George Walton is president of Alameda Structural, Inc., a Diamond Certified company since 2008. He can be reached at (510) 371-5956 or by email.
George Walton: A Structural Inclination
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
ALAMEDA — The son of a general contractor, George Walton was basically raised in the construction industry, where, over time, he found himself inclined toward a particular aspect. “I started building houses with my dad when I was 12 years old and I’ve been doing construction ever since,” he recaps. “I was always drawn to structural work in particular. It’s very challenging, which appealed to me, and there’s less paperwork. In 1984, I started my own residential structural repair company. Five years later, in the wake of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, I decided to focus primarily on foundations and seismic retrofitting, and that continues to be my focus today.”
As owner of Alameda Structural, Inc., George says his favorite part of his job is wowing his customers. “We do very difficult projects, but since we have so much experience, we’re able to do them with ease. We’re so good at what we do that people are absolutely amazed at the end product, but for us, it’s just another day at the office.”
A resident of Alameda (where he lives with his wife, Rebecca), George spends his time outside of work relaxing and spending time with his family. “I have six daughters and eight grandchildren,” he details. “My grandsons all play baseball, football and basketball, so if I’m not taking them to a professional sporting event, I’m usually attending one of theirs.” In addition to hanging out with family, George enjoys regular getaway trips to the East Coast. “We spend a week out of every month at our place in Florida. To me, it’s paradise over there and a great place to recharge my batteries.”
In his life and career, George espouses the importance of honesty. “If you aren’t honest with yourself and those around you, things aren’t going to work out well for you,” he cautions. “It’s true what they say, what goes around comes around. I can honestly say I’ve never intentionally deceived any of our clients or vendors, and because of that, I’ve had riches all my life.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite sports team?
A: My grandson’s basketball team.
Q: Did you play any sports in high school?
A: I played football and wrestled.
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Kincaid’s in Oakland.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to eat for dessert?
A: Pecan pie.
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Orchids.