Cambria Hance: Flooring Fanatic

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

RICHMOND — Cambria Hance developed a passion for the flooring industry as a young woman, thanks to an early introduction. “My mother was a real estate agent, so that was my initial connection to the industry,” she recounts. “I started as a greeter at property showings when I was 15 years old. At 17, I began working in the design center, where I helped new homebuyers choose among different options for flooring. That’s where I really found my passion for the flooring industry. Later, I worked for a stone company and gained a deeper understanding of stone and tile flooring products.”

In 2009, Read more

James Schmerker: A Wild Life

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

DISCOVERY BAY — For James Schmerker, a career in wildlife control grew out of an innate fascination with animals and nature. “I’ve always been interested in wildlife,” he affirms. “I spent most of my childhood trapping and catching animals. I had all the nature field guides and wanted to be a ranger when I grew up.” In addition to fauna, James gained experience with flora. “My dad had a nursery license, so I learned about plants as well as animals. I later got into landscaping, which I enjoyed, but I eventually decided to start my own wildlife control business. Read more

Robert Rosado: Bigger and Better

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

MOUNTAIN VIEW — After a long career in the commercial cargo industry, Robert Rosado decided it was time to take things to the next level and start his own moving company. “My career began in the 1980s, when I started working for a cargo company called Emery Worldwide Airlines,” he remembers. “I started out handling freight and later got into customer service, billing, quotes, and contracting with vendors for domestic and international shipping. Later, after moving to California, I decided to put my experience into action and started my own moving company. I wanted to create something bigger and better that would provide my friends and family with the opportunity for a better life. Read more

Paul James: From Avocation to a Vocation

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

FREMONT — While Paul James initially regarded his interest in horticulture as a mere hobby, he later turned his avocation into a lifelong career. It all stemmed from his first job at a local plant nursery. “When I turned 16, I started working at a nursery down the street from my house,” he remembers. “At first, I was just loading plants into customers’ cars and that sort of thing. Then customers started asking me how to choose and care for plants, and over time, I learned a lot and became more interested in gardening and landscaping. I certainly thought of it more as a hobby than a career, Read more

Kao Saephanh: Adventures in HVAC

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

ELK GROVE — Following high school, Kao Saephanh decided to jump headfirst into a wholly unfamiliar industry. While it was a little scary at first, he soon learned to embrace the adventure. “After high school, I decided to skip community college and go to trade school,” he recounts. “Initially, I wanted to become an auto mechanic, but the sales rep talked me into HVAC. He told me that HVAC techs got to travel to different cities and work in all sorts of different places rather than being stuck inside a garage all day. What he didn’t tell me was they also worked in 120-degree attics and crawl spaces, Read more

Andres Serva: Trading His Badge for a Roofer’s License

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SUNNYVALE — After trying out a career in law enforcement, Andres Serva decided to leave the Force and join the roofing industry. “I became a police officer in 2016, but after a few years I started to consider other career options,” he recounts. “Working in law enforcement was becoming more challenging due to all the politics and liability involved. Also, the job required a substantial time commitment. My father-in-law was a roofing contractor, so I became interested in the field and eventually decided to make the change. I started out in a minor role and worked my way up to management. Read more

Rick Telly: An Interlocking Opportunity

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN JOSE — In the wake of the 2008 recession, Rick Telly found a job opportunity that, while technically outside of his expertise, nevertheless interlocked with his prior professional experience. “I started in the construction industry in 2001, when my brother-in-law got me an entry-level position as a prepping detailer,” he remembers. “I’ve always been handy and enjoyed building, so it was a good fit. I would go into the newly built homes and handle finishing details like drywall touch-ups and lighting—whatever was needed to get them ready for turnover. Following that, I worked as a backend quality assurance superintendent for a new home developer. Read more

Cory Lacey: A Fortunate Foundation

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SANTA ROSA — Looking back on his 26-year career in the construction industry, Cory Lacey credits much of his success to a fortunate foundation. “When I got into construction in my early teens, I was fortunate enough to train with a group of seasoned industry veterans who worked in the high-end market,” he details. “I started out working on multimillion-dollar homes in areas like Belvedere, Tiburon and Sausalito, so I consider myself very lucky to have had that kind of introduction.”

Cory didn’t take his advantageous introduction for granted; rather, it motivated him to work even harder. Read more

Bianca Clark: A Mighty Opportunity

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

BENICIA — With a professional background in the wine and hospitality industries, one might wonder how Bianca Clark ended up working at a pest control company. It all stemmed from a family connection. “Growing up, I had family members in the pest control industry, so I’ve always been around it,” she explains. “I worked in the hospitality and wine industries in the Napa Valley for about 15 years. In 2018, my mom started Mighty Men Services. I was getting tired of working long hours and weekends, so it piqued my interest. A couple of years later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and I was laid off from my job. Read more

Ana Maria Robles: A Beautified Career

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

HAYWARD — For Ana Maria Robles, a career in the skin care field began with an early opportunity. “When I was in junior high, I received a scholarship to attend a beauty school during the summer,” she recounts. “I continued to pursue that through high school and earned my cosmetology license at age 18. At that point, I wasn’t interested in doing hair or makeup, so I decided to attend college to become a surgical technologist. Through that, I got a job assisting a plastic surgeon. Many of his surgical patients were interested in skin care, so he suggested that I attend esthetician school so I could handle that aspect of his business. Read more