2 • AUGUST 2018
Taking Flight – Cameron builds on success with aerospace publication
By Craig Howard Current Editor As a senior at Mead High School, Dean Cameron recalls “not really fitting any of the molds.” While college and working full-or part-time were options, Cameron decided to forge a different path, starting his own T-shirt printing business not long after earning his diploma. Cameron had worked for a screen printing outfit before starting his company and took good notes along the way. He connected with a friend who owned a machine shop and before long the fledgling business was thriving. One of its niches was producing waterski bags for big-time names like O’Brien and Connelly. “I saw the opportunity and learned the process,” Cameron says of his entrepreneurial success. “Part of it is being in the right place at the right time and part of it is I’m not one to sit around and twiddle my fingers.” Camco Screen Printing flourished under Cameron’s guidance, eventually spinning off into several ventures. By the time he was 28, Cameron was overseeing an operation that was the largest contractor for Seattle -based JanSport, known for its popular line of backpacks. Camco was based in Peaceful Valley, just west of downtown Spokane, and employed nearly 90 people. Cameron eventually sold Camco and went to work for Multifab Inc. in 1990. With a manufacturing site in the Spokane Business & Industrial Park on Sullivan Road, Multifab is known as one of the preeminent pressure and vacuum forming companies in the nation. Cameron was brought on for his skills in marketing and sales. Multifab also provides custom sewn products for a variety of industries, including the aviation field, a connection that would come in handy when Cameron took his next career turn.
NEWS Cameron learned ambitious traits at home from his parents who owned a real estate business. He was the oldest of three kids. “I grew up in a family of sales and marketing,” Cameron says. Examples of dynamic, assertive individuals like Theodore Roosevelt – he of mantras like “Believe you can and you’re halfway there” and “Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground” – resonated with Cameron growing up. “I liked that idea of daring to dream big,” he said. The visionary approach figured into Cameron’s decision to leave the security of Multifab after nearly 30 years and start an aerospace trade publication from scratch. The first issue of Northwest Aerospace News hit the stands in February and has been taking off ever since. At Multifab, Cameron realized that strengthening the connection between the company and its customer base meant bringing clients to tour the premises while “telling our story.” Now, he has transferred that personal methodology to publishing. “We want to tell the story of these aerospace companies,” Cameron said of the magazine with a circulation of nearly 5,000. Cameron was no stranger to publishing prior to this year. He worked with Rebecca Lloyd, founder
of Art Chowder magazine, not long after she started the publication and has served as owner and publisher of the regional arts journal since December 2015. Lloyd has remained as creative director of both publications. In his role as CEO of Top Shelf Media, based on Argonne Road in Spokane Valley, Cameron also specializes in marketing, consulting and public relations. One of his recent projects includes producing a crisp video for social media promoting the Museum of Flight in Tukwilla, just south of Seattle. Dean and his wife Pamela celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary in June and have four kids and four grandkids. They are longtime residents of Spokane Valley, purchasing their first home on what Cameron remembers as “a shoestring budget” of $21,000 in 1983. The couple attends Spokane Valley Baptist Church and have lived in their current residence since 1989. Q: You have been a resident of this area for quite a while now. How has the Valley changed in the years you have called it home? A: Well, that is really dating myself. Growing up we lived in a home on University for a short time. Most of what was east of the then University City Shopping Mall was U-pick cherry and strawberry
The Current
farms. Today, we are a “still young” but growing city. Spokane Valley now has a modern City Hall, an Arts Council, one of the most beautiful park systems with easy access along the Spokane River and is developing into a vibrant sister nestled between Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. While we do not have the maturity yet of Spokane, nor the resort and lake of Coeur d’ Alene, we have easy access to each other and that makes us stronger as a region. Q: Entities like the Spokane Valley Arts Council have brought increased awareness to the arts in our community. How would you characterize the Valley's art scene right now? A: We have seen a significant growth in the public attention to the arts. The Arts Council is made up of all volunteers and through their efforts have brought us several very high-quality bronze statues for public enjoyment. Soon, new public artwork from local artist Richard Warrington called “The Heart of the Valley” will be displayed here. This type of focus on the arts sets the tone for Spokane Valley as people enter our community. Both Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake have been successful with community arts events. I can foresee that becoming a growing trend. Q: Many of us seem to live busy lives with seemingly little time to
See CAMERON, page 3
Spokane Valley resident Dean Cameron is CEO of Top Drawer Media and the publisher of Northwest Aerospace News, a comprehensive trade journal as well as Art Chowder, a publication that covers the regional arts scene. The first issue of his aerospace publication was distributed in February and has a circulation of nearly 5,000. Contributed photo