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Year One: Gratitude, Growth, and a Dream Realized

  • Writer: Phil
    Phil
  • Dec 2, 2025
  • 3 min read

Celebrating One Year in Business

It’s been just over a year since we opened our doors, and as I sit in my office—across the street from the coffee shop where this idea was first sketched on a napkin—I can’t help but reflect on the unlikely, winding, and meaningful story that brought us here.

Two men in front of the Pantheon
Daniel left and Phil Right at The Pantheon, Rome

A Friendship Twenty Years in the Making

I met Daniel Garcia over two decades ago through a mutual friend. At the time, Daniel was beginning his career as an Los Angeles police officer, and I was a maintenance manager at a college with aspirations toward counseling. Our paths drifted in different directions: I moved out of the LA basin and eventually spent five years in the SCI and DoD Security world at Raytheon; Daniel moved to Escondido and joined the SWAT team at Escondido PD.

Even back then, I remember feeling an odd inclination that someday we might work together. There was no logical reason for it—just a quiet sense that our paths weren’t done intersecting.


Years later, I moved to Escondido to be closer to family, taking roles at Qualcomm, AEVEX, and eventually Adamo, where I led the consulting division. After starting at Adamo, Daniel had medically retired from EPD, gone to seminary, earned his MDiv, and after a few years, was looking for work. I was lucky enough to hire him onto my team at Adamo.

That was five years ago, and for the next four years, building the consulting division together felt like a dream realized. When I was promoted, I was able to promote Daniel into my role—an incredible moment, even if it meant we didn’t get as much time side-by-side.

Adamo and The Day Everything Changed

And then, on November 15th of last year, it all nearly fell apart. That was the day we were told it would be our last at Adamo, and to collect our things the following Monday, November 18th.


I remember the 18th vividly. The building was quiet, but the spirit among the team was anything but defeated. Even in the face of uncertainty, the camaraderie, resilience, and mutual support were inspiring. It has been a pleasure and inspiration watching the former employees at Adamo navigate their new chapters with such strength.


That same day, Daniel ended up on the couch in my office—our usual spot—reminiscing, processing, asking each other what just happened, and ultimately, planting the first seeds of what would become our own business. The next morning, we met at Kettle Coffee on Grand in Escondido and sketched out an idea on a napkin.

A Simple Mission, A Strong First Year

Our goal from day one was simple: Take care of the clients who were left in the same lurch we were, and build a profitable business rooted in expertise and integrity.

We set financial and sales goals and hit the ground running.

I’m proud to say our first year was a success—and that success belongs entirely to our clients. Thank you for trusting us with your projects, your people, and your business.

This year:

  • We helped clients who had been left in limbo after the Adamo collapse.

  • We onboarded many new clients.

  • We met our financial goals for year one.

  • We supported over 15 clients on 25 projects.

  • We completed our first international project.

  • We built our first educational course

But the biggest privilege—and the most unexpected blessing—has been staying connected with so many former Adamo colleagues. Getting to collaborate with familiar faces again has been an honor. And, of course, working alongside Daniel has been one of the greatest gifts of this journey. He is not only a phenomenal business partner but a deeply valued friend.

I also want to extend a special thank-you to Hector Vasquez and Hector Villanueva for their project and sales support respectively in those early days. Their help mattered greatly.

Gratitude for the Past, Excitement for the Future

I truly loved my time at Adamo and the incredible people I had the privilege to serve. While I’ll always miss that shared experience, I am humbled and grateful to continue this work in a new form—with a renewed sense of purpose.


To our clients: thank you for giving us the privilege to serve you this past year.


To Daniel: thank you for being an exceptional partner on this journey.


And to the future: we’re just getting started.


Here’s to many more years of collaboration, precision, and service.

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