Sergey Ivanov is a veteran of the electrical industry and owner of Bit Electrical Inc., a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (650) 530-0979 or by email.
Sergey Ivanov: A Surge of Ambition
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
DALY CITY — Bolstered by a firm sense of ambition, Sergey Ivanov left his home country of Russia to pursue a better life in the United States. “I came to the U.S. with my wife and daughter in 2000,” he affirms. “I had already been working as an electrician in Russia for about seven years and was ready to take my skills to a place that provided more opportunity. Coming to a new place was challenging, especially becoming acquainted with the language, but I was determined to succeed. In 2006, I got my license and started my business, and it has been going very well.”
Today, as owner of Bit Electrical Inc., Sergey says his favorite part of his job is restoring and revamping his clients’ power. “I enjoy solving my customers’ problems and improving the safety and functionality of their electrical systems. At the end of the day, that’s what gives me the most satisfaction.”
A resident of Daly City (where he lives with his wife, Lilia, and their son, Max), Sergey expresses his appreciation for life in the Bay Area. “We live in the most beautiful place in the world,” he says. “Everything is great, from the weather to the food and entertainment. We love it here.”
Outside of work, Sergey likes spending time with family and friends. “My son is involved in martial arts, so I go with him to practice and encourage his progress,” he says. “I also enjoy taking walks with my family, going fishing with friends and traveling. Besides going on vacation to places like Hawaii and Mexico, we take regular trips to San Diego to visit my daughter, Kristina, who is currently attending college.”
Nineteen years after coming to the U.S., Sergey has no regrets about his big decision. “Since coming here from Russia, our lives are much better,” he says. “We own a house, I have a business and my daughter is going to college. It just goes to show the kind of opportunity that’s here. You can do anything you want to do, and that makes me very thankful and proud to be here.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he could retire tomorrow, Sergey says he’d reconnect with some old friends. “I would take a trip to Russia and visit some friends I haven’t seen in several years. It’s hard to come to a new country and leave everyone you know behind, and early retirement would provide a good chance to reestablish those old connections.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: An early bird—I usually wake up at 5am.
Q: What kinds of books do you like to read?
A: Books about history.
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant?
A: Water Grill in San Diego.
Q: What’s your favorite holiday?
A: Christmas.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Relax and watch TV or read, or maybe play Legos with my son.
