Why Budget Blinds of San Leandro and South Hayward

Michael Taylor is pleased to serve the Budget Blinds of San Leandro & South Hayward team as President, Installer, and Repair Tech! Michael is an 82nd Airborne veteran and is honored to serve his country. While serving, he trained to become a surgical technician and enjoyed working in the surgical field for over 35 years. These skills have taught him to work well with his hands, think strategically, and take pride in his work. When he isn't working, Michael loves to ride his 2014 Street Glide Special Harley Davidson, do carpentry work, garden, and making darn good Strawberry Rhubarb pies!

Lea Taylor is proud to serve the Budget Blinds of San Leandro & South Hayward team as Owner and Design Consultant! Lea loves to help her clients feel as comfortable as possible as she makes their experience fun, easy, and informative! She gets great joy from the wonderful customers she works with and loves being a part of designing the perfect plan for their homes.

Lea graduated with top honors from Merritt College with an Associates Degree in Business and enjoys bringing those skills into her business each day. As a native of San Leandro, Lea attended Washington Elementary School before moving all over the bay area, but she now calls San Leandro home again and loves this community. She lives in San Leandro with her husband, Michael, along with her daughter and grandchildren. When you can't find her at the office or working with clients, she can be found walking her dog, Harley, and enjoying the view of her neighbors beautiful homes. She love to garden and grow tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, and any other fun vegetable to add in to new recipes. Lea is honored to serve her community and looks forward to the opportunity to work with you!

We are thrilled to welcome Christina (Nina) San Nicolas to the Budget Blinds team as our new Administrator! Nina brings a wealth of skills and experience to the team, including her quick learning ability, efficient and detailed work ethic, and excellent customer service skills. We know she will be an asset to our team and our customers.

Although not originally from San Leandro, Nina has lived in the area on and off for the past decade and is excited to be back. She enjoys the convenience of the nearby shopping centers and the tranquility of Lake Chabot when she needs a quiet break.

In her free time, Nina's passion lies in creating art and weightlifting. She's a novice digital artist and a seasoned writer with several publications under her belt. She's also the proud owner of two senior cats, Shinya and Phoebe, who she adopted together as kittens.

We are super excited to have Nina on board and look forward to all the great work she will accomplish with us. Congratulations on your new role, Nina, and welcome to the Budget Blinds family.

Gregory Brown, installer, joined the team in June 2023, bringing a unique blend of skills and qualities. Born and raised in Oakland, California, Gregory's entire life has been rooted in the San Francisco Bay area. Gregory's passion for architectural design, an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship, and a keen eye for detail make him a standout team member. His friendly and approachable nature, coupled with excellent customer service skills, ensures that every project is executed with precision and professionalism. Beyond work, Gregory enjoys traveling, spending cherished moments with family, and exploring the intricacies of architectural art.

Heather Hilden brings over two decades of customer service and home improvement experience to her role as a Design Consultant at Budget Blinds of San Leandro and South Hayward. Her commitment to serving clients is evident in her meticulous attention to detail, extensive product knowledge, and design skills. Outside of work, she's a hands-on enthusiast who enjoys building and fixing things, loves travel and trying new foods, and is an avid Green Bay Packer fan. Residing in East Bay, she shares her home with her loyal cat, Piper, and enjoys spending quality time with her 20-year-old son, Jake. Heather’s educational background includes an Associate Degree in Sociology from San Bernardino Valley College, with aspirations for future studies at CSUEB, reflecting her commitment to ongoing personal and professional growth. Passion, dedication, and commitment to the community guarantee her a dynamic journey in the design world where she will help clients make their vision for their home come to life.

Meet Buddy, our newly appointed Head of Security and Chief Morale Officer, freshly adopted from the Oakland SPCA! Since joining the team in early December, Buddy’s daily routine has included warmly greeting showroom customers with his wagging tail and spreading joy and laughter among our staff. Though he may occasionally take a few extra breaks for those 'essential' outdoor walks and 'patrol' duties, his positive impact on the team is undeniable. Given the exhausting demands of his role, Buddy sometimes deems it necessary to indulge in a power nap at work. If you happen to see Buddy snoozing during office hours, rest assured he’s just recharging his 'cuteness batteries' to continue boosting morale and maintaining tight security. We are thrilled to have Buddy on the team: Head of Security, Morale Booster, and Professional Napper Extraordinaire!