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David Stankas: Maintenance Minded

By Matt Solis, Editor

David Stankas’ career in the exterior maintenance industry started out of necessity, but it quickly grew into a lifelong passion. “One day in 1984, I needed bus money to get home from school, so I started knocking on doors in Healdsburg asking if I could do anything to earn a dollar,” he recalls. “One lady told me that if I washed her windows, she would give me five dollars. The next day, I went back to town and started offering to wash windows for five dollars, and everyone just kept saying yes!”

After years of window washing, David eventually added gutter cleaning to his list of services and expanded his knowledge by learning how to fix leaks and install replacement parts. In 1999, he obtained his contractor’s license and decided to establish his own business. “We started as Executive Home Improvement, but as the company grew, I wanted something more long-term that identified us as specialists, so we changed it to NorCal Maintenance,” he explains. “Our work is exemplary and I train my guys to deliver nothing short of perfection. There is no cutting corners.”

Today, David says his favorite part of the job is the impact his work has on his clients’ lives. “A lot of what we do is unattainable for many people, especially things like fire abatement and roof moss removal. Being able to explain our process from start to finish brings them a lot of relief, and that’s something I’m proud of.”

David has been a happy resident and businessman of Windsor since 1974, and he’s even preparing to take his local pride to the next level by running for City Council. “I love the small-town atmosphere here,” he says. “Windsor is growing rapidly, and while that’s exciting, I’m concerned about the infrastructure. I’m running for office because I want to ensure the community keeps its charm while addressing the needs of our growing population.”

Outside of work, David enjoys gardening, painting, hiking and spending time with his family. “I’ve been married to my beautiful wife, Lanette, for 31 years, and we have three incredible sons,” he details. “Our oldest has given us three granddaughters, our middle son works in law enforcement and our youngest is an entrepreneurial genius. We’re all still very close, so we get together often to have dinner or play games with the kids.”

When it comes to a personal or professional philosophy, David says his outlook as evolved over time. “When I was younger, I would have said, ‘Always make people happy,’ but I learned that you just can’t do that. So, my advice now is, ‘Don’t take life too seriously.’”

When asked what he’d do if he could retire tomorrow, David says his first move would be to grab his fishing gear and hit the water. “I used to fish all the time, but these days I’m too busy. I have a lifetime fishing license, though, so if I retired tomorrow, I think I would finally use it and get back to cultivating my fishing career.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: Have you ever read a book more than once?
A: “The Haunted Mesa” by Louis L’Amour. It’s the only book other than the Bible that I’ve read twice.

Q: What’s your favorite smell?
A: Eucalyptus trees or lavender plants. Those smells remind me of my childhood.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Go on a hike.

Q: If you could talk to anyone living or dead, who would it be?
A: Jesus Christ.