Alex Rodriguez: A Family Operation

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN JOSE — For years, Alex Rodriguez and his family had talked about starting an automotive business. Finally, by aligning their skills and resources, they successfully followed through with their dream. “I come from a big family, and we’ve always worked on each other’s cars,” explains Alex. “A few of my relatives have professional auto body experience and we’d often talk about starting our own business. After working for 34 years as a construction equipment operator, I was getting ready to retire and I had the money to purchase a business, so we all decided it was time to make it happen.”

Since founding A-Rod Auto Collision in San Jose in 2016, Read more

Jim Gardner: A Sound Structure

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

OAKLAND — After more than 20 years doing structural work, Jim Gardner has established himself as an expert in his field. However, the foundation of his professional expertise didn’t form overnight; rather, it was something he built up gradually. “After college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so I worked a bunch of different jobs, including firefighter, swim instructor and river rafting guide,” he recounts. “When my mother moved to the Bay Area from Southern California and bought a house, I offered to fix it up for her. I’ve always been handy, but I’d never done any real construction work at that point, Read more

Kevin Sollitt: Unexpected Growth

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

FREMONT — As a budding HVAC professional, Kevin Sollitt was always looking for opportunities to grow in his career. However, he never expected he’d grow to the point of starting his own company. “Right out of high school, I went to work for a local HVAC company in Fremont,” he remembers. “I soon realized the chances of moving up in the company were pretty low, so I left after a couple of years and found a company where I could grow. A few years in, I was promoted to service manager—a position that came with a lot of responsibility but little authority. Read more

Steve Ionis: The Long Road

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN JOSE — If you ask Steve Ionis where he’s from originally, he’s likely to reply that there’s no such thing as “original”—an apt response from a man whose upbringing took place in various spots around the world. Steve was born in Shanghai, China, his parents having emigrated from Russia several years prior. Soon after his birth, the rise of Mao Zedong compelled them to relocate to the recently formed state of Israel, where the family resided for six years before moving again, this time to Tokyo, Japan. After he graduated high school, Steve spent three years in the Israeli army, Read more

Howard Bloom: Still Having Fun

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Reporter

LOS ALTOS — When asked what inspired him to get into real estate, Howard Bloom says it was more fun than his day job. “Before I was a real estate agent, I worked as a hospital administrator. In 1982, I started buying and reselling government-repossessed properties. Pretty soon, I was buying two or three properties a year. Eventually, I decided real estate was more fun than being in meetings all day. Plus, I was using a lot of the same skills I used at my job: dealing with people, solving problems and negotiating contracts. In 1985, I began doing real estate full-time and have been at it ever since.”

Today, Read more

Kyle Unciano: A Window of Opportunity

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

NAPA — Kyle Unciano was in between jobs, contemplating his next move, when he happened upon a window of opportunity. “I had worked in fine dining for years and came to a point where I needed a change,” he remembers. “Around that time, my grandparents needed some extra help in the office at the family business, American Window Systems. They started the business in 1992 and have kept it in the family ever since—in fact, my brother is one of their lead installers. I started working in the office part-time, and from there I moved up to sales manager.”

Today, Read more

Chris Testa: A Sure Trajectory

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO — After four decades in the roofing and construction industries, Chris Testa has no regrets about the trajectory his professional livelihood has taken. “I started working in construction while attending college in the ’70s, and from there I got into roofing,” he explains. “What I like about roofing is it’s the finishing touch to any building—it serves both as the protection for the overall structure and its crowning architectural detail. Few people dream of getting into roofing when they’re a kid, and I certainly didn’t, but I ended up here and I’m quite happy I did.”

Today, Read more

Kevin Comerford: Taking the Lead

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

PLEASANTON — Kevin Comerford has roots in the HVAC industry, but it took some time for him to realize his place in his family’s legacy. “My father, Don Comerford, started his business, Comerford Heating and Air, in 1971, so I basically grew up in the industry,” he recounts. “After graduating from Cal Poly with a degree in journalism, I went to work for the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. I enjoyed working with small-business owners so much that it renewed my interest in my parents’ business. I was also fascinated with the innovative developments that were happening in the HVAC industry at the time. Read more

Russell Calhoon: A Firm Foundation

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

ANTIOCH — By the time Russell Calhoon started working for a concrete contractor, he already had a firm foundation in the trades. “I’m a third-generation builder,” he explains. “I grew up in construction and worked for my dad from childhood all the way to adulthood. My dad taught me a lot, both on and off the jobsite. He actually taught apprenticeship classes on roof framing and stair framing at a local college, and I often went with him to those. We eventually became partners in a business that held licenses in foundation work, general construction, plumbing, electrical, solar power and sewer work.”

After his father retired, Read more

Chris Hampton: A Simple Motivation

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

ROHNERT PARK — Chris Hampton’s involvement in the construction trade began with a simple motivation. “I wanted to work outside,” he explains. “At the time, I had been working in warehouses and kitchens since I was 13, and I just knew it wasn’t for me. I started getting into outdoor work like landscaping and concrete, and I gradually gravitated toward fine carpentry like cabinets and trim work. In 2010, I started my own construction and home repair business, and I’m still running it today.”

Today, as owner of CDH Construction, Chris says his favorite part of his job is simply doing the work. Read more