Angel Garcia: Expanded Expertise

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

LIVERMORE — Starting out in a subset of the remodeling industry, Angel Garcia gradually expanded his expertise to encompass all aspects of construction. “Several of my family members were in construction, so I basically followed in their footsteps,” he recounts. “My first job was installing garage doors when I was 18 years old. Later, I started doing handyman services, which I enjoyed so much that I decided to get my general contractor’s license. In 2011, I started Gar-Cal Corporation, and today we handle every aspect of construction, from foundations to framing to whole home remodeling.”

Angel says his favorite part of his job is the opportunity for creative ingenuity. Read more

Billy Alcantara: An Unexpected Opportunity

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

BENICIA — Following a hiatus from the construction industry, Billy Alcantara found himself drawn back into the field by an unexpected opportunity. “I’ve always been a hands-on type of person, so right out of high school I put on a toolbelt and got into construction,” he remembers. “My older cousin got me into the trade and showed me the ropes. A few years later, I left the construction field to work in sales, and after that I took a job in the manufacturing field. After the financial crash in 2008, my wife and I began to invest in and fix up real estate properties. Read more

OAKLAND — After a bad experience as an employee, Niv Goldman decided the best way to maintain his professional ethics was to take matters into his own hands. “While working as a salesperson for a large attic cleaning company, I kept getting complaints from unhappy clients,” he recounts. “I tried to work with the company owner to rectify the issue—I didn’t feel right setting expectations higher than what I knew we could provide. Eventually, I knew I had to move on. Instead of going to work for another company and ending up in the same situation, I decided to get my contractor’s license and start my own attic cleaning business.”

Knowing he’d need help getting his new business off the ground, Read more

Chris Marcus: Like Father, Like Son

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN JOSE — Having been raised by a plumber, it’s no surprise that Chris Marcus grew up to become one himself. “My father, Phil, has been a plumber since before I was born,” he recounts. “I started going to work with him when I was eight or nine years old. As time went by, I started doing bigger and more complex projects, and by the time I was 16, I had pretty much decided I was going to do plumbing as a career. After doing my own thing for several years, I ended up going into business with my father, Read more

Gabriel Martinez: One Step Toward Success

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

MORGAN HILL — When Gabriel Martinez took a job in the HVAC industry at age 18, he had no idea just how far that initial step would eventually lead. “My first job after high school was working in a warehouse for a heating and air conditioning distributor,” he recounts. “A few years later, I got into the field doing maintenance and installation for a couple of contractors. I liked being out in the field—the day goes by much faster when you aren’t stuck in the same place. About four years later, in 2006, I decided to go into business for myself. Read more

Rashid Yahya: Achieving Liftoff

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

CONCORD — Originally from India, Rashid Yahya came to the United States to get his lofty professional aspirations off the ground. “After getting my engineering degree in India, I came to Northern California and attended the Sierra Academy of Aeronautics,” he recounts. “After earning my pilot’s license, I went on to become a flight instructor at the school and gradually worked my way up to becoming director of flight operations. Since then, my focus has been managing flight schools and pilot training programs for domestic and international students alike.”

In 2011, Rashid joined Pacific States Aviation, where he helped the small fixed-base operator achieve a much-needed liftoff. Read more

Bryan Keding: A Flooring Focus

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

CONCORD — Bryan Keding entered the home improvement field as a young man, but it wasn’t until he joined forces with his brothers that his career really took off. “I started as a house painter,” he recounts. “My two brothers, Kreg and Reggie, also worked in the home improvement industry, and we eventually decided to go into business together. In 2007, we started a home remodeling company and later narrowed our focus to flooring installation. After some time, we realized we could provide better service if we had more control of the material side, so we added a franchise that would allow us to sell flooring as well as install it. Read more

Peter Breslin: A Unique Opportunity

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO — Not long after moving to San Francisco from his home country of Ireland, Peter Breslin was given a unique opportunity to become a business owner. “I came to the United States when I was 25 and immediately started working in the moving industry,” he recounts. “During the next couple of years, I became friends with the owner of the company I worked for. He wanted to get out of the business, so he gave me the opportunity to buy it from him. I’ve been running things ever since—well over 30 years.”

Today, as owner of A1 Transfer Moving & Read more

Paul Cooper: From Solar Panels to Sewer Pipes

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

BERKELEY — For Paul Cooper, a short-lived career in the solar industry led to a long-term livelihood as a plumber. “I got started in plumbing after the demise of the first wave of the solar energy industry that blossomed from the mid-70s to the early ’80s,” he recounts. “President Carter installed solar panels on the White House and the government created tax credits for homeowners who did the same to their homes. I jumped on that wave and got into the solar business around that time. A few years later, when Ronald Reagan became president, he removed those panels that President Carter had installed. Read more

Gary Robertson: A Lifelong Builder

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

WALNUT CREEK — Reflecting on a career that spans more than four decades, Gary Robertson says his beginnings as a builder go all the way back to childhood. “My grandfather was a builder in Canada, and when we visited, he would have me work with him on different projects,” he remembers. “During my teen years, I would work during the summer for various contractors doing things like painting and repairs. In 1976, I moved from my home state of Massachusetts to Northern California, where I started a small handyman business. Over the next few years, I got my painting and general contractor licenses and continued to grow my business into a full-scale remodeling firm.”

Today, Read more