Malek Tamimi: Doing the Math

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Program Reporter

SANTA CLARA — Like most college students, Malek Tamimi lacked the credentials or experience to land anything other than a run-of-the-mill job. Fortunately, thanks to a family connection, he was given an opportunity to improve his occupational status. “I was working in a liquor store when my cousin, who owned a garage door business, offered to train me so I could work for him,” he recounts. “I was hesitant at first, but as I started to get acquainted with the trade, I found that I really enjoyed it. In particular, I liked being able to drive all over the Bay Area and interact with different people, which was a refreshing change after being stuck behind a counter all day.”

In addition to being a technician for Ace’s Garage Door Repair & Installation, Malek is working toward a college degree in mathematics, with a long-term goal of becoming a teacher. Fittingly, when asked his favorite part of his job, he says it’s the opportunity to educate his customers about their garage door systems. “I’ve found that a more educated customer tends to be a more satisfied customer, which is why I make an effort to explain things in great detail. That way, our customers are able to make more informed choices and know what they’re paying for, which makes them feel confident about their transactions.”

Originally from Palestine, Malek moved to the United States at the age of 18 to attend school, and today resides in San Leandro. Having experienced life on both coasts, he expresses his appreciation for the Bay Area’s amiable atmosphere. “When I first came to the U.S., I lived in California for two years before moving to New Jersey, which I didn’t like at all. The weather was terrible and people tended to have a more aggressive temperament. When I moved back to the Bay Area, it felt like I was returning home.”

Outside of work, Malek says the bulk of his time goes to studying and doing homework, but he also enjoys hobbies like music and sports. “I’ve always liked listening to music, and I recently started making my own recordings just for fun. I also like playing soccer and hanging out with friends.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he could retire tomorrow, Malek says he would fully devote himself to his academic aspirations. “I would continue on the path I’m currently pursuing, which is to get my master’s degree in mathematics, start teaching and eventually get my PhD. It’s a long road to get to where I want to be, but it’s something I’m passionate about, so I’m committed to reaching my goals.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite book?
A: “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran. It’s a book about philosophy, life, money, people, good and evil…basically, it’s about everything.

Q: If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?
A: Neither. I’d rather stay in the present and plan for the future than go there directly. After all, if I went there, it wouldn’t be the future anymore.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Palestine, just because it’s my home.

Q: How do you like your eggs?
A: Scrambled.

Q: Who’s your favorite musician?
A: Abdel Halim Hafez—he’s one of the most popular Arabic musicians of all time.

Ata Salem: On Track for Success

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

HAYWARD — Soon after trying his hand as a garage door technician, Ata Salem knew he was on the right track. “Before getting into garage door work, I was doing new construction work in Jerusalem,” he recounts. “Over there, all the buildings are made of concrete and steel, which are very difficult materials to work with. My brother had started a garage door service business in the U.S., so I decided to come check it out. I liked it right away—in particular, I appreciated the fact that it was a lot less physically demanding than construction. After apprenticing with my brother for five years, I got my garage door contractor’s license, and today I continue to work at Ace’s Garage Door Repair & Installation as senior technician.”

Ata says his favorite part of garage door work is the opportunity to solve problems. “I like coming up with solutions for challenging situations. For example, I recently had a customer whose door would only open partway due to a chimney that was obstructing the track. With a little ingenuity, I was able to design a vertical track that allowed for more clearance. That made the customer really happy, which was a very satisfying feeling for me.”

A resident of San Mateo (where he lives with his wife, Deana, and their daughter), Ata spends his time outside of work on a variety of active pastimes. “I enjoy sports like basketball and football, whether I’m watching them on TV or playing them with friends,” he details. “I’m also a big foodie, so I enjoy trying new restaurants.” Additionally, Ata likes spending time with his family. “I have a lot of relatives who live in the area—between my mom’s side and my dad’s side, it’s a pretty big community.”

In regard to a professional philosophy, Ata espouses the importance of fulfilling expectations. “As a professional, you need to do what you say you’re going to do,” he affirms. “That’s the key to success, but it’s also where a lot of companies fail. It starts with setting realistic expectations—after all, the job has to be doable. Then you just follow through with those expectations. If you’re able to accomplish that, you’ll have happy customers.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Ata says he’d head to the beach. “I love beaches. Whenever I go on vacation, it’s usually to somewhere like San Diego or Miami. If I were to retire, I’d probably plan an extended stay at a beachside resort.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite restaurant?

A: Hillstone in San Francisco.

Q: What are your favorite sports teams?

A: The Golden State Warriors, the San Francisco 49ers, the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco Giants.

Q: Do you collect anything?

A: I collect video games.

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

A: Both. I don’t like to sleep—it feels like I’m wasting time.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to eat for dessert?

A: Anything chocolate.