UNSUNG HEROES: Terry McNeil - Quality Control Expertise Makes McNeil a Rare Breed

UNSUNG HEROES: Terry McNeil - Quality Control Expertise Makes McNeil a Rare Breed

By Steve Pecar

Terry McNeil’s life has taken a few twists and turns, but the one constant has been his ability to do what has to be done. When it came time to embark on a career, he didn’t shy away from a new life by leaving his Nova Scotia home and quickly landing a job on a paving crew in Ontario. Despite his age, he brought along some experience.

“I got my first job paving when I was a 14-year-old back home,” McNeil explains. “I started pretty young getting involved and working. By the time I arrived here, I was ready to go.” That was 40 years ago and he is still on the job.

His first job was at O’Brien Paving, then Quality Paving and K-W Cornerstone Paving, serving as a foreman at all three companies. Next was a move to northern Ontario where he ran his own business, and then it was back east to do some work. Along the way, he sharpened his skills by obtaining his certification as a heavy equipment operator and as a mechanic. It was time well spent.

“Sometimes when you are going into a job, you have to know how to do everything,” McNeil explains. “It was important for me to learn different aspects of this job. When it’s your career, you should be prepared in case you have to jump into different roles. Learning has really helped me with my career. And I have been fortunate to have learned a lot from the people I have worked with over the years.”

McNeil started at Capital Paving in Guelph 23 years ago and works as a quality control field technician. Mark Latyn, Quality Control Manager at Capital, says McNeil’s work ethic and expertise have served the company well over the years, as has his friendly and easygoing personality when dealing with crews and field inspectors.

Collecting samples and monitoring compaction are key components of the job as strict tolerances have to be met, and that is where McNeil shines. Latyn says McNeil’s reputation in the industry is well known and inspectors feel a sense of relief when he is the one working on their projects. He also helps with the training of new workers on the crew as well as keeping a sharp eye out for potential deficiencies that could lead to costly repairs.

“As a QC field technician, Terry is one of the best in the business,” says Latyn. “He has been around asphalt for most of his life and his skill level makes him very unique. Not only does he understand the material side of construction, but he also understands the equipment side as well. Both are very important skill sets to have as a QC quality control technician. Knowing how everything works and how it all comes together is so important to achieving quality results.”

As a testament to McNeil’s abilities, projects he has worked on have earned Capital the distinction of being named Paver of the Year by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation three times. McNeil is proud of those moments as it recognizes work that has been well done and puts Capital in with elite companies who have met the strict criteria expected by the MTO.

As he prepares for another season of work, McNeil looks back on his career in the industry and says he has no regrets. He has always enjoyed the work, solving problems, and being out on the road with the crews.

While retirement is a few years away, he admits that it may be tough to completely let go and envisions a future where consulting and teaching keep him busy. “I guess paving is in my blood,” McNeil says. “I’ve worked at other jobs, have had other interests, but I always return to paving. It’s what I do.”