Meet Dalton Perez | Private Military Contractor & Business Owner
We had the good fortune of connecting with Dalton Perez and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Dalton, how do you think about risk?
I feel risk is crucial and necessary to one’s business, or even quality of life. From the potential opportunities, to the humbling lessons learned from even the slightest risks. Second, I feel you cannot authentically enjoy the rewards, without a high level of accountability for taking that risk. The military has shown me at a young age that success does not fall in your lap, you have to earn it, and many times that is in the form of risk. However, this does not mean you can successfully do so in a reckless manner and expect it to always result in success.
Risk-taking has played a major role in my US ARMY career, and my business Titan Detailing. In the military as a paratrooper, we took a risk with every leap out of a plane or helicopter, and the reward was phenomenal. As a parachute packer as well, we took the risk of every person’s life whose parachute and reserve parachute we packed and signed our names on each one. The reward from so many successful operations in Europe came in various forms from promotions, recognition awards, and further opportunities.
A prime example that my wife, Sarah Perez, and I took was opening Titan Detailing at the start of the COVID pandemic. Unemployment was at an all-time high, everyone was getting laid off, and the government was sending out checks so many didn’t even have to work . Every advisor I consulted said it was not the right time to open a business. We did it in full confidence, never looked back, and have been greeted with great success ever since. We knew the caliber of what it took, the integrity, to be resilient, and the fortitude. We had it all, and that success gave us a very good familiarity with risk, so that we no longer feared it.
In our business, our daily risk is extremely high, but in return, extremely satisfying. Our customers trust us with their vehicles of all types, and believe that we as subject matter experts can fix, correct, or restore them to a factory condition, if not better. We complete work on vehicles that value over $600,000+ and always acknowledge the risk that a one second mistake with a piece of equipment or chemical can costs us over $10,000. It’s our accountability, integrity, and knowledge that reassures why we have been successful thus far and will continue to strive.
What should our readers know about your business?
We opened Titan Detailing at the beginning of COVID, which was a very unpopular idea at this time. Instilled in us are traits from a military lifestyle that contributes greatly to not only our success, but our fast growth despite the economy at the time. Prior to our opening, our family was heavily involved in community investment all over Arizona. Donations, fundraisers, toy drives, to community clean ups. We currently sponsor local roads in our home city we maintain quarterly as well. We invest in our local veterans, including the VFW lodge (Veteran of Foreign Wars) and American Legion, and in 2020 even installed 3 purple heart parking spots at various locations. The ‘Purple Heart’ military award is to recognize fellow wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States. We truly make giving back in more ways than one a priority, and I challenge other local businesses to do the same!
I believe the success not only comes from our highest quality of work, but also the brand we carry. The pride and honor we have in all the work we do, inside of the business and out. I owe my early success to these communities.
We are the only veteran owned and operated mobile detailers in the East Valley. We live by the motto, “Do it with passion, or not at all.” This is reflected in our work, and our beings, and we personally thank every customer who gives us the opportunity to showcase that.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Steak and Stone Steakhouse, in Mesa, is hands down my favorite restaurant! This is located on the Falcon Field airstrip, so as you’re cooking your OWN STEAK! (they provide a 400 degree stone to cook it on to perfection), you can watch airplanes and helicopters take off and land on the strip right outside of the window! As a bonus, there is an amazing local brewery attached to it, called Desert Eagle. They have a fantastic selection and it pairs amazingly with the steak. I proposed to my now wife at a helicopter tour through the superstition mountains from this exact location as well, so if you’re okay with heights, go for the tour as well!
My second favorite adventure is kayaking the Salt River. It’s an absolute must. Wild horses drinking just feet away, the fish jumping for food, the peace from the subtle rapids, and best of all the views between the valleys the river follows. Truly a unique experience that every out of towner falls in love with!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to recognize John Avellan, of Cyber Training Technologies, for his leagues of guidance, support, and inspiration. If you face a mountain, he will teach you how to move it. Thank you for everything, John.
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Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
