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Dale Brooks: Making the Years Count

By Matt Solis, Editor

As the son of a garage door professional, Dale Brooks didn’t need to look far when he started considering his own career pathway. “My dad founded Contra Costa Door in 1953 and I used to tag along with him while he worked,” he remembers. “I ended up going to college for aeronautical engineering and economics, but I got appendicitis right after I graduated and was laid up for a while. My dad asked me, ‘Have you ever thought of doing anything with this business? Your mother and I have done pretty well and we’d like to travel.’ I was planning on working for the FAA as an inspector, but I decided to give this a shot instead…and I’m still here!”

Dale ran Contra Costa Door with his younger brother for more than four decades, but after his brother’s passing in 2016, he started transitioning the business to his son, Justin, and his niece, Dawn, to ensure the company remained a family affair. Today, he says his favorite part of his job is working with his longtime employees. “Out of 30-plus employees, more than a dozen have been with us for 20 years or longer, so that has been very satisfying. I’ve always believed that a good manager can find good people, but it takes a successful businessperson to retain them. It has been gratifying to see our employees raise their families and build their careers here. I’ve seen many people work here until they retired, which is pretty unique for a small business.”

Dale has deep roots in the Bay Area—he grew up in Walnut Creek and went to school in San Jose, but for the past 50 years he has been enjoying an idyllic mountain life in Clayton. “My wife and I live on a ranch on the backside of Mount Diablo,” he explains. “There’s a lot of acreage on the property, so we have horses and a full machine shop, which gives me plenty of time to build cars, which is my main hobby. I’m mostly interested in old hot rods like ’48 Fords and ’69 Camaros. I have an array of cars here, and I enjoy building and driving them all.” When he’s not working on his fleet of classics or doing maintenance on his property, Dale also makes time to ride horses with his wife and volunteer at their church in Walnut Creek. 

In terms of a personal or professional philosophy, Dale emphasizes the importance of living with purpose. “I like to say, ‘Don’t count the years; make the years count,’ which means you should be as efficient as possible with the time that you’re blessed with,” he offers. “Also, I’ve always believed that if I’m lucky enough to wake up every morning, I’m not going to finish the day without doing something for someone. No one is attracted to people who are self-serving, so it’s important to focus on how we can be positive and support each other.”

When asked what he would do if he retired tomorrow, Dale says he wouldn’t change a thing. “Maybe we would take a few more road trips every year, but I would still have the same hobbies and network of friends. Other than that, I would just spend more time supporting my kids and grandkids in their endeavors.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: Have you ever read a book more than once?

A: I wouldn’t say I’ve read the Bible cover to cover more than once, but I’ve spent quite a bit of time with it.

Q: Coffee or tea?

A: Coffee. I drink a cup in the morning and another cup at noon.

Q: What was your first pet?

A: An Australian Shepherd named Penny.

Q: If you could drive any car, what would it be?

A: A C8 Corvette, which I happen to have.