Dion K. Crabbe is a young Virgin Islander who did just that, and today, he has completed his tertiary education, is the Managing Director of his family business, Autland Heavy Equipment and owner of his own business – Island Concrete.

Growing up in the East End area and born into a family business, Mr. Crabbe didn’t know of holidays as they were spent helping out with the business.

“My grandmother owned a store, my uncle had his department store, Bolos, and my dad has a heavy equipment company. Just growing up under that umbrella, I always had to be part of the business, never had a holiday and had no choice but it helped mold me into the kind of person I am right now,” said the young businessman, son of Autley and Keturah Crabbe of East End.

His love for business was further coupled with a passion for athletics which led him to many remarkable achievements in athletics for the Virgin Islands where he competed both locally and internationally.

He was only 10 when he entered the then BVI High School and was quickly recognised for his athletic ability. Mr. Crabbe became the youngest to win a gold medal for the Virgin Islands in high jump at the Central American and Caribbean Championship held in Bahamas.

He continued with his athletic career during high school but became a father soon after. And while he acknowledged that the timing was not right, he is very proud of his daughter.

Three years after, Mr. Crabbe still remained in the Virgin Islands and had somewhat given up on his athletic and academic career.

The young Virgin Islander said many had given up on him but it was through the unwavering support and continuous encouragement of Rey O’Neal that he continued to run and got enrolled in Central Arizona College and continued his athletic and academic career. He said Mr. O’Neal was also instrumental in his choice of a two-year college prior university, a move that he is very proud he made.

Mr. Crabbe left the VI as a high jump athlete, but in college he recognised his sprinting potential and began running the 100 and 200 metres, in addition to high jumping.

Reminiscing on his college experience, Mr. Crabbe said Kim Collin and him attended the same institution and were on the same team.

“I was always quick but never paid attention to it. I started off doing relays and beating the fastest guy and automatically was on the team,” he recalled.

After his two years in college, Mr. Crabbe enrolled at Mississippi State University where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management and Land Development in 2003. His degree caters towards the construction side and fell in line with what he wanted to do in his business.

“I went to college at 21, and before I left here my dad told me there are two parts to a business - learning how to operate everything that you have and also the book aspect of things. So I knew what I wanted to do before I left here,” said the ambitious businessman.

At university, the Virgin Islander track star continued to shine and was the third fastest sprinter at his university.

“I was in all the SECs in the 100 and 200 and Long Jump. I was double all American one of the years, meaning I was in the top 8 in the US, 100 and 200 meters,” he described his athletic accomplishments.

After university, Mr. Crabbe took up a professional athletic career for about three years and signed a deal with Mizuno.

“I was like a rock star and based in Europe, I was home like three months out of the year, and had moved to Virginia where I had trained with the elite athletes,” Mr. Crabbe recalled his experience but pointed out that he was plagued with injuries and after a while realised running professionally wasn’t fun anymore.

Following calls from his father to return home to help with the family business, in 2006, he made the decision to do so and today have no regrets.

“I think Tortola is full of opportunities and asked myself, why be just a part of something when you can be the owner of something,” he explained his ideology for starting his own business.

Since taking over the helm of the family business, the young businessman is thankful that his parents allowed him to bring his creative ideas and implement it into the company and because of that opportunity he was able to start his own company, Island Concrete in late 2009.

The young businessman also had high praises for his wife Orlandette Crabbe, who had left the Virgin Islands and relocated with him during his professional athletic career.

The proud husband said his wife has always been and continues to be a strong support for him in all his endeavours.

Asked how he is able to jungle his businesses and a family life, he said for him business is like a second nature as he grew up around it and it is like a part of him.

“I don’t like to look at it too serious. I am very laid back and crack jokes. And at the end of the day the stresses of business has to be left there,” he revealed.

His advice to young Virgin Islanders is to be creative and set their own trend and not be afraid to be different in taking on new initiatives.

“As young locals, I think we can create the direction we want to go in. How I dress this is how I go to business meetings. You can have a semi-kind of casual look but just use your mind and play with it but do not follow the norm and come up with something creative,” Crabbe advised referring to his business style.

He further urged young locals to, think outside the box, and take a chance.

“My explanation is, if you take a chance and make a mistake when you are young you can recover but if you make it when you are older you can go bankrupt,” he pointed out.

He further advised that while it may be difficult to start a business all alone at times, he suggested that persons can look into joint venture initiatives with others with like minds and interest.

Asked where he would like to reach in his business endeavours, the ambitious businessman said he would like to retire at 45 and take time to enjoy what he has earned and ensure security for his family.

“I refuse to work as long as my parents work. Once I can do that I feel I am very successful and once I can create something for my kids to be able to do have something to do,” said the family oriented businessman and father of four.