The Car Doctor

Alex Galvan: Car Doctor

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

MARTINEZ — As a young man, Alex Galvan had aspirations to become a medical professional. However, he never thought the patients he’d one day work with would have wheels and mechanical engines. “After graduating early from high school, I decided to work toward becoming a registered nurse,” he recounts. “I enrolled at the local junior college, took care of all my prerequisites and applied for a few nursing programs. However, I had some difficulty getting into a program and ended up on a long waiting list. While I waited, I decided to start working on cars. I had a cousin who was a master mechanic and he taught me a bit about the trade. I’d always had an interest in it—whether medical or automotive, I was fascinated by how things work. Pretty soon, I found myself moving toward a career in automotive work, and in 2013, I started my own business.”

Today, as owner of The Car Doctor, Alex says his favorite part of his job is keeping his customers satisfied. “I like making people happy. I love seeing the joy and relief on a customer’s face when their air conditioning is fixed or they’re able to pass a smog test or just get back on the road. It’s a great feeling and it keeps me going.”

A resident of Concord, Alex spends his time outside of work on a variety of active pastimes. “I’m very athletic and I enjoy playing all types of sports,” he details. “I also love riding motorcycles and spending time with my son, Raiden. We do tons of fun stuff together—we go to the park almost every day, and I even took him snowboarding for the first time last year.”

In regard to a professional philosophy, Alex espouses the value of perspective. “I definitely believe in treating others the way I’d want to be treated,” he affirms. “That’s why I often try to put myself in the customer’s shoes and ask questions like, ‘Was I treated fairly?’ and, ‘Was the job done in a timely manner?’ For the most part, I feel confident that I’d be completely satisfied if I was on the other end of the transaction.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Alex says he’d travel. “I’ve been at this shop six days a week for the past eight years, so it would be nice to get out a bit more. I’ve never been anywhere other than California and the surrounding states, so I’d love to see how people live in other parts of the country and the world.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What was your first job?
A: I was a lifeguard at Raging Waters.

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Tomatina in Walnut Creek. I’m Italian and I really love Italian food.

Q: Did you play any sports in high school?
A: I played every sport in high school. That’s probably what I was most known for. I have a closet full of MVP trophies that I won from playing sports.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Lay in bed and watch a movie, or hang out with a couple of buddies and play some dominos or cribbage.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I’ve heard a lot of good things about Costa Rica, so I’d probably go there and then do a tour of Central and South America.