My name is Dean Gualco.  I was born, raised and reside in California, though I have traveled extensively throughout the world. Over the course of the past 25 years I have served in a number of public and private-sector positions, including as a human resource director (at two California cites, the University of California, and an entity created by the Governor of California and Mayor of Sacramento), and as a Library Director. I am also the owner of Torgun Consulting, a firm specializing in organizational management and restructuring.  

Education - I have received the following educational degrees:  Doctorate in Education from the University of the Pacific; Masters of Arts Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California (USC); Masters of Business Administration; Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fresno

Publications - I have published 10 non-fiction books, the latest published in 2021 and titled “A Nation of Businesses: Building a Business in the ‘Make it on your own Generation.’” Other books that have been published include: The Good Manager: A Model for the 21st Century Manager (2016), published by Berrett Koehler; What Happened to the American Dream (1997), The Meaning of Life (2005), The Great People of Our Time (2007), The Choices and Consequences of our Age (2012), Making a Difference: Changing the World in Which you Live (2013), Words to Live by (2015), and Take the Right Road: Finding the Right Job, Being the Right Employee, and Becoming the Right Person (2017). In support of these endeavors, I have also appeared in over 200 magazine, newspaper and media forums, many at the national level, on a wide range of business and educational topics. 

Teaching - Over the years, I have taught human resources, management, organizational development, and general/professional courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level.  Similar to writing, teaching is a passion in my life.  This passion is best represented by Martin Luther King, who once wrote that education is the search not just for knowledge but of wisdom.  He understood that the purpose of education is not merely to prepare us for a job, but to prepare us for life – for the eminently practical tasks of living well, thinking wisely, and acting sensibly.  It is a goal that requires dedication and, above all, the challenge to become a better person. The following story best illustrates this challenge:

Abraham Lincoln attended church one Sunday and heard a well-known minister who many thought was at the peak of his form because the President was in his audience.  When asked what he thought of the sermon, Lincoln said, “Since you asked, I must confess I didn’t think much of it.”  “Why?” he was asked.  Lincoln replied, “because he didn’t ask us to do anything great.”

Finally, several quotes that have special meaning for me as I believe everyone should have a philosophy of life to guide their thoughts and actions.  First, always look for the good along the road of life; second, go down swinging – the fear of failure, and the fear of what others think, has destroyed the ambitions of most men; lastly, do something good – if you spend your time doing good, maybe the Good Lord will let you stick around a bit longer.