Thirty-Three Years after Graduating, Greg Grogan Returns to TCTC as Facilities Maintenance Manager/Adjunct HVAC Instructor
Press Release
Date: April 23, 2025
Contact: Lisa Garrett, lgarrett@tctc.edu
Thirty-Three Years after Graduating, Greg Grogan Returns to TCTC as Facilities Maintenance Manager/Adjunct HVAC Instructor
PENDLETON --- Back in 1985, Greg Grogan’s life was at a crossroads. He was 24 years old, recently divorced, living paycheck to paycheck, and at times was sleeping in his vehicle.
“It was a tight time,” Grogan remembers. “I sold my motorcycle to get the downpayment for a mobile home.” He was working multiple jobs and still not making it to payday.
His life changed the day he pulled into Tri-County Technical College (TCTC) and inquired about training. “I sat in my truck and filled out the application,” he said, and began taking Industrial Maintenance Technology (IMT) classes in January 1985.
He took full-time classes 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. and worked a second shift job (4 p.m.– midnight) for two-and-one-half years.
“I found HVAC interesting because of the multi-faceted skill set it requires. I wanted to move up and do better. I didn’t have the tools -- education and hands-on experience - to do so. There were people at TCTC who cared enough to help me and invested time in me,” he said.
After graduating in 1987 with a degree in IMT, he began his career in HVAC by doing residential installations/services and later moved on to commercial work.
He worked at Maxfli Golf before accepting a job at Duke Energy where he spent 19 years as a project manager and maintenance manager. He retired in 2019.
Thirty-three years after graduating, Grogan returned to TCTC as Facilities Maintenance Manager in the Physical Plant and is an evening adjunct instructor for the HVAC department.
“I tell students, my two-year degree helped get me to Duke Energy. But it’s not just a two-year degree; it can change your life. Many students, like me, work all day long and the come to class. They all want a better life. They have a goal, and I like being a part of it. I want to help people because people helped me. My experience can help others,” he said.
“Looking back, I’m proud of myself,” said Grogan, who is a first-generation college student who was raised in a single family home.
When he enrolled at TCTC he doubted whether he would graduate or not because of the personal issues he was dealing with at the time. But he says he made it because of instructors and work supervisors who cared about his success.
“I’m very happy working here at TCTC. We have a great team and great customers – students, faculty and staff. It’s always different – no two days are alike.”
His son continued the tradition of attending TCTC – he is a graduate of the Bridge to Clemson Class of 2013 and transferred to Clemson University and graduated in 2018 with a degree in Economics.
“I’m proud of my TCTC degree. It gave me the resources to change my life,” said Grogan.
About Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College, a public two-year community and technical college serving Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties in South Carolina, enrolls more than 9,000 students annually and offers more than 70 major fields of study, including computer technology, industrial electronics, mechatronics, nursing, and university transfer programs. Tri-County boasts the highest student success rate among two-year colleges in the state and ranks in the top one percent nationally for successful student transfers to four-year colleges and universities. To learn more, visit tctc.edu.
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