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Bob Easley: Building Trust

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN RAFAEL — When asked to reflect on his career as a fence builder, Bob Easley spares the glitz and glitter. Chalk it up to modesty, but after four decades of satisfying customers, he has a lot to be proud of. “In 1974, I was 18 and needed a job, so I became an apprentice with a fence builder,” he recounts. “After a couple of years, I figured I could do it on my own, so I went into business for myself. Forty years later, here I am—call it a life sentence. Building fences is hard work, but the longer you do it, the better you get at it, so I have that going for me.”

Today, as owner of California Fencing, Bob says his favorite part of his job is seeing the fruits of his labor. “After all the work that goes into building a fence, it’s rewarding to see the final product. I’ll often return to a jobsite two or three weeks after completing the project, and I’m always impressed by what my guys and I were able to accomplish.”

A resident of Novato (where he lives with his wife, Debra), Bob spends the bulk of his free time recuperating from his demanding livelihood. “By the end of the week, I’m usually pretty wiped out, so I like to spend my weekends resting and relaxing,” he says. “If I have the energy, I’ll play a round of golf or do something with my family. Debra and I have two grown kids and a three-year-old grandson, so we enjoy spending time with them.” Bob also enjoys traveling on occasion, whether to nearby spots like Lake Tahoe or international destinations like Europe.

When asked the secret to his long-term success in business, Bob says it’s all about trust. “I learned early on that if you tell a customer you’re going to do something, you’d better do it. It’s very simple, but it eliminates a lot of problems. When you’re working on someone’s property, trust is a big deal, so I try to build trust with every client and follow through on what I promised.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite sports team?
A: The San Francisco 49ers.

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: An early bird.

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Il Davide in San Rafael.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Washington, D.C.

Q: What’s your favorite type of tree?
A: The Monterey Cypress.