an article on Terry published in ..."Reflections" DURHAM COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZINE  FALL 2010 | VOL. 71  10 REFLECTIONS | FALL 2010 PHOTO COURTESY OF GREG VANDEN KROONENBERG Business graduate Terry Arscott (left) gets his hands dirty with employee Ron Ingram (right) at a Bobcaygeon, Ont. job site. FROM SUITS TO OVERALLS While the company has three full-time employees, Arscott recruits part-time workers for more complicated or labour- intensive contracts. Because every job is different, he calls it one of the least mundane careers. “Every day has been a challenge. From struggling to put together the finances that would get the business off the ground, to buying quality equipment that’ll get the job done right,” he said. “It’s gratifying to know that one day I can do all of my office paperwork, and if I get tired of that I can work in the shop. Then, when I get fed up working in the shop, I can go digging in the pit with the boys. I love the different hats I get to wear while on the job. It’s a great stress reliever.” The experiences Arscott encountered during his time at Durham College set him up for his present successes. Septic tanks and gravel pits may not have an apparent relation to general business studies, but it was his accounting and marketing back- ground that set the groundwork for his entrepreneurial achievements. Arscott’s involvement in college sports also gave him a leg up in managing his own business. Playing team sports helped build leadership and teamwork skills and helped him understand that working together with a team toward a common goal takes patience, practice and persistence to ensure jobs are completed effectively and safely. “Playing college hockey helped to make me a well-rounded person,” said Arscott. “It is so important to be optimistic every day. As the leader of all operations I need to have a positive attitude, which rubs off on my employees. This approach directly relates to the days I played team sports at Durham.” A proud industry leader within his community, he believes every job is important as all projects start as an eyesore and end as a thing of beauty. He says he approaches all projects with the same attention because the work is a reflection of the company. This attitude makes for happy customers and has increased his customer base to include large-scale government contracts. “Because of Arscott Aggregates and Construction, I finally have my dream home,” said Peters*. “It makes me extremely happy to see the success of my old friend and my fellow Durham College alumni. Go Lords Go!” *Graduate Bob Peters is the father of public relations student Amanda Peters, who wrote this story by Amanda Peters