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Antonio Chau: Setting the Standard

By Matt Solis, Editor

Antonio Chau knew he wanted to end up in the home service industry when he became a business owner, but his foray into fence work was more incidental than he could have anticipated. “In 2010, I was looking to purchase a business, but my mentor advised me to practice ownership first, so I tried to find a partner who was focused on growth,” he explains. “I ended up partnering with one of the biggest fence companies in the area and improving its revenue in only a year. That was a great experience because it taught me how to develop and grow an established business. Through that process, I also learned that I really enjoy the fence industry. I love working with clients and seeing their excitement and gratitude of the tangible products that we’re able to build for them.”

In 2021, Antonio took over sole ownership of California Fences, Inc. Today, he says his favorite part of his job is working closely with his team to develop systems that improve each customer’s experience. “When people hire us to build a fence, we obviously have to make sure it’s high-quality, but there are other important things to consider as well. How do we build a strong fence that lasts longer? How is our customer interaction from beginning to end? I keep an open feedback loop so I can look at what our clients are saying and relay that to my team. A complaint is an opportunity to improve what we do. When a client is unhappy, what’s the root cause and how do we fix it? That’s what excites me the most. I want to set new standards for the fence industry that make our competitors want to follow what we’re doing.”

A lifelong resident of the Bay Area, Antonio currently lives in Pleasanton with his wife of 22 years, where they both appreciate the myriad benefits that the East Bay has to offer. “Pleasanton is a wonderful city,” he affirms. “We have a great downtown that’s always hosting events like concerts and farmers markets, the school systems are excellent, and there are lots of opportunities for kids to play sports. It’s a very welcoming community and a great place to raise a family.”

Outside of work, Antonio spends most of his free time with his wife and their three grown children, but he also makes room for a few personal hobbies that keep him active. “I used to play tennis is college and I still play today, although not at a high level,” he details. “Also, my daughter is an elite swimmer, so I took that up recently. I already knew how to swim, but I wasn’t very good at it. In fact, during my son’s graduation trip to Hawaii, I had a close call while snorkeling. A wave crashed over me and I panicked because I was 400 yards away from the shore with no one nearby. Thankfully, I yelled for help and a guy swam out to save me. It was a very scary experience and I haven’t been in water deeper than my waist for the past four years because I don’t like reliving that moment. However, this year I decided to overcome my fear. I even promised my daughter that I’ll participate in a swim meet by the end of next year, so I’m currently training for that. I don’t expect to do well, but for me, it’s about showing my kids that I can still take on scary things and push myself.”

In terms of a personal or professional philosophy, Antonio advocates for the importance of always giving 100 percent. “I tell my family and my team, ‘The way you do anything is the way you do everything,’” he says. “That means if you take shortcuts in certain areas of your life, you’ll eventually take shortcuts in all areas, so you should always strive to do things the right way.”

When asked what his life might look like if he retired tomorrow, Antonio says he would dedicate his time to a cause that’s near and dear to his heart. “Two of my children are dyslexic, and over the years, I’ve come to realize that the school systems aren’t designed to cater to kids like that. One of my main goals is to grow my business to the point where it can operate independently and generate enough income to support my efforts to create change in the educational system. I believe it’s important to acknowledge that not everyone learns the same way. We have brilliant children who may not excel on paper because they struggle with tests, so I want to find ways to help those children succeed.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?

A: The past. History has a way of repeating itself, so I think there’s a lot to be learned from things that happened in the past.

Q: Reality TV or documentaries?

A: Both. I know most reality TV is scripted, but it’s interesting to see the psychological aspects of how those games are played and how people justify their decisions. And documentaries are interesting because you get a narrative from a certain perspective and learn new things.

Q: What’s your earliest memory?

A: Being in the driveway with my dad and changing the brakes on his ’72 station wagon when I was four years old.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

A: Just stop and take in the smells and sounds.

Q: If you could live in the city or the country, which would you choose?

A: The country. I don’t like the hustle and bustle of the city, where I’m always busy and distracted. I like having the space to slow down and give my mind a rest.