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

Ryan Cordes: Earning His Birthright

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SANTA ROSA — When Ryan Cordes started working at his father’s auto repair shop, he wasn’t given any special privileges—he had to work his way up from the bottom like everyone else. “I began working for my dad in 2000, right after graduating from high school,” he recounts. “I started out mopping floors, moved up to washing cars, spent some time in the parts department and was eventually promoted to shop manager in 2011. All along the way, I entertained different ideas for what career I wanted to go into, but ultimately I decided to stay put. I enjoy working on cars and interacting with customers, Read more

Ralph Wedge: Roofing Opportunity

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

PETALUMA — In the wake of an economic recession, Ralph Wedge found an opportunity to start his own business. “Early in my career, I worked for a roofing company doing carpentry work like dry rot repair and upper roof reconstruction,” he recounts. “When the recession of 1974-75 hit, that company went bankrupt and closed its doors, as did several other roofing companies in the area. I saw this as an opportunity to get into the business, so I applied for and received my roofing contractor’s license. That marked the beginning of Wedge Roofing in 1976. I started out small with just a few employees, Read more

Bob Easley: Building Trust

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN RAFAEL — When asked to reflect on his career as a fence builder, Bob Easley spares the glitz and glitter. Chalk it up to modesty, but after four decades of satisfying customers, he has a lot to be proud of. “In 1974, I was 18 and needed a job, so I became an apprentice with a fence builder,” he recounts. “After a couple of years, I figured I could do it on my own, so I went into business for myself. Forty years later, here I am—call it a life sentence. Building fences is hard work, but the longer you do it, Read more

Kenny Johnson: Going Out West

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

BETHEL ISLAND — After 25 years in the construction trades, Kenny Johnson had pretty much done it all, so when he got a chance to build patio covers in California, he decided to give it a try. “I’m originally from Pennsylvania,” he clarifies. “I started out in commercial roofing, later got into home renovations and eventually started my own remodeling business. A few years ago, I came to Northern California to help my father-in-law finish a building project. That blossomed into a full-time opportunity with his business, so I decided to permanently relocate to the West Coast.”

Today, Read more

Jorge Neukirchen: Interlocking Success

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

RICHMOND — Some people find professional success independently, but for Jorge Neukirchen, it resulted when he and his best friend interlocked their respective skills. “Prior to getting into the paver business, I was a mortgage broker,” he recounts. “My best friend, Mauro, had been in the interlocking paver industry for about five years, and he asked if I wanted to partner with him to start a business. With his hands-on knowledge of pavers and my business expertise, I knew it would be a winning combination, so I came aboard and never looked back.”

Today, as vice president of Viking Pavers, Read more

Nick Granato: In the Garage

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

FOSTER CITY — When Nick Granato set out to find a new business opportunity, the last place he expected to end up was in the garage. “I’m a former Chief Operations Officer for COIT, a company that specializes in carpet and upholstery cleaning,” he recaps. “While working there, I became friends with Benny and John, who also worked for the company. Over time, we grew tired of working for a big corporation and wanted to do our own thing, so we began looking for opportunities in the home services industry. Along the way, we discovered PremierGarage and were impressed with their products, Read more

Leo Diaz: A Family Operation

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SANTA ROSA — Leo Diaz found success as a contractor thanks to both a family background and an entrepreneurial streak. “Growing up, I had several family members in the trades, including my father who was an electrician,” he recounts. “I’ve basically been working my whole life. Even as a kid, I was doing lawn maintenance and other jobs for my ‘clients’ around the neighborhood.”

Following high school, Leo enlisted in the U.S. military, where he took part in Operation Desert Storm during his three tours of duty. After finishing his service, he relocated from his home state of Maryland to California to be with his wife, Read more

Bill Place: A Clear Trajectory

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

ROHNERT PARK — Bill Place’s professional path may have started vaguely, but it became as clear as day after he entered the glass industry. “Out of high school, I got a job washing cars at Hansel Ford in Santa Rosa,” he remembers. “I was looking for something with more of a future, so I asked the auto glass guy if he needed any help. He didn’t, but he referred me to a friend in the residential glass business, which led to me getting a job.” Later, Bill joined the union and got into the commercial side of the glass business, Read more