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Clarence Thompson, PE, can trace his interest in engineering back to his childhood love of Star Trek and other science fiction. He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in electrical engineering from California State Polytechnic University and a master鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering from Portland State University. Thompson also served in the U.S. Army for three years.

With more than 26 years of experience in the design, specification and analysis of facility power, lighting and instrumentation systems, Thompson has worked as an electrical engineer for AECOM, Jacobs Engineering, Corbin Consulting Engineers and Reyes Engineering. In addition, he served as a specialty electrical engineer and project manager for Portland鈥檚 Bureau of Environmental Services.

Thompson started Kalos Ergon Engineering (kalos ergon is Greek for 鈥済ood work鈥�) in March with the goal of building capacity for himself as a minority small business owner.

鈥淎s a Chinese friend told me, it鈥檚 better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen you work for a large outfit, they鈥檙e often more interested in maximizing profits than in actually doing what they do for the love of the thing being done. You find yourself being a cog in the machine and it limits your potential for growth.鈥�

As principal of Kalos Ergon Engineering, Thompson provides electrical and general engineering design and analysis service to clients whose needs range from the simple and routine to the complex boundaries of the 鈥渁djacent possible,鈥� he notes on his website.

Thompson said his company鈥檚 strength is rooted in robust experience with retrofits, remodels, expansions and modifications of existing facilities operated by clients from the education, manufacturing, military and municipal water/wastewater sectors.

When asked what advice he would offer to other small business owners, he said, 鈥淎sk a lot of questions and ask a whole bunch of other people for advice, especially if they seem to be enjoying what they do and are acquiring competence.鈥�

A new member of NAMC-Oregon, Thompson said he joined the association because of his interest in community organizations that are established by marginalized people. 鈥淏y organizing for social power in the midst of an unfriendly environment, we are able to thrive in that environment,鈥� he said.