Liam Caldwell: Homegrown Talent

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO — When Liam Caldwell started working at Armstrong Carpet & Linoleum Co. as a teenager, he hadn’t the slightest notion that he’d one day be president of the company. “I started here when I was 15, working after school and on weekends,” he remembers. “I did everything from making deliveries to binding carpets and making pads. Even after I went to college, I would return every summer and work at the store.”

After graduating, Liam figured it was time to move on to a new career, but a simple phone call disrupted his plans. “I was considering career options when Steve Balestrieri, Read more

Simon Spark: An Artistic Inspiration

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO — Simon Spark has always been an artistic person, but he never expected to apply his talents to the realm of residential remodeling. “I started working in the construction field to support myself while attending college, where I studied fine arts,” he remembers. “After graduating, I spent the next 10 years working as a professional artist, doing primarily mixed media sculptures and drawings. Eventually, in my mid-30s, I came to a crossroads where I wanted to start a family and needed a more financially lucrative livelihood. So, I got my contractor’s license and went into business doing residential building and remodeling in San Francisco.”

Today, Read more

William Young: A Competitive Edge

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN MATEO — As a general contractor, William Young had considered getting into roofing for a long time, but he knew if he did, he’d need to find a competitive edge. “More and more, I was coming across projects that required roof work, so going into roofing just made sense,” he says. “Eventually, in 2006, I got my C30 license to specialize in roofing. However, in order to be successful, I knew I’d need a great team of installers, so I sought out roofers throughout the Bay Area who had good reputations. Edge Roofing was built on the knowledge and experience of myself and my team.”

When asked his favorite part of his job, Read more

Corey Haney: Playing it Safe

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

MOUNTAIN VIEW — When Corey Haney was unsure about his next career move, he took a shot at a job opportunity in the life safety industry. “I had been working in concrete construction, but I got laid off when the economy crashed in 2008,” he recounts. “I wanted to get into an industry that was more insulated from economic turbulence, so I started researching. I found an opening with Statcomm Inc. and it seemed like a good fit—not only did life safety strike me as a pretty interesting field, it was definitely more stable than construction. I started as an apprentice, Read more

Rory Moore: From the Farm to the City

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAUSALITO — After four decades in construction, Rory Moore reflects on how his upbringing provided the foundation for his later career. “When you grow up on a farm in the West of Ireland, you learn a lot of different trades,” he recalls. “We had to build our own barns, walls, you name it…so it all started at a very young age for me. After I turned 12, I began working alongside my older brothers for a local plasterer during the summers, and things progressed from there.”

Eventually, Rory made his way to San Francisco, Read more

Roee Erenshteyn: Getting Acquainted

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

RICHMOND — When asked how he ended up in the water and fire damage restoration industry, Roee Erenshteyn says it resulted from making an acquaintance that, while remote, was very close to home. “While researching job opportunities online, I got in touch with Erez Gilad, owner of 911 Remediation, via Facebook,” he explains. “We’re both Israeli, and although he lived in the U.S. and I still lived in Israel, we had a lot of mutual connections. After interviewing with him, I started working for his company remotely. In May 2017, I moved to the U.S. to assume the position of CEO.”

When asked his favorite part about his job, Read more

Nikolaos Margaritis: Building Forward

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

Before he came to the United States, Nikolaos Margaritis was a building contractor in his home country of Greece. While his relocation initially posed a professional setback, it ultimately set him up for greater success. “I started in construction many years ago when I lived in Greece, and at one point I even had my own general contracting firm,” he recounts. “However, as the situation in Greece began to worsen in the mid-2000s, I made the choice to immigrate to the U.S. Upon my arrival, I got back into construction, but I basically had to start all over again as a laborer. Read more

Brian Folden: A Fire Inside

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN JOSE — Brian Folden has always been motivated by a burning desire for professional independence. While he’s achieved this to varying degrees throughout his career, only recently was he able to fully attain it. “I’ve always felt a drive to operate independently and be my own boss, which is one of the reasons I got into real estate,” he says. “My dad has been in the industry since I was a kid, so I basically followed in his footsteps. After 30 years working in partnership with him at Fireside Realty, I wanted a business I could run on my own. Read more

Duane Vos: Blind Ambition

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

ROHNERT PARK — When Duane Vos started installing window blinds as a young man, he had no idea it would lead to a full-fledged career. “My dad owned a flooring and decorating store in Parker, Arizona, where they sold window coverings but didn’t install them,” he remembers. “He was also into cars and was paying me to restore a ’59 El Camino in the shop behind the store. One night, his manager told me he’d been installing blinds after work for the last 15 years and asked if I was interested in taking over for him. At $15 per blind, Read more

Francisco Cortes: Always Growing

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

WATSONVILLE — After embarking on a career in landscaping, Francisco Cortes charted a professional path marked by continual growth and development. “Before I got into landscaping, I was working in a warehouse and wanted a job where I could work outside,” he remembers. “A friend suggested becoming a landscaper, and after looking into it, I decided to give it a shot. I really enjoyed landscaping work and decided to take some college courses to learn about landscape design and irrigation. Several years later, I became interested in hardscaping, so I joined the California Landscape Contractors Association so I could learn more about that aspect. Read more