Bill Gates President & CEO

As one of the Bay Area’s leading grading and paving companies, Top Grade engages with organizations in both the private and public sector and generally has more than 100 projects in process.

Gates co-founded Top Grade along with three partners in 1989, leveraging his relationships with industry general contractors as well as local developers who are repeat and loyal customers.  With more than 43 years of experience, he is well known for his enthusiasm, energy, and passion for the construction industry.

Top Grade’s impressive customer portfolio includes organizations such as: Devcon Construction, DPR, Hathaway Dinwiddie, Rudolph and Sletten, Webcor, Whiting Turner, DiNapoli Development, SunCal Companies, KB Homes, Ryland Homes, Arcadia Homes, Shapell, and Signature Properties.  Additionally, Top Grade’s project portfolio includes: The Delta Coves Subdivision, Bay Meadows Race Track, The Great Mall of Milpitas, Cisco Campus, Wild Wings Golf Course, Metcalf Energy Center, Inland Empire Energy Center and improvements to Sand Hill Road with additional enhancements to Stanford’s surrounding facilities.

Gates was instrumental in helping secure the 1986 overlay project of the Golden Gate Bridge while at Grade Way Construction, currently RGW, a company he co-founded with Dan Lowry in 1977.  Earlier in his career, Gates worked at Freeman Sonodgrath Construction where his management of rigorous project work such as the expansion of 680 and 101 bypass in Gilroy, California helped him build his knowledge base in field operations.

Gates holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from San Jose State University. 

A California native, Gates resides in Livermore. He spends his free time traveling, golfing, and playing bocce. 

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