Mario Batz: A Moving Opportunity
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
SAN RAFAEL — When Mario Batz got a job as a mover during college, he never thought it would turn into a lifelong career. “I needed a way to support myself while attending community college, so I took a job as a helper with a small moving company in Tiburon,” he recounts. “I liked the job—it was challenging and it paid well…plus, I was able to cancel my gym membership! Over time, I advanced from a helper to a driver to a foreman, until I was basically running the company for the owner.”
From there, Mario went to work for another Marin-based moving company, where he got into sales and later became sales manager for a large mover in San Francisco. Just when he thought he’d reached the top of the ladder, he was presented with an even greater opportunity. “I got a call from the owner of Johnson & Daly Moving & Storage in San Rafael, who wanted to recruit me to be their new general manager. He gave me a great offer, but what really put it over the edge for me was the shorter commute!”
Today, Mario says his favorite part of his job is creating positive customer experiences. “I enjoy taking the stress out of the moving process. For me, there’s nothing more satisfying than when a customer who was dreading their move tells us we made it much smoother and easier than they’d expected.”
A resident of Fairfax (where he lives with his wife, Gerry), Mario expresses his appreciation for life and work in Marin County. “When I was a driver, I traveled through the 11 western states, which gave me a greater appreciation for where I live. Besides the great weather, it’s the diversity of the people that makes it stand out from other places. On any given job, I never know who I’m going to meet, whether someone who scraped up enough money to get a one-bedroom apartment in the Canal Area or a famous actor or musician.”
Outside of work, Mario engages in a variety of pastimes, from sports to family activities. “I’m an avid San Francisco Giants fan, and I also enjoy bowling, camping, and hanging out with friends and family. Gerry and I just had our first grandchild a year ago, so we’ve been enjoying being grandparents.”
In his life and career, Mario espouses the importance of integrity. “I run this company pretty much the same way I live my life: with integrity,” he affirms. “If we break something, we’re going to fix it for the client, whether or not it’s insured. If you hire a plumber, you don’t have to take out insurance in case they screw up your plumbing, and the same goes with hiring a mover. We’re professionals, and as such, we stand behind our work.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Mario says he’d take a trip to the Emerald Isle. “I’ve never been to Ireland and I have distant relatives from there, so it would be fun to go on ancestry.com and do some digging into my family history.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: Definitely an early bird—I’m up at 5am every day.
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Gestalt Haus in Fairfax.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Take my dogs on a hike.
Q: What was your first pet?
A: A cat named Pooter.
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Sports memorabilia. I have some signed 49ers and Giants jerseys, a foul ball I caught at a baseball game, and a few other things.
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