January 9, 2026

I never really contemplated updating our website intro letter with a farewell note but that peculiar place is where I find myself as the new year begins. I guess the headstone reads: AllWest Environmental, Inc., Dec 18, 1989 – Feb 22. 2026, RIP. In those 36 years, I married, welcomed two sons into this world, subsequently lost my wife Karen (2006) and oldest child Alexander (2021), re-married (2021) and joyfully welcomed a granddaughter (2024). In that same period, which I now fondly refer to as my professional career, the Giants won 3 pennants; the Warriors conquered 4 times and the Niners brought up the rear with 2 Super Bowl Victories. I toiled through 6 presidents, at least 5 California real estate recessions, a world wide pandemic and officed in the Financial District, South of Market before it was SOMA and the past 12 years in the Mission. We opened a southern California office in Tustin in 1992 and employed a small staff there through 2021 when Covid and commodity service providers took their mortal toll. Since 1990 AllWest revenues exceeded $57,500,000. That’s a lot of Phase I and 2s! Looking back, I calculate AllWest completed more than 3000 Phase I Assessments, hundreds of subsurface investigations and asbestos oriented projects. Along the way we added services such as ALTA Surveys collaborating with Calvada, Seismic Assessments; first completed in house for many years and then with SGH and Property Condition Assessments which were always internally staffed with licensed professionals.

Employing and retaining licensed professional subcontractors has always been the way AllWest conducts real property due diligence. If there is a single reason we did not grow larger it was my decision to not dumb down the product by competing on price. We never aspired to be the Walmart of due diligence and that we never became. We endeared ourselves to our many equity oriented clientele because we strove for the highest standard of care in each of our assignments. I feel very good about that.

Many of the people I came to know via AllWest became my lifelong friends. We'll continue those bonds long past my retirement date. You can count on that!

Going forward I’ll gladly keep our website and phone lines live. Although I’m ready to retire, it’s very hard to say goodbye to AllWest. Although we’ll not directly be providing professional services after the 2nd week of February, I certainly can recommend well respected individuals and firms that can assist you in your real estate pursuits. Please stay in touch.