Karen Skinner: A Reinvented Career

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

RICHMOND — After her longstanding career came to a sudden end, Karen Skinner took the opportunity to reinvent her professional livelihood. “I had been in the telecommunications industry for more than 30 years when I was unexpectedly laid off,” she recounts. “At that point, I took some time to decide what I would do next. I was pretty burned out on the telecom field and felt ready to reinvent myself and take on a new challenge.”

Not long after, Karen got wind of a sales position opening at a local paver company and decided to give it a shot. Read more

Jay Furlong: A Fresh Coat

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

MOUNTAIN VIEW — After finishing college, Jay Furlong could have pursued a career in his field of study, but instead he decided to start fresh in the painting trade. “I have a degree in mechanical engineering and product design,” he explains. “During the summers in college, I did handyman work with a friend, including some painting. After graduation, a lot of my colleagues got design jobs, but I didn’t like the idea of sitting at a cubicle or even working for a boss—I liked the freedom of doing my own thing. I looked at my options and decided to get into painting. Read more

Zaz Khan: Printing Success

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

UNION CITY — After coming to the United States from the Fiji Islands in 2000, Zaz Khan worked in a number of industries before finding his true calling as a professional printer. “When you come to a new country, you basically have to start from scratch, so I took any work I could get,” he recounts. “At one point, I was working four different jobs just so I could feed my family. I did janitorial, catering and even became a professional butcher. Eventually, I got an opportunity to work with a friend who owned a print shop in Berkeley. I soon grew to enjoy the printing business, Read more

Mike Ross: Roofing Legacy

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

MARINA — As third-generation owner of his family’s business, Mike Ross has been involved in the roofing trade for as long as he can remember. “My grandfather started Ross Roofing & Construction in 1950, and my dad picked it up from him and ran it for 45 years,” he recounts. “Not surprisingly, I’ve been involved for most of my life. At age 10, I was put to work sweeping the yard and sorting nails, screws, and insulation. I continued to work for the business during the summers through high school and college. After getting my degree in construction management at BYU, Read more

Ilan Sigura: An Integral Career

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SANTA CLARA — By the time he reached early adulthood, Ilan Sigura had already established deep roots in the construction industry. Even when he tried his hand at a new profession, it wasn’t long before he returned to the field that had become an integral part of his identity. “My father was a contractor, and he began teaching me the trade when I was just a boy,” he explains. “Later, as a college student, I decided to study computer science. After I graduated, I spent a couple of months engineering software for a tech company, but I didn’t like it at all. Read more

Graham Jones: A Unexpected Direction

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO — Graham Jones never planned on becoming a plumber, but when his original professional pathway diverged, that’s the direction it took him in. “I was actually going to automotive school, with plans to become a mechanic,” he recounts. “However, at a certain point I realized it wasn’t the right career for me, mostly because I didn’t want to be stuck in the same place every day. I expressed this to my brother, who’d recently switched from working as a chef to becoming a plumber. He recommended I look into plumbing, so I did. I ended up doing an apprenticeship with a company in San Rafael, Read more

Dr. William Hummer: An Early Calling

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN LEANDRO — Many people find their professional callings in adulthood, but Dr. William Hummer knew much earlier what he wanted to do with his life. “I was 13 years old when I decided I wanted to be a dentist,” he affirms. “Around that time, a lot of my peers were talking about what they wanted to do when they grew up. I had just gotten braces, so I naturally thought of my orthodontist. He had his own business, made his own schedule and earned a nice income; plus, he got to work with his hands and take care of people for a living. Read more

Brandon Stieg: Finding a Balance

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

LAGUNITAS — As a young man, Brandon Stieg had a talent for architecture, but he preferred being outside to sitting at a drafting desk. Eventually, he was able to find a balance between the two. “I’ve always been artistic, but I was also good at math, so when I got to college, it made sense to major in architecture,” he recounts. “However, soon after starting an architectural apprenticeship, I realized I didn’t want to be an architect. The idea of being at a desk for eight hours a day just didn’t appeal to me—I wanted to be working outside. Read more

Jay Kats: All Revved Up

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SUNNYVALE — For Jay Kats, a love of cars ultimately led to a career as an electrician. “I’ve been working on cars since before I was old enough to drive,” he affirms. “In the course of learning mechanical work, I also learned how to work with the electrical aspects of automotive. However, when it came time to get a job, I didn’t want to be a mechanic, mainly because I didn’t like being stuck in one place, even if it was a garage. Since I was well-versed in automotive electrical, I decided I would learn to do electrical work on a wider scale and become a professional electrician.”

Today, Read more

Cori Chipman: A Dynamic Career

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO — Cori Chipman never planned on getting a job in the janitorial industry, but after nearly a decade, she’s glad she did. “I doubt that I would have applied at a janitorial company if it weren’t for the 2008 recession,” she explains. “I was working in the hospitality industry in Hawaii and the recession hit us particularly hard. I ended up moving back to San Francisco, where I immediately began looking for work. One of the companies I applied at was No More Dirt. I had no idea what working for a janitorial company would be like, Read more