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

Thomas Carrell: Going for the Goal

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SANTA ROSA — Besides being a second-generation roofer, Thomas Carrell has always been involved in sports, including a 15-year stint playing semi-pro football. So, when an opportunity arose to purchase the roofing business he worked for, he went for it like a quarterback on third and goal. “My father was a roofer, so I got into the industry when I was a teenager,” he remembers. “I spent the better part of a decade working for him and learning the trade. After I gained enough experience on the installation crew, I took an estimating position with Crandall Roofing. About 15 years later, Read more

Jose Calderon: Diving Back In

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

VACAVILLE — After taking a brief detour from his pool service career, Jose Calderon decided to dive back in and go deeper than ever before. “My first pool service job was with a company in San Jose,” he recounts. “Jim, the owner, was like the Mr. Miyagi of pool service and taught me everything I know about chemistry and maintenance. Later, when I took a job selling cars, I gave my position to my younger brother, Christopher, who ended up starting his own pool service business in Sacramento. A few years after that, I was thinking about starting a pool service business myself, Read more

Eric Zugnoni: A Student of the Industry

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

ANTIOCH — Most auto mechanics attend ongoing educational courses, but few can be classified as true students of the industry. Eric Zugnoni falls into this classification, and his educational enthusiasm is a big part of what propelled him to professional success. “During my early years as a technician, I attended a lot of industry-related classes,” he says. “I heard about a teacher in Concord who was highly recommended, so I started attending his classes on topics like advanced drivability and emissions. He became a mentor to me, and when I was laid off by Bank of America, Read more

Miquan Johnson: An Insulation Fascination

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

OAKLAND — Miquan Johnson had already started down his career path when a unique opportunity led to a permanent change in direction. “I initially started my career in the construction field, where I learned how to do framing and electrical work,” he recounts. “Later, while attending college, I was offered a job doing insulation upgrades for low-income families through a government program. We would go in and reinsulate the walls, attic, and crawl space at no charge to the homeowner. It was really rewarding work, and it sparked an interest in insulation and its impact on energy efficiency. I’ve been doing insulation ever since, Read more