In the world of comic books, origin stories inform the reader of the identity and motivations of heroes and villains (thankfully, we only have the former here). Like Spider-Man or Captain America, your origin story is important as it defines who you are today. Learn about the experiences, people, and influences that shaped Concord's Dan Ramirez by reading below!
I grew up in Napa Valley, California, in a city called Fairfield, located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area.
My favorite family tradition is hosting the big family Thanksgiving and Christmas get-togethers at my house. I am also responsible for cooking the turkey, which I put all my effort into!
My grandfather has made a big impact on my life. He was always willing to let me help, regardless of the task.
Hands down, cruising to the East or West Caribbean. One of my all-time favorite places.
When I entered high school, my father was activated with the Army to support the training of soldiers during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He would also travel overseas from time to time as well. Him being gone placed quite a bit of extra responsibility on my brother and me. We had to grow up quicker than most kids our age to support the family and keep life running as normally as possible.
My mother’s enchiladas.
I had an idea of what I wanted to do and spent time focusing on the topics I really enjoyed. I love working with people and can make connections fairly easily with others. I also love history, math, and science. I got my bachelor’s degree at the University of Oregon and, after that, attended Kansas State University with the original goal of going into the hospitality industry. While in Kansas, I discovered that what I was learning could apply to any industry, and after graduation, I went into marketing. I am self-taught in the work I do now to a certain extent but am always wanting to learn more. The opportunity to go into analytics was perfect for me at the time, and I have not looked back!
I really enjoy coaching. I have been the head coach for my son’s baseball teams over the past few years, and these guys click well together. I love to see how they develop over time and learn to work together. In my spare time, I enjoy building things (I have plenty of projects around the house). Not only do I love watching college and NFL football, but every year I attend at least one… or two… major games with my family or a friend. This year I’ll be heading to Iowa to watch my Oregon Ducks play the Iowa Hawkeyes in November.
My first job was as a Cast Member at Disney World during college as a participant in the Disney College Program. This was my jumping point into my interest in going into hospitality. This was a no-joke job. Without a doubt, I can say it was both the most fun job but also the most exhausting job I have ever had. Not only is the level of work fairly taxing, but you also must keep up your enthusiasm around guests. I think this experience really rounded out my ability to communicate with others, prioritize, and understand how to control what I can control while also ensuring I am producing a quality experience with and for others.
I met my wife in high school at the age of 12, and we have been together for 23 years, married for 13. We have two kids (Owen, 9, and Mia, 6). I enjoy visiting historical locations, and I have an extremely good sense of direction (ask my wife—she can confirm after 23 years).
Go with the flow and take things as they come, and when you commit to something, put everything you have into it. I promise it pays off.
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