Sandy Willis: Entrepreneurial Aptitude

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN JOSE — Sandy Willis has always had a penchant for entrepreneurship. Even in the midst of an economic recession, she was able to find a diamond in the rough. “Back in 2009, my husband, Bill, and I were looking to buy a business that had positive cash flow,” she recounts. “We’ve been entrepreneurs for quite some time—prior to that point, we’d owned three different coffee shops and sold them. We came across a Molly Maid franchise in San Jose and it met our criteria, so we bought it. About three years later, the owner of the neighboring franchise in Cupertino/Saratoga wanted to sell, Read more

David Liu: The Matchmaker

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

APTOS — David Liu has been working in the house cleaning industry for some time, but it was only recently that he discovered a better way to match clients with the services they need. “While working for a house cleaning company, I saw a demand in the marketplace from clients looking for more customized services,” he recounts. “Most cleaning companies have a lot of do’s and don’ts—for example, some don’t do laundry or dishes. This makes it hard to find a one-size-fits-all solution for every client’s needs and expectations. So, when I came across Anita’s Housekeeping Referral Agency, I was impressed by their approach. Read more

Savi Singh: Career Cultivation

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SUNNYVALE — Growing up in Punjab, India, Savi Singh was always interested in working on cars. However, it wasn’t until he immigrated to the United States that he cultivated that interest into a full-fledged career. “I immigrated to the U.S. in 2003, just before my 18th birthday,” he remembers. “My father had already immigrated a couple of years prior and applied for my mom, my brothers, and I to come join him. I couldn’t attend college during that first year because I hadn’t yet received my green card. So, I started helping my father, who had just opened an auto body shop in Hayward called ASM Auto Body. Read more

Steve Daniel: Born to Build

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SACRAMENTO — Raised in the construction trades, Steve Daniel was all but destined to become a builder like his forefathers. “My dad was a contractor and so was my grandfather, so it’s in my blood whether I like it or not,” he laughs. “By the time I was 13, my dad was taking me out on jobs regularly. He worked all the time and always needed help, and who do you think he was going to call to help him? That strapping young man sitting on the couch watching cartoons, that’s who!”

Following high school, Steve attended college, Read more

Curt Glaze: A Perfect Fit

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

DUBLIN — Between his professional and personal experience, Curt Glaze found a career in flooring sales to be a perfect fit. “Before getting into flooring, I worked as a program manager for Hewlett-Packard,” he recounts. “I’ve always liked working with people. Personally, I also did a lot of remodeling on my home and always enjoyed the design aspects of it. So, when I decided to switch careers, I found that flooring sales was a good fit. Over the years of working in the industry, I’ve encountered everything from small fixer-upper homes to big-budget luxury remodeling projects, so when someone walks into the store, Read more

Mariano Renteria: No Place Like Home

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN JOSE — After leaving his family’s trade to pursue a different career, it didn’t take long for Mariano Renteria to realize there’s no place like home. “After high school, I did a little bit of roofing, but I wasn’t sure it was for me,” he remembers. “There were a lot of roofers in my family, so it made sense to follow in their footsteps. However, I wanted to try something different, so I became a truck driver. I liked it at first, but after a while I grew tired of being on the road for weeks at a time. Read more

Lior Zeevi: East to West

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN JOSE — After starting his HVAC career on the East Coast, Lior Zeevi decided to pack up and head west. “I began my HVAC career in 2003 while I was living in Miami, Florida,” he recounts. “What drew me to the industry was an interest in the science of HVAC, particularly air conditioning. Pretty much everyone has air conditioning in Florida, so there was plenty of work, and I ended up opening my own HVAC company. In 2012, I sold that business and moved to the Bay Area, where I started a new company.”

As he became more familiar with his new environment, Read more

Michael Davis: A Long Way to the Top

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

GALT — Michael Davis has been in the roofing trade since he was a teenager. Looking back, he credits his early initiation to a family friend in the industry. “My godfather owns a roofing company,” he recounts. “My dad and my brother both worked for him, so naturally I ended up there as well. I was 14 years old when I started and that’s where I received all my training. Basically, I fell in love with the trade and I’ve been involved ever since.”

More than two decades after beginning his career, Michael finally made the transition from employee to owner. Read more

Mike Im: An Early Start

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

PACIFICA — Mike Im’s roofing career got off to an early start thanks to a family member who worked in the industry. “I got into roofing because of my uncle, who had his own roofing company,” he explains. “I was fortunate to learn the process of roof installation at a young age. At first, I mainly worked with my uncle during summers, but after I turned 18, I began doing it full time. I became very focused on refining my skills and knowledge, and within three years, I teamed up with my dad to open our own roofing business. Read more

Maor Greenberg: Building Anew

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

PALO ALTO — After running a successful construction firm in his home country of Israel, Maor Greenberg moved to the United States, where he immediately set to work building a new enterprise. “I started my first construction company when I was 19 years old,” he recounts. “I come from a family of contractors, including my father, so I started when I was very young in the industry. In 2013, my wife and I decided to move to the United States, which is where she’s originally from. Shortly after we arrived, I got my contractor’s license and started a new company.”

Today, Read more