Greg Louie is founder and CEO of American Ratings Corporation.
Long before he was promoting the Diamond Certified Resource, Greg Louie knew the value of differentiating quality for consumers. “Before I got into the business ratings industry, I was in the sports equipment business—specifically, manufacturing custom-built golf clubs,” he explains. “In competing against major manufacturers, I was always looking for ways to differentiate my company from others. Later, when I got an opportunity to join a business ratings company, I knew it would be a good fit for me, because I had a firsthand perspective of how differentiating quality could benefit consumers and businesses alike.”
In 2001, Greg, along with co-founder Jim Stein, established American Ratings Corporation and created the Diamond Certified Resource. Today, as the company’s CEO, Greg says he continues to derive enthusiasm and gratification from his professional role. “I love the fact that I can look in the mirror every day and honestly say I’m helping my community,” he says. “By connecting consumers with quality local companies, the Diamond Certified Resource is a true win-win for all parties involved, and I wake every morning excited about that.”
A resident of San Ramon (where he lives with his wife, Joyce, and their daughters, Sydney and Panda), Greg considers the Bay Area an ideal location to live and work in. “It’s a wonderful place to live, raise my family and own a business,” he affirms. “I’ve had opportunities to work in other parts of the country, but I could never pull myself away from the Bay Area.”
Outside of work, Greg devotes the bulk of his time to his family. “My wife and daughters are my top priority,” he says. “Both of our girls are very involved in dance, so we spend a lot of time attending their competitions.” Personally, Greg says his two favorite things are sports and food. “I follow all the Bay Area teams and like to play golf, softball, and kickball. I also like trying different restaurants around the Bay Area. Food is probably my biggest weakness, so it’s a good thing I play a lot of sports to burn off those extra calories!”
In his life and career, Greg espouses a simple yet profound motto. “Years ago, I was golfing with my best friend on a beautiful summer morning, and I just said, ‘Life is good.’ That’s kind of been my mantra ever since. It’s easy to dwell on the bad things in your life, so I think it’s important to stop and take inventory of all the positive things, just to get the right perspective.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he could retire tomorrow, Greg lays out two possible scenarios. “First, I would invest the time that currently goes toward my business into my family. However, if my girls were already grown and out of the house, I would probably go traveling with my wife and explore different parts of the world. I’d like to visit some of the iconic baseball stadiums in the U.S., as well as play all the notable golf courses.”
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