Mitch Alves: A Hands-On Inclination
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
UNION CITY — When asked how he got involved in home remodeling, Mitch Alves says it was just part of his upbringing. “My father and grandfather were both builders—real hands-on guys. I learned to do carpentry and masonry work at a young age and went right into the trades following high school. I wound up working for one of the largest general contractors in the United States, where I was eventually promoted to Western Regional Manager.”
Despite his prominent position, Mitch felt drawn toward a more hands-on professional situation. “As an employee of another contractor, I would often see flaws in the way things were done,” he explains. “After a while, I started thinking, ‘I could do this better on my own.’ I wanted to go out there and make a difference with contracting in terms of quality and customer service. Eventually, I decided to take that path and get my contractor’s license.”
Today, as owner of MCA Remodeling Inc., Mitch says his favorite part of his job is making his clients happy. “I enjoy exceeding my clients’ expectations for their finished products. It’s very satisfying to see the smiles on their faces when it’s all said and done.”
A resident of Castro Valley (where he lives with his wife, Leslie), Mitch likes to spend his free time enjoying the outdoors. “We have some property on the north fork of the Stanislaus River, so we like to go up there when we can,” he details. “We do a lot of fishing and off-roading with our ATVs. In the winter, we like to go skiing at Tahoe.” Mitch and Leslie also enjoy spending quality time with their six children and three grandchildren.
In regard to a professional philosophy, Mitch espouses the importance of staying true to one’s word. “Basically, my philosophy is to let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no,’” he explains. “I’m more of an old-school, handshake agreement kind of guy, and I really pride myself on the fact that I stand by my word. When dealing with customers, you have to do what you say you’re going to do and be clear about it so there’s no miscommunication. If you can do that, you’ll do all right.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Mitch says he’d take an extended vacation. “My wife and I often talk about traveling, but it’s hard to pull away from the business for a long period of time. So, if I retired, we’d probably plan a big trip—maybe go overseas and see some more of the world.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: I collect watches.
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Genghix Asian Fusion in Castro Valley.
Q: What’s your favorite sports team?
A: The Oakland Raiders.
Q: If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?
A: I’d probably go 20 or 30 years into the future to see how far technology has come.
Q: Pancakes or waffles?
A: Waffles.
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