About

LEADERSHIP

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In 1946, Leonard Eckstrom, a salesman for United States Gypsum, saw a bright future in a product called drywall. Grabbing that opportunity, he opened California Drywall in the Santa Clara Valley. The company began by installing and finishing drywall to residential properties, including the innovative Eichler homes of the 1960’s. Decades later we continue to be family-centric, although our family has grown. Our focus is now commercial construction projects and our services have expanded to include Acoustical & Specialty Ceilings, Fireproofing, Lath and Plaster, Painting, Rainscreens, and Strut Systems.

We are consistently ranked among the largest Specialty Contractors in California and United State by ENR (Engineering News Record). With offices in San Jose, San Francisco, and Livermore, we perform work throughout Northern California and the Central Valley. Our projects range from $5,000 to over $80 million. We also offer a full range of services to help our clients meet their construction challenges. They include preconstruction, estimating, constructability reviews and engineering judgements, design-assist and design-build, prefabrication, and BIM. We are driven by strong relationships with our clients who lead us to work on a variety of exciting and challenging projects.

California Drywall thrives through the success of our clients, suppliers, vendors and staff. Every team member is dedicated to achieving our goal of client success. Our culture is characterized by excellence, integrity, openness, and opportunity.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

  • Steve Eckstrom

    Principal

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  • David Garrett

    Chief Operating Officer

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  • Greg Eckstrom

    Vice President, Corporate Services

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  • Michael Gutierrez

    VP, Estimating and Preconstruction

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  • Ryan Tiru

    Vice President Business Strategy

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  • Jaime Garcia

    Vice President, Project Executive

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  • Eli Hinojos

    Project Executive

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  • Tyler Hovivian

    Project Executive

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  • Jake Mateus

    Project Executive

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  • Rich Flowers

    General Superintendent of Office Operations

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  • Zach Reynolds

    Purchasing Director

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  • Horace Sene

    Project Executive

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  • Kyle Yu

    Project Executive

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  • Jerry Moreno

    General Superintendent

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SAFETY

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At California Drywall, every project has common goals: to remain 100% free of injuries, reduce exposure to safety risks, and protect everyone’s property during construction. All of our employees receive rigorous safety training and our EH&S team visits every site frequently to ensure that proper procedures and protocols are being met.  This translates into a lower-than-industry-average insurance experience-modifier, competitive prices for our customers, and dedicated craftsmen who feel good about coming to a safe work environment each day.

  • Full-time safety staff of 5
  • 2-hour Safety Orientation and Test for all newly hired Craftsmen
  • OSHA 10 training for all Craftsmen
  • OSHA 30 training for all Foremen, Superintendents, and Project Managers
  • STS training and certification for all superintendents
  • Up-to-date IIPP and HIPP
  • Ongoing training and certifications for field personnel (Fall Protection, Lifts, Scaffold, etc.)
  • Quarterly company-wide Foremen Safety Meetings
  • Pre-employment evaluations
  • Pre-task planning
  • JHA’s
  • Safety awards
  • Safety incentive program

This approach ensures that all California Drywall employees have been properly trained to perform their duties as safely as possible and that we are in compliance with all federal, state, and local safety standards. Our Safety Program is effective because every one in the company is responsible for safety. From the owners down, safety and having an accident- and injury-free workplace is critical. Our current Experience Modification Rate (EMR) is 0.60.

QUALITY

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Superior quality is not just a catch phrase at California Drywall; it’s measured in tangible benefits to our customers by:

  • Eliminating rework
  • Completing projects on time, within budget
  • Better documentation, clarifying expectations, and minimizing surprises
  • Testing and verifying to ensure expected results

Program Overview California Drywall’s Quality Program includes:

  • Testing and verifying to ensure expected results
  • Well established document control
  • Detailed proposal preparation, project set-up and process controls
  • Strict guidelines on purchasing and material controls
  • Comprehensive standards and specifications for product installation and finishing
  • Detailed verification, inspection, and testing protocols
  • Specifics for identifying non-conforming outcomes + and the necessary corrective procedures

Program Highlights Highlights of California Drywall’s Quality Program Include:

  • Control Program prepared for each project
  • Quality Control Inspection Sheets are provided for each job
  • A Quality Control manager assigned to each project to ensure overall quality compliance
  • Pre-release material inspection to ensure conformance with project requirement
  • On-going inspections throughout construction to verify that all items conform to stated project requirements
  • A complete set of all documents for the proper execution of all tasks

In short, California Drywall’s Quality Program adds measurable value to our customers.

INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

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The U.S. Gypsum Company (USG) invented drywall in 1916. The material was first sold in the form of small, fireproof tiles. In less than a decade, it took on the form we know, consisting of a single layer of compressed gypsum sandwiched between two sheets of heavy paper. While it only took a few years for this board to evolve into the material we know today, it took 25 years for builders to begin using drywall in any substantial quantity. At that time, walls and ceilings were constructed with Lath and Plaster and we’re pretty sure that the Lath and Plaster contractors of the day thought drywall would never catch on.  We aren’t like those Lath and Plaster contractors of the 1940’s.

Just as Leonard Eckstrom helped transform the construction industry in 1946, today California Drywall recognizes the importance of embracing innovation. We believe in change and are committed to investigating new and innovative products, technologies, training and procedures to improve our processes, services and management practices, ensuring we stay on top of changes within our industry and the changing needs of our clients. Through our passion for construction and forward thinking, we continuously diversify our skill set to separate us from our competition.

RECOGNITION AND AWARDS

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California Drywall is pleased to share the accomplishments and awards that we have received throughout our decades in business. These awards and commendations reflect our unwavering commitment to superior service, quality, and safety in all aspects of our work.

2022

  • Excellence in Safety Award – Over 1 Million Annual Hours

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Green Building – Confidential Technology Client

Wall and Ceiling Alliance 

  • Gold Award in the Office Above 50,000 Square Foot category – Confidential Tech, Silicon Valley

      Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association Excellence Awards

2021

  • Best Retail Interior – Boston Private Bank

      Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Excellence in Safety Award – Over 1 Million Annual Hours

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Excellence in the Civic above 50,000 sq. ft., West Region – Contra Costa Administration Building

     Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association Excellence Awards

  • Office above 50,000 square feet, West Region – Analog Devices

     Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association Excellence Awards

  • Office below 50,000 square feet, West Region – Autodesk Landmark

     Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association Excellence Awards

  • Outstanding Institutional Exterior – UC Merced 2020 Expansion Project

Wall and Ceiling Alliance 

  • Outstanding Green Building – UC Merced 2020 Expansion Project

Wall and Ceiling Alliance 

  • Project of the Year, Exterior over $500,000 – UC Merced 2020 Expansion Project

Wall and Ceiling Alliance 

2020

  • Excellence in Construction Quality, Steel Framing – Sutter Health CPMC Van Ness Campus Hospital

Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry

  • Excellence in Construction Quality, Stucco – Cal Poly yakʔitʸutʸu Residential Community

Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry

  • Excellence in Safety Award – Over 1 Million Annual Hours

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Institutional Project, Interior – Sutter Health CPMC Van Ness Campus Hospital

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Commercial Project, Interior – Slack Headquarters

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Green Building – VMware Creekside and Hilltop Buildings G

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Top 50 Contractors

Wall and Ceilings Magazine

  • 8th largest Wall and Ceiling Contractor and the 130th largest Specialty Contractor in the United States

ENR Magazine

2019

  • Excellence in Safety Award – Over 1 Million Annual Hours

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Project of the Year, Interior Under $500,000 – The Lobby at 353 Sacramento Street

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Project of the Year, Exterior Over $500,000 – Cal Poly yakʔitʸutʸu Residential Community

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Residential/Lodging Project, Interior – Hotel Nia

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Commercial Project, Interior – SurveyMonkey

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Institutional Project, Exterior – Cal Poly yakʔitʸutʸu Residential Community

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Top 50 Contractors

Wall and Ceilings Magazine

  • 8th largest Wall and Ceiling Contractor and the 153rd largest Specialty Contractor in the United States

ENR Magazine

2018

  • Education Under 50,000 Square Feet, West Region – Stanford Home of Champions Education

Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association Construction Excellence Awards

  • Education Over 50,000 Square Feet, West Region – David and Joan Traitel Building, Hoover Institution

Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association Construction Excellence Awards

  • Excellence in Safety Award – Over 1 Million Annual Hours

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Residential Project, Exterior – The Russell and Quimby Apartments

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Commercial Project, Interior – Airbnb

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Institutional Project, Interior – David and Joan Traitel Building, Hoover Institution

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Green Building – UC Berkeley Chou Hall

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Top 50 Contractors

Wall and Ceilings Magazine

  • 5th largest Wall and Ceiling Contractor and the 104th largest Specialty Contractor in the United States

ENR Magazine

2017

  • Excellence in Safety Award – Over 1 Million Annual Hours

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Retail Project, Exterior – Stanford Shopping Center

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Commercial Project, Interior – Forescout Technologies

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Top 50 Contractors

Walls and Ceilings Magazine

  • 5th largest Wall and Ceiling Contractor and the 98th largest Specialty Contractor in the United States

ENR Magazine

2016

  • Outstanding Commercial Project, Interior – Marcato Capital

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Institutional Project, Exterior– Central Middle School

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Green Building – Delta Americas

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • 6th largest Wall and Ceiling Contractor and the 127th largest Specialty Contractor in the United States

ENR Magazine

2015

  • Excellence in Construction Quality – Levi’s Stadium

Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry

  • Project of the Year over $500,000, Interior – Levi’s Stadium

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Project of the Year under $500,000, Interior – American Express Centurion Lounge at SFO

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Institutional Project, Interior– Levi’s Stadium

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Commercial Project, Interior – Uber Headquarters

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Retail Project, Interior– American Express Centurion Lounge at SFO

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Top 50 Contractors

Wall and Ceilings Magazine

  • 8th largest Wall and Ceiling Contractor and the 178th largest Specialty Contractor in the United States

ENR Magazine

2014

  • Specialty Contractor of the Year

ENR California

  • Best of the Best (National Award), Specialty Subcontracting – Bing Concert Hall

ENR Magazine

  • Excellence in Construction Quality – Bing Concert Hall

Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry

  • Outstanding Commercial Project, Interior – Mercedes-Benz R&D of North America

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Project of the Year under $500,000, Interior – Square Trade Headquarters

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Top 50 Contractors

Wall and Ceilings Magazine

  • 8th largest Wall and Ceiling Contractor and the 168th largest Specialty Contractor in the United States

ENR Magazine

2013

  • Best Project California, Specialty Subcontracting – Bing Concert Hall

ENR Magazine

  • Project of the Year over $500,000, Interior and Exterior – Bing Concert Hall

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Institutional Project, Interior – Bing Concert Hall

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Institutional Project, Exterior– Bing Concert Hall

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Golden Gate Partner Award

CAL OSHA

  • Top 50 Contractors

Wall and Ceilings Magazine

  • 9th largest Wall and Ceiling Contractor and the 226th largest Specialty Contractor in the United States

ENR Magazine

2012

  • Excellence in Construction Quality – Nokia R&D Center for Excellence

Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry

  • Outstanding Commercial Interior Project, Exterior– Nokia Center for R&D Excellence

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • 9th largest Wall and Ceiling Contractor and the 304th largest Specialty Contractor in the United States

ENR Magazine

2011

  • Subcontractor of the Year

Silicon Valley Business Journal

  • Excellence in Construction Safety

Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry

  • Project of the Year Interior – Bellarmine College Preparatory, Sobrato Center for the Humanities and Arts

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

  • Outstanding Institutional Project, Interior – Bellarmine College Preparatory, Sobrato Center for the Humanities and Arts

Wall and Ceiling Alliance

2010

  • Subcontractor of the Year Finalist

Silicon Valley Business Journal

  • Safety Professional of the Year – Dan Allen

Keller Online and OH&S Magazine

2009

  • Golden Gate Partner Award

CAL OSHA

HEADQUARTERS

San Jose 2290 South 10th Street San Jose, CA 95112 Tel: 408/292.7500 Fax: 408/292.4252

OFFICES

San Francisco 155 Montgomery Street 12th Floor San Francisco, CA 94104 Tel: 415/243.4074

CONTACT

info@caldrywall.com

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