Erez Gilad is a 12-year veteran of the restoration industry and owner of Reactic Restoration, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (510) 221-6767 or by email.
Erez Gilad: Around the World
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Program Reporter
RICHMOND — Erez Gilad was raised on his family’s farm in Israel, and it was there that he learned the trade of his forefathers. As he matured, however, he began to develop bigger ambitions—ones that would eventually take him to the other side of the planet. “I moved to California in 2006, right after I completed my service with the Israel Defense Forces,” he remembers. “I had a friend who lived in the Bay Area and owned his own business, which was my dream. He told me about a colleague who was looking for someone to help establish a local restoration franchise. It seemed like a great opportunity, so I decided to take it. I started out doing carpet cleaning, just to become more familiar with the industry, and I gradually earned my general contractor’s license, as well as certifications in air duct cleaning and water and fire damage remediation.”
Today, as owner of Reactic Restoration, Erez says one of his favorite parts of his job is addressing the psychological aspects of the work. “When people experience a structural loss, they’re typically stressed, confused and angry. When we come into their homes with a friendly face and take control of the situation, it relieves a lot of their stress. I enjoy helping our customers and reassuring them that everything will be taken care of.”
Erez divides his time between the Bay Area and his home country, where he lives with his wife, Rinat, and daughters, Noya and Liya. When asked his favorite part about Northern California, he says he appreciates the harmonious integration of its diverse populous. “You have people from all over the world living together and accepting each other as human beings, which I love to see.”
Outside of work, Erez enjoys a variety of active pastimes, from soccer and yoga to running and swimming. “I also love spending time with my family,” he says. “We enjoy travelling all over the world and seeing new places, but we also like going to the beach and just playing in our backyard.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Erez says he would take his interest in travel to a new level. “I don’t know if I’ll ever retire—I’m the kind of person who always needs something to keep me going. However, if I did, I’d like to take a trip around the world. I recently read about a yacht that goes around the world in 180 days, which would be amazing.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: Coffee or tea?
A: Coffee in the morning and tea in the evening.
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Betelnut in San Francisco.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Answer our customers’ calls, of course!
Q: What’s your favorite snack?
A: An Israeli peanut butter snack called “Bamba.”
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Hats.
