Ilan Sigura: An Integral Career

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SANTA CLARA — By the time he reached early adulthood, Ilan Sigura had already established deep roots in the construction industry. Even when he tried his hand at a new profession, it wasn’t long before he returned to the field that had become an integral part of his identity. “My father was a contractor, and he began teaching me the trade when I was just a boy,” he explains. “Later, as a college student, I decided to study computer science. After I graduated, I spent a couple of months engineering software for a tech company, but I didn’t like it at all. Read more

Graham Jones: A Unexpected Direction

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO — Graham Jones never planned on becoming a plumber, but when his original professional pathway diverged, that’s the direction it took him in. “I was actually going to automotive school, with plans to become a mechanic,” he recounts. “However, at a certain point I realized it wasn’t the right career for me, mostly because I didn’t want to be stuck in the same place every day. I expressed this to my brother, who’d recently switched from working as a chef to becoming a plumber. He recommended I look into plumbing, so I did. I ended up doing an apprenticeship with a company in San Rafael, Read more

Dr. William Hummer: An Early Calling

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN LEANDRO — Many people find their professional callings in adulthood, but Dr. William Hummer knew much earlier what he wanted to do with his life. “I was 13 years old when I decided I wanted to be a dentist,” he affirms. “Around that time, a lot of my peers were talking about what they wanted to do when they grew up. I had just gotten braces, so I naturally thought of my orthodontist. He had his own business, made his own schedule and earned a nice income; plus, he got to work with his hands and take care of people for a living. Read more

Brandon Stieg: Finding a Balance

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

LAGUNITAS — As a young man, Brandon Stieg had a talent for architecture, but he preferred being outside to sitting at a drafting desk. Eventually, he was able to find a balance between the two. “I’ve always been artistic, but I was also good at math, so when I got to college, it made sense to major in architecture,” he recounts. “However, soon after starting an architectural apprenticeship, I realized I didn’t want to be an architect. The idea of being at a desk for eight hours a day just didn’t appeal to me—I wanted to be working outside. Read more

Jay Kats: All Revved Up

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SUNNYVALE — For Jay Kats, a love of cars ultimately led to a career as an electrician. “I’ve been working on cars since before I was old enough to drive,” he affirms. “In the course of learning mechanical work, I also learned how to work with the electrical aspects of automotive. However, when it came time to get a job, I didn’t want to be a mechanic, mainly because I didn’t like being stuck in one place, even if it was a garage. Since I was well-versed in automotive electrical, I decided I would learn to do electrical work on a wider scale and become a professional electrician.”

Today, Read more

Dr. Lei Luo: Dental Migration

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN BRUNO — When Dr. Lei Luo came to the United States to learn about new techniques in dentistry, he hadn’t planned on becoming a permanent resident, but that’s exactly what happened. “I began my dentistry career in China in the early 1980s,” he recounts. “I originally got into dentistry on the advice of my father, who was a doctor. He thought it would be a good profession for me to pursue, especially since dentists were in high demand. In 1996, after practicing for more than a decade, I wanted to increase my skills and knowledge, so I came to the U.S. Read more

Rod Tehrani: A Technical Advancement

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

CONCORD — After eight years of working construction, Rod Tehrani felt it was time to advance to something a little more technical. “I decided to look into plumbing,” he relates. “At first, it was a lot more grunt work than technical, but that changed with time. The more I learned about the intricate aspects of the profession, the more I enjoyed it. Eventually, I got hired by the county as a crew leader for underground pipe replacement projects. In 2002, I started my own plumbing business, and it has been growing ever since.”

Today, as owner of Absolute Plumbing and Drain, Read more

Chris Street: A Second Trade

By James Florence

ROHNERT PARK — When a debilitating injury ended his roofing career, Chris Street found himself starting from scratch in a new professional field. In the end, however, his twist of fate resulted in a greater success than he’d ever imagined. “I developed carpal tunnel syndrome early in my roofing career, and when I had surgery to correct it, I lost about 20 percent usage of my wrists,” he explains. “Since I wasn’t able to do roofing anymore, the workers’ compensation department offered to send me to school to learn a new trade. I decided to go into HVAC—I used to see HVAC technicians doing installations on the sites I worked at, Read more

Tatiana Acevedo: A Clean Transition

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO — Tatiana Acevedo already had plenty of management experience when she came to California from her home country of Puerto Rico, so when she landed a management job with a janitorial service, it was a clean transition. “Prior to moving to California, I worked for a paint and construction product manufacturing company, where I managed accounts with major retailers like Home Depot and Walmart,” she explains. “A few years ago, my husband got a job offer in California, so we uprooted from our home in Puerto Rico and came to the Bay Area. After transitioning to my new life, Read more

Dain Vogel: A Clean Opportunity

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO — Any employee likes having a good boss, but Dain Vogel really lucked out when he got a chance to work for his longtime mentor. “After six years working as an elementary school teacher, I was looking for a career change,” he recounts. “About that time, I came upon a job opportunity with No More Dirt. I’ve known the owner, Nick Mettler, for a long time. Nick has always been a bit of a mentor to me—I’ve often gone to him for advice and he has helped guide me along my path. So, naturally, when I got a chance to work for him, Read more