The Stand
By Greta Stuckey
Early in his life, Tyson Brown recognized his passion for working with his hands. His brother, Thomas Brown, always had a love of client services and working with people. Five years ago, they took the leap and founded TJ Construction and Remodeling LLC.
Vision
Originally from Utica, New York, the family moved to Syracuse 20 years ago and never looked back.
Their mother, Gerri Regan, encouraged them to use their talents to open a business. After working in construction for a decade, Tyson and Thomas were ready to take their mom’s advice and started TJ Construction and Remodeling LLC.
“She believes that if you have God-given gifts, you should use them,” Tyson said. “She encouraged us to leave a family legacy.”
The family construction company specializes in residential and commercial constructions, remodeling and repairs. The company is certified as a minority business enterprise and they work primarily in Syracuse and the surrounding areas.
Regan works for the business as the office manager and said she loves being able to work with her sons and treat employees with the respect they deserve.
Get in touch with TJ Construction and Remodeling LLC
Email: gerriregan6@gmail.com
Phone: 315-243-5861
For Tyson, owning his own business has brought a lot of freedom. He enjoys being his own boss and picking the projects he’s going to work on. Thomas agreed with his brother and said the job is rewarding partly because it comes with a lot of responsibility.
“You have to get these projects done for the people working for you,” Thomas said. “We have employees depending on us for their livelihood and we make decisions that impact people’s lives.”
While the family has enjoyed the process of owning a business, it’s come with challenges. In the construction industry, Tyson said it can be challenging to find skilled employees who are ready to work hard.
“My greatest challenge so far has been finding dependable employees who can match my level of workmanship and attention to detail,” Tyson said. “Additionally, it’s a challenge to secure the necessary financial resources to scale up my business and take it to the next level.”
Looking Ahead
Moving forward, the brothers hope to expand their business and work outside of Syracuse. They also want to venture off into other areas of the construction industry such as plumbing, electrical, roofing, siding and landscaping.
“We want to do anything that involves reshaping our community to create a new environment,” Tyson said.
In the future, the brothers hope to hire more employees and gain the financial resources to grow the business. They often talk about how reputation is everything and business owners have to strive to be their best in everything they do.
For other people who may want to open their own construction company, the brothers say it’s best to exceed the client’s expectations. Tyson also suggests that new business owners embrace change and new technology.
Finally, the brothers advise people to never stop learning. In the construction industry, they said there are always new skills to learn and ways to improve the craft.
“Remember,” Tyson said, “improvement is key to growth and progress. So always be dedicated and committed to excellence.”
