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Juan Carlos Vargas: Community-Minded

By Matt Solis, Editor

For Juan Carlos Vargas, remodeling is more than a profession—it’s a family legacy. “My dad was a concrete contractor and seeing him on the jobsite was really inspiring when I was growing up,” he explains. “It made me want to follow in his footsteps and build something of my own.”

After spending five years as a union carpenter, Carlos decided to launch Ingenious General Construction with his three brothers. Today, he says his favorite part of his job is building relationships with his customers. “We don’t just do the work and leave—we stay in touch with our clients and focus on earning their trust. As a family-owned company, we want them to feel like they’re part of our family.”

A longtime resident of Brentwood, Carlos enjoys the tranquility of life in the rural East Bay. “We do a lot of work in San Francisco and Oakland, so I like coming home because it’s nice and quiet around here,” he affirms. Outside of work, Carlos dedicates most of his free time to his wife, Carla, and their five-year-old son, Carlito, but he also makes room for activities like community service and coaching soccer.

When asked what his life might look like if he retired tomorrow, Carlos says he can’t envision a world where he stops working entirely, but he’d likely take advantage of the extra time to do some traveling. “I would spend more time with my family and maybe take them on a trip to Europe. I’ve always wanted to see more of the world.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: Are you a dog or a cat person?
A: A dog person. We have a Labrador. 

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

Q: What’s your earliest memory?
A: Playing in the park with my cousin when I was four years old. It was a really fun day.

Q: Who’s your favorite superhero?
A: Batman.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
A: My father used to say, “Life isn’t easy, so always keep a good attitude.”