Tyrone Gibbs has gone through several trials and tribulations, but still believes he has not lived life to his full potential.
Gibbs has his own contracting business in St. Louis although he is a convicted felon. He grew up in the foster care system, trying to fit in with temporary families and his surroundings. He eventually gave up on trying to feel included by others who took him in.
Gibbs decided to sell drugs and was caught. After leaving prison, Gibbs decided to change his ways and work even harder. Now Gibbs is the president of U Dream It – We Build It Construction Company.
Gibbs is a St. Louis native. At the age of two, Gibbs was put in the foster care system. Due to the couple being older, the family didn’t want to put pressure on other family members when raising Gibbs, and was moved to a second home. He alleges mental and physical abuse by a member of his second foster family.
Each time Gibbs left a family, he would be put in a boy’s home. “It’s not an fun place to be. It’s really not,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs was unhappy and frustrated about the way his life was going and decided to “hit the concrete.” which means to sell drugs on the streets. Gibbs did not care what he was selling; he just studied the drug users’ weaknesses to take advantage of them. Gibbs’ motto was “to live to hustle.”
“I hustled to stay loyal and stay out of jail,” Gibbs said, of the years he sold drugs (1989-97).
“If you caught me, I was going to get promoted. That’s how insane I was with it,” Gibbs said.
When Gibbs was released from prison in 2000, he “woke up” and realized that bad boy type of life was not for him anymore. From working to a gas station to doing manual labor, Gibbs focused on earning an honest and legal living. He wanted to grow as an individual and help those who were in the same situation.
“I think a lot of people don’t know about hard work. Doing construction is hard work,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs has been mentored by Michael Daugherty, a retired carpenter and former instructor of Gibbs. Daugherty helped Gibbs when Gibbs wanted to branch out and have his own construction company. With Daugherty’s help, Gibbs worked on a job in the basement of an NFL player’s mother. From then on, Gibbs got buzz from other people and his business took off.
Gibbs is ever so grateful for what he was shown and how he was accepted as an individual. That is why Gibbs hires and helps other survivors of jail or the foster care system.
A former employee of Gibbs, Daniel Penny, has a similar background. After seeing how hard Penny worked, Gibbs decided to hire him. Penny admires Gibbs because he was a teacher and a boss and who Penny the opportunity to learn construction and life skills.
“He wasn’t hard, but he wasn’t easy,” Penny said of Gibbs.
“He understood where I’m coming from and helped build my character in myself. He gave me the opportunity to start all over again.”
Gibbs found his foundation to be a man. He likes to provide for himself and family. Gibbs was reunited with some of his siblings by a family friend. Gibbs just wanted to help out his own people, provide good work and give quality prices. He wanted individuals to learn about being humble. Gibbs overall goal is change.
“I have no problem teaching or mentoring. We all can change,” Gibbs said.
“I want the world to know that we should accept people for who they are, not who we think they are.”
For more information, contact Gibbs at (314) 713-1091 or email at tyrone_gibbs@hotmail.com.
