Christal Barquero: An Unexpected Journey

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

ROHNERT PARK — When Christal Barquero filled a position as a secretary for an Oakland construction firm, she figured it would just be another job, but it actually led to a lifelong career. “I’m one of those people who never knew what they wanted to be when they grew up,” she recounts. “I worked as a bank teller for a while and also did a stint working for the Department of Fish and Wildlife. When I got hired as a secretary for a contracting firm, I didn’t know anything about construction, but I was fascinated by it. Over time, Read more

Alex Galvan: Car Doctor

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

MARTINEZ — As a young man, Alex Galvan had aspirations to become a medical professional. However, he never thought the patients he’d one day work with would have wheels and mechanical engines. “After graduating early from high school, I decided to work toward becoming a registered nurse,” he recounts. “I enrolled at the local junior college, took care of all my prerequisites and applied for a few nursing programs. However, I had some difficulty getting into a program and ended up on a long waiting list. While I waited, I decided to start working on cars. I had a cousin who was a master mechanic and he taught me a bit about the trade. Read more

Aaron Sampson: In Through the Outdoors

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

NOVATO — Aaron Sampson gained equal experience in construction and landscaping, but it wasn’t until he merged the two spheres that he hit his professional stride. “I got into the construction trades right out of high school,” he recounts. “I worked for a residential building contractor that also did landscaping, so I got an equal amount of experience in both aspects. Eventually, I decided that I preferred working outdoors and began pursuing a career in landscape construction. I earned my C-27 license, which enables me to handle general landscaping as well as exterior building projects like patios, retaining walls, Read more

Ofer Kolton: Filling the Void

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN MATEO — After immigrating to the United States from his home country of Israel, Ofer Kolton found work as a house cleaner. Later, when he saw a void in an adjacent industry, he figured he might as well be the one to fill it. “While working as a house cleaner, I kept hearing complaints from my clients about carpet cleaning companies,” he remembers. “A lot of these companies operated on a bait-and-switch model, where they’d quote the customer a low price over the phone, only to hike it up considerably when they were actually on the job site. Read more

Armando Garcia: No Hesitation

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN JOSE — Armando Garcia always wanted to learn a trade, so when he got a chance to get into the HVAC industry, he didn’t hesitate. “At the time, I was working as a laborer for a moving company,” he recounts. “A coworker told me he was getting hired at an HVAC company, so I told him to let me know if there were any more positions available. A week later, he called me and asked if I wanted to get trained in HVAC. ‘Of course!’ I told him, and that’s how I got started.”

During the next few years, Read more

Roberto Ramos: Taking the Plunge

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

BRENTWOOD — Roberto Ramos spent several years climbing the ladder at his previous job before taking the plunge into entrepreneurship by starting his own business. “I started working in construction back in 1994,” he recounts. “During my first few years, I did everything from fire and water damage restoration to highway construction, and eventually, I got into framing and building houses. I worked my way up to the position of foreman at the company I worked for, and later I became a superintendent. It was a good job that paid well, but I started thinking that I could do even better and have more satisfaction if I had my own company. Read more

Daniel Tseyref: Unlocking Potential

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO — For years, Daniel Tseyref rebuffed offers to get into the plumbing business, but when he finally gave it a try, he unlocked an unknown potential that altered his professional trajectory. “Before getting into plumbing, I worked at a car dealership for 10 years,” he recounts. “My brother was a plumber, and for years he kept trying to talk me into joining him. I was pretty adamant about not doing it. I didn’t know if I would like it, and moreover, I wasn’t sure I’d be any good at it. Eventually, he wore me down and I agreed to try it. Read more

Damon Turner: Crystal Clear Success

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

NOVATO — After more than three decades in the window washing business, Damon Turner looks back on the catalyst for his longtime career. “Before I got into window washing, I was working in construction,” he recounts. “I had a couple of friends who were in the business, and they told me I could make more money cleaning windows than being a construction laborer. A few months later, when their company had an opening, I was able to get in and start working as a window washer. Years later, my business partner, Eric Kennedy, and I bought the company, and we’ve been running it for more than 30 years now.”

Today, Read more

Troy Scott: A Heavenly Opportunity

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN JOSE — When Troy Scott started working at Heavenly Greens as a sale rep in 2006, he never thought he’d eventually own the company. “I was drawn to this company by a fascination with the artificial turf industry,” he remembers. “Not only was it an innovative, growing industry, I had a feeling that water conservation would continue to be a trend, which it has. I started handling marketing for the company, and I eventually got promoted to vice president of marketing. In 2017, Tim Netherton, who was vice president of sales, and I acquired the company from the original owner.”
Today, Read more

Rafi Benbenishti: Home Repair Extraordinaire

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

MARTINEZ — Following an unplanned relocation to an unfamiliar country, Rafi Benbenishti found his professional calling in the home maintenance and repair industry. “I’m originally from Israel,” he explains. “In 2000, I went traveling abroad and visited Thailand, Australia, and the Philippines, to name a few. Eventually, I came to the United States, where my brother was living at the time. What was meant to be a short visit ended up being a permanent stay. I started working in the home repair industry and spent the next several years learning everything from duct repair to insulation upgrades. In 2011, Read more