Today we’d like to introduce you to Cameron “Coach Cam” Campbell.
Hi Cameron “Coach Cam”, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I always enjoyed serving others and solving difficult problems from a young age. I was born in a small town in Louisiana and when I was young, my family moved to the southside of Houston (South Park). In the third grade, I experienced what I call the Fresh Prince effect. My family moved from the inner city to the suburbs. I grew up at the beginning of the Cy fair ISD growth boom. I had the pleasure of experiencing the opening of two schools including my high school alma mater, Cypress Springs High School. I’m also a proud alumnus of the University of Houston. Go Coogs! While at the University of Houston, I was a student athlete and member of the football program. I also served as the president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the Student Alumni Organization. After finishing school, I spent my twenties doing what I call God’s work. I spent time in education and began coaching. I earned the nickname, “Coach Cam.”
Over the course of years, I have honed my abilities in the non-profit, education, business and sports sectors. As an innovator, social entrepreneur and sports enthusiast who has traveled around the country speaking on more than a thousand stages for nonprofit organizations like the Positive Coaching Alliance based out of Stanford University and USA Football, to the NFL, NBA, MLB and MLS; I have been able to make significant strides when it comes to impacting others. I also funded my first small business by remaining in the educational space; Five Star Academy. This organization evolved into a service provider and consultancy. I then transitioned my skills and talents into the role of head coach and athletic director at the charter school, KIPP Houston High School, where I earned the designation as the school’s all time winningest coach. I enjoyed the success during Friday night football games and making a meaningful impact on the students everyday that I walked on campus. After leaving KIPP Houston, I delved into entrepreneurship exclusively and launched Texas Athletics Construction, a world-class, athletic facilities and amenities construction company. I currently serve as the Houston Texans Play Safe Coach and work on a number of community initiatives.
Seven years ago, I launched my Coach Cam Cares Turkey Drive with a goal of simply feeding 10 people. Since then, the program has grown and fed thousands of individuals. Five years ago, I launched the Christmas Wishes program, where we support families in need and provide assistance for children whose families may lack the financial resources to make Christmas a possibility. Years ago, I also executed a program called First and Family where we would provide micro-scholarships for first-generation students of diverse backgrounds to attend college. I am also a published author of the book, Alpha: Redefined, 12 Servant Leadership Principles of Legendary Leaders and a 2021 winner of the 27th Greater Houston Black Chamber African-American Business Achievement Pinnacle Awards.
My experiences in philanthropy have built in me a heart to serve people and I am looking forward to serving the Katy and Cypress communities on a greater scale. I plan to do this by serving the constituents in the best way I know how, by running as a Democratic Candidate for Texas State Representative House District 132. I am counting on your support to bring gridiron grit to House District 132 and Austin!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every initiative that I ever launched started as a dream. As a Black entrepreneur, access to capital and business resources was initially a struggle. The execution came the hard way. On my own, I had to figure out how to become profitable, raise capital and create stakeholder buy-in. While entrepreneurship is often glamorized in the media, it can be extremely daunting and challenging for individuals that have never launched or started a business. Starting a business forged in me gridiron grit not just on the playing field, but also it helped me to face adversities, setbacks and denial, while continuing to plow on. This is a skill set that I learned on the football field, but ultimately mastered in the business space. The challenges that I have faced through my entrepreneurship journey have forged in me the aptitude to deal with politics and understand how to best serve constituents despite red-tape. I am hoping to use the skills I have learned in the private sector to bring true change to HD 132.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As I pursue candidacy as Texas State Representative for House District 132; my motivating goal is to represent all the residents of House District 132 by going to Austin and fighting for the well-being of each family in my district. This will come in the form of job creation, educational opportunities and entrepreneurial partnerships. My vision is to bring gridiron grit to House District 132 and Austin! Our district needs that grit to generate and capitalize on the entrepreneurial opportunity and the generation of high-paying jobs that awaits us in the Katy/Cypress area; a place welcoming of all people regardless of gender, creed, nationality, race or background. It is my goal to create a community of career opportunities, leisure, restoration and an ideal location to raise strong families.
The three major pillars of my platform to ensure that I am able to enact this vision are:
STEM 2.0
STEM – the acronym used in education to encompass the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math – must be re-envisioned and updated to STEM 2.0. This advance will better develop our students into entrepreneurs, business owners, and workers with even higher value. We will explicitly and intently contextualize STEM education within Entrepreneurship so that students are prepared to contribute to the economy and benefit from those contributions in ways that drive individual and collective prosperity in HD 132.
Go BIG
In the true Texas spirit of doing things bigger and better than everywhere else, we will implement our BIG (Business Innovation Grants) program. Our vision for innovation in HD 132 centers on the small businesses that we love. Grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 will apply exclusively to innovations, such as converting paper-heavy businesses to more digital processes and helping laundromats switch to eco-friendly products, in both cases improving the enterprises’ efficiency and reducing their carbon footprint.
Advocate for Access
This program focuses on empowering marginalized populations, such as people with cognitive disabilities, physical handicaps, or those who face discrimination on the basis of race or gender identity. Allowing them access to opportunity recognizes their human dignity, which in turn strengthens the moral standing of the dominant/mainstream culture. It is simply the right thing to do. In addition, expanding social and economic opportunities to all groups and individuals benefits HD 132 as a whole by creating a stronger social fabric and attractiveness to businesses that further fuel our prosperity.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The COVID-19 crisis nearly shuttered my business. Luckily, I pivoted my business, diversifying my offerings and adjusting with the challenging times. One of the hardest challenges that I faced during COVID-19 was struggling to keep my doors open, while successfully applying to receive a PPP loan, like many other business owners. However, as a public speaker, who traveled for a great majority of my projects, my business was devastated when COVID-19 happened and travel and conference spaces were being shut down.
A part of having gridiron grit is going through hell and to keep going. Countless Katy and Cypress residents have had to deal with the onslaught of issues attributed to the COVID-19 crisis whether that was the personal loss of loved ones, the loss of careers/businesses or the loss of their health. As everyone was impacted in different ways, it is critical to understand how having the right person to advocate on your behalf is so critical. With my expertise as a business owner in the midst of the crisis and my heart to serve; I know that I will be able to implement true change for all residents by shining a light on the need to pick-up, pivot and bring innovation to HD 132.
Contact Info:
- Email: votecoachcam@gmail.com
- Website: votecoachcam.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/votecoachcam/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/votecoachcam
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyfltc10-RgcG5VxkUUegxg
- Other: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/coachcamwebsite/
