Black History Month: Celebrating Two San Leandro Businesses

Throughout the month of February, San Leandro is celebrating Black History Month. To recognize this month and foster reflection, learning and discussion, the San Leandro Library is holding a number of events, including a Read-In, movie screening and art activities. View the full monthly schedule here.

This month we are also highlighting two Black-owned San Leandro businesses that exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit of the local business community. San Leandro is a diverse community, both in its residents and businesses. Celebrating the many voices of San Leandro has helped create a thriving business ecosystem that celebrates this diverse heritage and looks toward an even brighter future.

Net Electric

Nathan Tyler founded his contracting business Net Electric in 2000 in Rodeo, CA, and relocated to San Leandro in 2018. Net Electric is an electrical contracting business that runs the gamut of electrical, solar, Electric Vehicle (EV) charging, and battery storage services for both commercial and residential customers.

Net Electric designs and engineers solar systems in-house and provides EV-charging for home, office, and commercial locations. Battery storage of renewable energy is designed for home or office uses. Tyler employs two office employees, and as a union contractor, he can call on additional local talent based on project needs.

Tyler enjoys operating in San Leandro thanks to its diverse community and the various needs. “The location is great,” says Tyler, “and the [City] administration is geared toward helping new and upcoming small and minority-owned businesses.” Tyler currently serves as the Vice President of the San Leandro Black Chamber of Commerce.

He envisions a future as one of the finest electrical companies in San Leandro, offering professional service with competitive pricing. Tyler also plans to reach out to the local talent pool to offer job training and opportunities to work in the field of renewable energy.

FixIt Construction

Craig Turner established FixIt Construction in San Leandro in 2007. Prior to this, Turner brought his contracting experience from Newton, Massachusetts to San Francisco in 1995, working in the trade until the time was right to start his own company. FixIt employs nine workers, is a full-service general contractor/construction company specializing in repairs and remodeling for multi-unit apartment buildings. FixIt builds and repairs decks and patios, and the team is very talented at diagnosing and repairing water damage-related issues.

Turner gives credit to the people of San Leandro as a chief benefit of operating here. Turner and his family live, work, and attend school in San Leandro, and has established a strong network of friends and business contacts over two decades. Turner is also a member of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, and is proud to play an active role in the newly formed San Leandro Black Chamber of Commerce. FixIt maintains its office headquarters in San Leandro, with a workshop in East Oakland.

Turner hopes to continue to grow the business and help to support other minority businesses and clients. Turner also hopes to continue FixIt’s support for local nonprofits like “Luz de Mexicali,” a foundation his wife, Laura, started last year to provide support to Mexican orphanages and older kids aging out of the orphanage system and venturing on to higher education and professional careers.

Turner advocates for other minority-owned businesses to get involved. “This city has come an extremely long way from its less than inclusive past,” says Turner, “and it’s done so thanks to its citizens having the courage to get out there and take some risks: to speak up and speak out and contribute their diverse talents to make this city all it can be.”