Culture Fit: Daniel Valdez

Candidates who apply for positions at Action Property Management aren’t only screened based on their competence. Their ability to fit into the culture of the company is just as important. Interviews often involve discussions about an applicant’s character and how well they align with Action’s values.

Daniel Valdez, Action’s Vice President of Client Accounting, is one of the newer members of the team, having been hired last July. One of the things that really stood out to him during the interview process was a question posed by CEO, Matthew Holbrook. Matthew asked him to discuss a time when he had made a mistake or done something that hurt someone else and had to apologize for it. “That question made me realize this wouldn’t be just a job. It would be a place where values actually matter,” Daniel said. “I could tell I’d be joining a community, not just a company.” The purpose of this question is to get at the heart of a candidate’s character. If the character is a match, then competency can be explored. It was this question that helped Daniel recognize how Action’s culture was something he could truly connect with.

Daniel’s first exposure to homeowner’s associations came several years back when he lived in a managed community in Diamond Bar, California. With a background in finance and an MBA from Claremont Graduate University’s Drucker Management School, Daniel was able to provide guidance to the board regarding financial decisions. That experience sparked an interest in how communities are run and how financial stewardship plays a role in the quality of daily life for residents. Over the course of his career, Daniel has accumulated twenty-five years of experience in the financial industry working across finance, real estate, and technology. He earned a real estate broker’s license and explored topics like blockchain long before it became a buzzword.  Despite his impressive resume, Daniel remains humble, and his view of his job is simple. He is quick to downplay titles and credentials. “I don’t have to be the smartest guy in the room,” he says. “I just need to be solid with the numbers and own the results.”

After fourteen years with his previous employer, the owner of the company decided to sell, and Daniel saw it as the right time to pause and reset. A short sabbatical turned into a fresh start and eventually a path to Action.  Now that he is fully on board he sees even more clearly how deeply Action’s values shape the way people work and how much pride the team takes in doing things right.

He sees that caring about people is one of the most important things that his team can do. From the top of the company to the newest hire, everyone values customer service. As he settled into the new job, Daniel was impressed by the people around him. With a hint of awe in his voice, he summed it up succinctly, “People here care about their work.”

While Action values people, it also values excellence. As a finance professional, the integrity of a number means something to Daniel. “If the numbers are off, it matters. Clean financials reflect how seriously we take the work,” he says.

Each day brings new challenges to the job and Daniel sees it as an opportunity to keep learning. “The systems are robust, and I’m taking time to understand how they support our clients,” he says. “There’s a lot to absorb, but I enjoy connecting the dots and helping the team stay focused on what matters.”  

Another one of the benefits of working for Action is the ability to balance work and life. Now that the seasons are changing, the anticipation of snow brings new opportunities for that balance. Though he came to the sport of snow skiing later in life, Daniel finds enjoyment on the slopes. Annual trips to Colorado or Utah provide for great family time and a chance to enjoy the outdoors.

He also enjoys his role as a father cheering on his son in both football and the high school band. The family feel and values-oriented culture at Action are what make it stand out among other work environments. Not everyone who applies is a fit, but Daniel is grateful that he can now be part of that culture and show up to the office every day, doing his part to make it even better.