companies fail simply because they grew too quickly and were not fully prepared for all the consequences. Too many people believe that they could grow if they had more money. Money is the last thing you need. First of all you require the proper staff and then you must have the proper policies and systems in place to manage your expected growth.