Bryan Keding: A Flooring Focus

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

CONCORD — Bryan Keding entered the home improvement field as a young man, but it wasn’t until he joined forces with his brothers that his career really took off. “I started as a house painter,” he recounts. “My two brothers, Kreg and Reggie, also worked in the home improvement industry, and we eventually decided to go into business together. In 2007, we started a home remodeling company and later narrowed our focus to flooring installation. After some time, we realized we could provide better service if we had more control of the material side, so we added a franchise that would allow us to sell flooring as well as install it. Read more

Peter Breslin: A Unique Opportunity

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO — Not long after moving to San Francisco from his home country of Ireland, Peter Breslin was given a unique opportunity to become a business owner. “I came to the United States when I was 25 and immediately started working in the moving industry,” he recounts. “During the next couple of years, I became friends with the owner of the company I worked for. He wanted to get out of the business, so he gave me the opportunity to buy it from him. I’ve been running things ever since—well over 30 years.”

Today, as owner of A1 Transfer Moving & Read more

Paul Cooper: From Solar Panels to Sewer Pipes

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

BERKELEY — For Paul Cooper, a short-lived career in the solar industry led to a long-term livelihood as a plumber. “I got started in plumbing after the demise of the first wave of the solar energy industry that blossomed from the mid-70s to the early ’80s,” he recounts. “President Carter installed solar panels on the White House and the government created tax credits for homeowners who did the same to their homes. I jumped on that wave and got into the solar business around that time. A few years later, when Ronald Reagan became president, he removed those panels that President Carter had installed. Read more

Gary Robertson: A Lifelong Builder

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

WALNUT CREEK — Reflecting on a career that spans more than four decades, Gary Robertson says his beginnings as a builder go all the way back to childhood. “My grandfather was a builder in Canada, and when we visited, he would have me work with him on different projects,” he remembers. “During my teen years, I would work during the summer for various contractors doing things like painting and repairs. In 1976, I moved from my home state of Massachusetts to Northern California, where I started a small handyman business. Over the next few years, I got my painting and general contractor licenses and continued to grow my business into a full-scale remodeling firm.”

Today, Read more

Darcy Quinn: An Early Involvement

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

NOVATO — Darcy Quinn has been working in the moving industry since she graduated college, but her initial involvement goes back even further. “My dad has worked for Bekins Van Lines since 1966, so I grew up around the business,” she explains. “When I was a little girl, I would go with him on weekends when he was managing office moves—he would pay me 25 cents a day to help out. Later, during high school and college, I continued to work with him during summer and winter breaks. In 2000, around the same time I graduated from college, he purchased the Novato Bekins Agency from Bekins Van Lines and invited me to be his office manager. Read more

Ted Liu: A High-Definition Career

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

CONCORD — Ted Liu’s involvement in the home theater and automation field started as a personal hobby but gradually developed into a full-time profession. “Several years ago, I installed an A/V system in my home,” he recounts. “I wanted the nicest system I could afford, and over time I continued to make it bigger and better. Friends and family started asking me to help them install similar systems in their homes. Before I knew it, I was going into business as an A/V contractor.”

Today, as owner of InVision Home Theater, Ted says his prior experience as a general contractor comes in handy with his latter-day career. Read more

Tyler Lau: Flooring for Life

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

CONCORD — When asked how he got started in the flooring business, Tyler Lau says he’s been involved since he was a teenager. “My dad and my uncle opened a carpet store called Floor Masters when I was 17, and I started working there during the summers. After finishing college, I came back and worked in the office, where I learned about sales, estimating and other aspects of running a business. After about 10 years, I took a brief hiatus from the industry, following which I opened my own flooring store in Concord.”

Today, as owner of Concord Carpet and Hardwood, Read more

Miro Bokaric: Driven to Succeed

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO — Miro Bokaric has always possessed a drive to succeed, but it wasn’t until he immigrated to the United States that he achieved his career objective. “I’m originally from Bosnia,” he explains. “My whole life, I’ve never stopped working. I got my first job as a kid digging trenches for a contractor. When I got older, I attended electrical school and became a qualified electrician.” However, just as Miro was getting started in his new career, war broke out in Bosnia. “When the war started, my wife and I decided to leave and relocate to the United States,” he recounts. Read more

Jason Patterson: A Clear Trajectory

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

PETALUMA — An early introduction to the glass industry gave Jason Patterson a clear trajectory for his professional career. “I started working with a glass company in San Rafael when I was 16,” he remembers. “It was a good fit and I enjoyed the work, so I just stuck with it. Over time, I continued to learn about different aspects of the industry, from windows to glass doors and shower enclosures. After high school, I spent some time in retail management, where I gained valuable experience in customer service. In 2018, my wife, Margaret, and I started our own glass business.”

Today, Read more

Dominic Capito: An Early Opportunity

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SANTA ROSA — Thanks to a family connection, Dominic Capito got an early start in what would eventually become his career. “I first started plumbing during the summer between sixth and seventh grade,” he remembers. “We had a family friend who was a plumber and he offered me an opportunity to learn the trade. I spent the next several summers working for him. At first, I wasn’t thinking about it in terms of a future career—I just enjoyed fixing things. Plus, the pay was pretty good for a kid my age!”

Following high school, Dominic dove headfirst into full-time plumbing work. Read more