Steady at the Summit: R. Terry Dickerson

Steady leadership is critical in an industry that doesn’t stand still. 

As Vice President of Cost Management, R. Terry Dickerson has been part of Palacio Collaborative since its earliest days, helping Founder, President, and Chief Cost Manager Michael Palacio turn an entrepreneurial idea into a thriving, nationwide cost management practice. 

Across economic cycles and shifting construction realities, Terry’s calm, principled approach has anchored Palacio’s reputation for responsiveness, accuracy, and transparency. When he reflects on his career, it’s not the numbers he remembers—it’s the colleagues and clients who shaped nearly three decades of work.

From office neighbors to longtime collaborators

Poet Robert Frost once said, “Good fences make good neighbors, but good friends make better ones.” 

For Terry and Michael, that “fence” was a cubicle wall in the late 1990s, when they worked side-by-side at Costing Services Group (CSG) in Atlanta. Their friendship quickly expanded beyond the office.  Along with a tight circle of colleagues, they became regulars at the weekly gatherings Michael organized at a nearby restaurant. These dinners were filled with the kind of camaraderie that carries far beyond work.

Michael eventually left CSG to pursue his entrepreneurial vision for innovative cost estimating, launching what would become Palacio Collaborative from a spare room in his home. Terry stayed closely connected with Michael, and in 2008 he left CSG to become Palacio's second employee, helping Michael turn his inspiration into a fully functioning business.

Palacio’s early days overlapped with the economic downturn that became the 2008 recession. But for Terry—who trusted Michael, the work, and the growing group of repeat clients—it didn’t feel like a gamble.

“The work was there, and Michael and I trusted the foundation that was emerging.”

Client relationships became cornerstones for Palacio

Much of that early work centered on higher education clients, with projects that had been planned and budgeted for months, if not years in advance. That stability helped Palacio gain early traction. Praxis 3 became a key client, projects for Georgia Tech provided momentum, and earning DBE certification helped set the tone for the company’s growth.

Some of Palacio’s oldest client relationships started with the company. Their projects were more than cost estimates—they helped shape how Palacio’s client-focused culture would evolve.

“With our longtime clients, we trained each other,” Terry said. “We figured out how to communicate, how to set expectations, and how to build trust over years of projects.”

That mutual learning has created a rhythm that feels intuitive. Longtime partners know Palacio’s process, and Terry can anticipate what they need—whether it’s a municipal renovation, a courthouse, a state agency facility, or a community-centered adaptive reuse project.

Calm and focus when the work gets complicated

Terry gravitates toward architecturally ambitious work—projects where collaboration matters as much as math.

One memorable example is Georgia Tech’s Krone Engineered Biosystems Building (EBB), designed by Lake|Flato with Cooper Carry as AOR. The design team, the CM, and the researchers who would occupy the building often sat around the same table. 

“There were a lot of big personalities and it created an interesting dynamic,” he recalls. “Researchers, architects, engineers—we all had different goals. My job was to help us land in a place where the design could stay intact without breaking the budget.”

Through steady coordination, the team aligned scope, resolved challenges, and delivered an award-winning research facility.

“It was one of the most satisfying experiences I’ve had,” he said.

That steady, unflappable presence is a hallmark of Terry’s leadership.

What turns estimators into leaders

When Terry talks about what sets future leaders apart, he begins with habits: pride in your work and genuine curiosity about how buildings come together.

“You have to be proud of your work product,” he said. “Are you doing the best you can? Have you covered all the bases?”

Curiosity has always driven his growth. When he realized early on that he needed a stronger understanding of HVAC systems, he headed to the library.

 “Estimating requires knowing enough about all the work to ask the right questions,” he explains. “The more well-rounded you are, the more valuable you become to a project team.”

He understands the pressures junior estimators face—tight deadlines, the need for unwavering quality, and maintaining work-life balance. But he’s clear: pride, accuracy, and effort are what get noticed.

Today, Terry’s role focuses on reviewing questions, watching deadlines, and staying accessible. Modeling thoroughness and availability is central to how he mentors others.

“If you work with pride, stay curious, and keep learning, leadership becomes a natural next step,” he says. “It makes you an easy choice when the right opportunity comes along.”

Beyond work: strength, family, and perspective

Outside of work, Terry’s world revolves around his family, including his autistic son, whose care requires focus and intention. The demands are real, but so is Terry’s commitment to showing up with steadiness—at home and at work.

When he carves out time for himself, you’ll find him in the gym. Exercise and fitness is a priority for him and he once lifted 435 pounds—about the weight of an adult black bear—but now trains in ways that protect his joints and support long-term health.

“It’s about staying strong, but also staying smart,” he says.

That philosophy mirrors the way he leads: steady, grounded effort built day after day.