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Valentino Ramirez: A Valiant Effort

By Caitlyn Stair, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

For Valentino Ramirez, finding the right career took some trial and error. After working in several different trades, he eventually returned to an industry that had interested him since his teenage years. Luckily, once he did, he knew he had found his permanent home.

Valentino was first introduced to garage door work through his uncle, who ran a garage door company. As a teenager, Valentino occasionally accompanied him to work and helped where he could. Although he enjoyed the trade, he never had the opportunity to officially join his uncle’s company. Instead, he spent time exploring other areas of construction. “I did masonry, roofing, carpentry—pretty much anything you can think of—but I never really liked any of it,” he recalls. “In 2016, I came across an online job posting for a garage door company. They were willing to hire and train me, and I loved it from the beginning.”

In 2022, Valentino decided to start Valiant Garage Door so he could approach the business his own way and prioritize customer relationships. To that end, he also started a community outreach program through which he plans to give away a new garage door and provide a complete rebuild for someone in need once a year. “I just want to give back to the community that has been so good to me,” he says. “When I do work for someone and see how relieved they are, it makes me happy.”

Originally from Oregon, Valentino spent several years in Hollister before finally settling in Pleasanton, where he appreciates the friendly, community-oriented atmosphere of life in the East Bay. “There are a lot of really good people in this area,” he says. “The neighbors know each other and help each other out. It’s a tight-knit community, which I like.”

Outside of work, Valentino enjoys building things, four-wheel driving and riding his Harley-Davidson. When asked what his life might look like if he retired tomorrow, he says he doesn’t envision himself leaving the trades behind entirely. “I would probably start another business focused on employing and training people who want to enter this type of work.”

Whether he’s working on a garage door, riding his motorcycle or pursuing a new idea, Valentino follows one simple philosophy: “If you’re going to do something, do it all the way.” It’s an approach that has carried him through several jobs and helped him find a career he genuinely enjoys.

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Ride my dirt bike in the mud.

Q: What’s your favorite holiday?
A: Christmas. I like giving and getting gifts.

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: A night owl.

Q: If you could immediately travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Bulgaria. When I worked in Alaska, I met a lot of people from there and really got along with them.

Q: If you could drive any car, what would it be?
A: An Aston Martin Vanquish. I really like the body style.