Descended from a line of South Dakota farmers, Thomas Wermers inherited a hearty work ethic. The discipline of decades of farm life primed the Wermers family for life as small business owners. In 1957, home from military service, Wermers’ father started a small home remodeling business in California to escape Midwestern farm life. In 1963, the company incorporated and continued remodeling while starting to build custom homes.

The company’s informal mission statement remains the same — “Quality backed by integrity” — but under Wermers’ leadership it is no longer a small business. It is now one of the largest apartment building corporations in California. Although Wermers MultiFamily Corp. does perform work nationwide, it focuses mainly on the southwestern United States. Regardless of where it is working, the $120 million dollar business can boast that it is San Diego born, raised and based.

Among its notable projects, Wermers Multifamily Corp. constructed the San Diego Senior Center and Mission City in Mission Valley, a $60 million-plus project next to IKEA. A native San Diegan, Wermers won’t take credit for the success of the business, but says he’s just “one leg of a team.”

The Mt. Miguel High School graduate attended SDSU and then married his high school sweetheart, Michelle. Four children later, Wermers describes his traditional life and marriage as Ozzie and Harriet-like.

Many of his days begin very early in the morning, giving him time to have coached Little League for each of his children. As an avid baseball fan and long-time Little League coach, Wermers visits stadiums around the country for fun. Now a North County resident, Wermers can be found at Swami’s, his favorite surf spot, when the swell calls.

Wermers, 39, is an active member of Young Presidents Organization, past treasurer of Coastal San Diego YPO, and founder and board member of Landmark National Bank in La Jolla and Solana Beach. He has received many awards for his projects, including a Gold Nugget Merit Award for the Valencia Apartments in La Jolla.

— Alexis Pasqua