East Bay Claims Member Profile:
Ed Melgoza Enjoying Life
By Bryan Harrison, A.N.N., Inc.

May 2008 Association News Network -
East Bay Claims edition

For East Bay Claims member, Ed Melgoza, life is all about enjoying time with family and friends. “It’s what I come to work for,” he tells us.

Recently announced as the newest addition to the estimating staff in the Pleasant Hill, CA office of Mark Scott Construction, Ed brings substantial credentials to his position. With more than 12 years of insurance restoration/construction experience under his belt, he has enthusiastically taken on the responsibilities of Estimator for the firm’s Bay Area Residential and Commercial Insurance Division, as well as acting as a point person for Catastrophic (CAT) losses in the Western region for MSC. His extensive knowledge of the Xactimate estimating program, and a good understanding of construction, serve him well.

“It is great to have someone like Ed on board” says company president, Mark Scott. “Ed’s knowledge and understanding of insurance and construction industry have already proven a great addition to our team,” he states. “Ed has a great relationship with everyone in the industry as well as the customers he encounters.”

A Bay Area native, born and raised in Hayward, Ed stayed local for his college education, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State Hayward, while carrying a minor in Sociology. At the time, he had been seriously considering getting into a law enforcement career for himself. That notion changed for Ed shortly after getting married, however, when his wife became pregnant with their first of two daughters. They agreed that he would be able to be more present with his family choosing a different career path and lifestyle.

It was then that he began his career in the property restoration business. He worked for two prominent restoration and contractor companies for twelve years before taking on his new position with Mark Scott Construction.

“I look forward to working with my established clients each day, as well as meeting new ones all the time,” Ed tells us. “One of the great things about this business is that there’s always something new happening.”
Ed has resided in the Bay Area his entire life. He and his wife and two daughters, now twelve and eight, currently live in Dublin.

“We love to get together with friends for dinner, enjoy wine and good meals,” he says. “We actually have a group of friends we go out with and try various restaurants all around the Bay Area.” That group has grown to include five couples. When asked about a favorite haunt, Ed hesitates a bit, only because for him there are so many. “A default kind of favorite place for me is Asia de Cuba in San Francisco,” he says, after a bit of contemplation. “They serve an Asian/Cuban fusion-style food,” he explains. “It’s also adjacent to the Redwood Room bar there in Union Square,” he says, making it all the more desirable.

Much of what Ed works for is to be able to enjoy taking his family on vacations to warmer climates - Hawaii, the Caribbean and Bahamas are clearly favorites. Having been to Hawaii a number of times, Ed says he really enjoys the tranquility of Kauai the most. “Poipu is an absolutely beautiful spot,” he shares. Another memorable trip the family’s taken together went from Florida to the Bahamas. “The Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island is amazing,” he said. “It’s a great spot for the whole family.”

Since joining Mark Scott Construction, Ed’s work life has kept him pretty busy. “I’m doing most of their Large Loss water and fire jobs in the company’s insurance division,” he tells us. Explaining further, he says “we have three divisions: Insurance, Commercial, and New Development. The Insurance work is pretty steady, while the other divisions tend to feel more of the affects of the economy,” he says.

“Much of the commercial work is insurance-related, but the new development tends to be specialty clients who want us to build custom homes. So, we’re not so much like a new home builder, but more focused on the custom approach.”

Celebrating his fifteenth wedding anniversary this year in August, Ed and his wife are planning on making it a family adventure. “We’re taking our girls on a cruise for an anniversary to pretty much the same location we went on our honeymoon, San Juan, Puerto Rico,” says enthusiastically. It’ll be a seven day cruise from there to the Bahamas, St. Thomas, and other points of interest.”

“When I’m not doing all that, I’m on my Harley,” he states with a noticeable gleam in his eye. “I enjoy the open road - getting together with my riding buddies, taking a back road somewhere and just exploring,” he says. “I’ve met a bunch of great biker friends, and look forward to every chance I get to take the bike out.” Ed rides with his crew mainly around the Bay Area, but they’ve ventured as far as Lake Tahoe and Reno, and throughout the Northern California Valley.

“I’ve been riding for about ten years now,” he says. “It’s a lifestyle - people really really enjoy it. I wish I could ride my bike to work everyday, but that probably wouldn’t go over so well out on the jobs,” he jokes.
Ed also just finished taking his last golf lesson a few weeks ago. “I’m enjoying going out with friends and clients, especially after a few lessons,” he says. Unfortunately, Ed won’t be playing in the upcoming East Bay Claims Golf Tournament August 15, as he’ll be on his anniversary cruise, celebrating with his family.
Ed can be reached at 925-595-6265, or emelgoza@msconstruction.com.