Young Moon: Business-Minded

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SANTA CLARA —Just a couple of years into his painting career, Young Moon felt primed to start his own business. “Back in 2006, I had just returned from South Korea and didn’t have a career lined up,” he recounts. “My brother-in-law was a painter and he recommended I learn the trade, so I decided to give it a shot. I got a job working for his previous boss and worked for him for the next two years. While I enjoyed painting, I eventually came to realize that I preferred the business side of things to the actual hands-on work. This made me think I should start my own painting business. Read more

Justin Donahue: Cabinet Architect

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

PLEASANT HILL — As a young man, Justin Donahue was headed toward a career in architecture, but when he applied his skills to cabinet design, he knew he’d found his calling. “My dad is a general contractor, so I grew up around construction, which naturally led to an interest in architecture,” he remembers. “After graduating from high school, I started doing architectural drawings for a living. However, since I was so young, I didn’t have very good contacts, and I routinely got stiffed on payment. Eventually, I decided I’d be better off getting a regular job, so I went to work for a local cabinet shop doing cabinet design. Read more

Glayston Soares: From Parcels to Pavers

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

RODEO — After years working in the shipping industry, when Glayston Soares saw an opportunity to get into the paver business, he was confident he could deliver. “I used to be a contractor for FedEx—I had eight trucks and covered a couple of routes for them,” he recounts. “I actually got into pavers through my brother, who at the time was a paver contractor in Florida. He was having some difficulties with his business, so I told him he should move to California and start a company with me. With his industry knowledge and my administrative skills, I knew we’d make a good team. Read more

Leo Molchanov: A Natural Extension

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

OAKLAND — When Leo Molchanov started cleaning attics and crawl spaces, it was just a natural extension of the work he was already doing. “In 2008, I came to the U.S. from Ukraine, where I’d worked as an electrician,” he recounts. “As I considered my career options, I noticed that there was a lot of demand for air duct cleaning, so I decided to start my own business. In the course of cleaning air ducts, I found that many of my customers had issues with their attics and crawl spaces. Some just needed these areas cleaned, but others had issues with rodents and energy efficiency. Read more

Rick Stein: A Flooring Focus

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN RAFAEL — Having come from a multifaceted professional background, Rick Stein established his long-term livelihood by focusing on one particular aspect. “When I was younger, I worked for my family’s business, which handled design, supply and installation for hotel renovations,” he recounts. “I always felt drawn to the flooring aspect—I enjoyed the creativity and problem-solving it involved. Eventually, I decided to pursue a career in the flooring industry and opened Just Remnants in 1991. I was able to utilize my prior experience to get commercial contracts, but I also brought in a residential component. Today, we continue to provide for the flooring needs of residential and commercial clients alike.”

Today, Read more

Fred Wozniak: Return to Flooring

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN RAFAEL — After retiring from his job as a software specialist, Fred Wozniak decided to return to the industry where he’d originally worked as a young man. “My first job as a teenager was for a company called Tile Town in Detroit, Michigan,” he remembers. “I worked there doing installation for about six years before transitioning into the software industry, where I worked for IBM and then started my own company. I retired in the early ’90s, but I still needed something to do, so I decided to get another job. I saw an ad for a position with a flooring company called Just Remnants, Read more

Kay Tagle: Fully Invested

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

WALNUT CREEK — Kay Tagle achieved professional success when she turned her side hustle into her full-time vocation. “I used to work for the federal government, but I also bought and sold investment properties on the side,” she recounts. “I bought my first house in Daly City, sold it and bought another in Serramonte, and I continued investing from there. At a certain point, my godmother said, ‘Why don’t you just get your license and do real estate full time?’ I decided to take her advice, and in 1990 I became a full-time Realtor. Originally, I sold properties in San Francisco, Read more

Richard Hiteshew: Family First

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

VALLEJO — When asked what motivated him to start his own HVAC business, Richard Hiteshew says he just wanted to have more time with his family. “After several years working as a technician, I was fed up with my job encroaching on my family life. The final straw was when I had to work on my daughter’s fifth birthday, even though I requested the day off weeks in advance. I came home to my wife, Krissy, and told her I was going to start my own company. She said it was a great idea. Considering that we had a house payment, Read more

Mike Hernandez: An Outdoor Opportunity

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SANTA CRUZ — Mike Hernandez has always loved being outdoors, so when he accepted an opportunity to give tree work a try, it was hardly going out on a limb. “One day, about a year out of high school, I ran into a family friend who worked in the tree service industry, and he asked me if I’d be interested in trying it,” he remembers. “I had worked a couple of other jobs by that point and learned that working indoors wasn’t for me, so tree service seemed like it might be a good fit. As it turns out, Read more

Kacey Copeland: Taking the Next Step

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

DANVILLE — For Kacey Copeland, starting an auto repair business was simply the logical next step in his professional career. “After several years in the automotive industry, I was considering what my next move would be,” he remembers. “By that point, I felt like I’d become an expert in my field and was just treading water, unsure what direction I should go in. Around that time, the owner of the shop I worked at had another location come available. He didn’t think anyone wanted to buy it, so he was just going to sell the property. To me, Read more