One Story: A Thousand Moments

Why I Started The Dean

There are moments in life that don’t shout—they whisper. Quiet realizations that build slowly until one day, you pause, take a breath, and admit: something inside you has changed.

For me, that realization came after thirteen extraordinary years at sea.

I dedicated over a decade of my life to the cruise industry, building a career that took me across oceans and into the heart of global hospitality. I wasn’t stationed on one ship—I was traveling from vessel to vessel, supporting teams, fine-tuning operations, and making sure everything ran smoothly. I thrived on the energy, the movement, the constant challenge. I felt proud to be part of something bigger than myself.

But while I was building memories for others, mine were happening without me.

With each assignment, I found myself missing home more deeply—missing my family, my dogs, my closest friends. What once felt like an adventure began to feel like a slow erosion of time I could never get back. I still loved what I did, but the cost of always leaving started to feel too high.

One evening, out on deck under a sky full of stars, I let the thought in: What if I stayed home? What if I took everything I’ve learned, everything I love, and built something here—in Puerto Vallarta, the place I love most?

And that’s where The Dean was born.

Not just as a brand, but as a life shift. A commitment to stay, to create, to connect. To build a space where my love for hospitality, storytelling, travel, and visual art could all come together. A platform where I could share my stories—stories shaped by both saltwater and stillness. Stories about the highs and the heartaches, the travels and the transitions, the pursuit of joy in all its forms.

But as I started to shape The Dean, there was one symbol that kept returning to me—one creature I couldn’t shake from my imagination: the wolf.

The wolf has always felt like my spirit animal.

Independent, loyal, intuitive, and deeply connected to its surroundings, the wolf moves with quiet strength. It knows when to stand alone and when to run with the pack. It is grounded in instinct but always alert—curious, cautious, courageous. Much like the wolf, I’ve often found myself navigating life between two worlds: the world of constant movement, and the desire for rootedness. The wolf reminded me that you can be both wild and wise. That solitude doesn’t mean loneliness. That returning home doesn’t mean retreating—it means honoring your truth.

So I wove the wolf into everything I created. It appears in my logo, in my imagery, in the voice of The Dean itself. Because this isn’t just about a new chapter—it’s about living in alignment with who I am at the core.

“One Story: A Thousand Moments” is the first piece of that journey. It’s a reflection on all the little moments that led me here, and an invitation for you to come along as I explore what comes next.

I’ll be sharing more—stories from my travels, moments of doubt, breakthroughs, behind-the-scenes glimpses of building a brand from the ground up. It won’t be perfect. But it will be real. And if you’ve ever found yourself standing at the edge of something unfamiliar, wondering whether to take the leap—I hope this story reminds you that you’re not alone.

Because this isn’t just about leaving a job. It’s about rediscovering purpose. Reclaiming joy. Rewriting the script.

And doing it all with the heart of a wolf—focused, free, and fiercely human.

Welcome to The Dean. This is just the beginning.

— Dean