We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelley Dunn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelley below.

Kelley, appreciate you joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I don’t have to wonder about a regular job, as I have firsthand experience in traditional employment, having dedicated a significant portion of my life to working in healthcare settings. Specifically, I spent eight years in the Radiology Department of hospitals and later transitioned to a twenty-year career as a Dental Hygienist. I was incredibly fulfilled in my career within the dental field. Over eighteen years, I dedicated my service to the same dental office. My work buddies turned into family, while I looked forward to patients popping into the office to catch up and chat. One perk of a steady job? You feel that sense of security and comfort knowing that, provided you perform well, that job will always be there for you tomorrow. And, of course, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows; there were tough moments, but being an employee enabled me to leave work worries at the doorstep, truly relax, and enjoy my evening with my family.
Unfortunately, though, the lifespan for a career as a dental hygienist can be limited. I lasted longer than many, but during the last several years of that career, I developed pain in my wrists, neck, back—basically all over! I was almost forced to ask myself what I would do next.
So there I was, faced with the million-dollar question: What’s my next move? Where does one even go from here? I had a Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Hygiene, and my choices were somewhat limited. Should I dive into teaching dental hygiene or managing a dental office? Subsequently, the idea of venturing into entrepreneurship began to take root. And just like that, in 2018, I pursued an education in real estate and successfully acquired my real estate license. After three years as a sales agent, I went back to school to level up and successfully obtained my broker’s license.
Again, I am faced with the decision to stay on as a Broker Associate or start my own Real Estate Brokerage. I love real estate and working as an independent contractor. Still, rather than start my brokerage and become a designated/managing broker over other agents, I preferred to focus on nurturing and expanding my real estate brand within the framework of the larger brokerage. I proudly showcase my real estate broker’s license in two locations: Thrive Realty in Arizona and MVP Realty in Florida, and I continue to serve my current and new clients in buying, selling and investing in real estate.
Unlike my old 9-to-5 gig, I had to dive deep into developing my brand, sharpen my sales skills, and juggle all my business deals. I didn’t get to leave my worries at the doorstep, and I wasn’t guaranteed a paycheck every two weeks, a stark difference between the two. My worth, value, success, and income are all dependent on what I put into them on a daily basis. Constantly learning, problem-solving, and overcoming obstacles gives me a great sense of pride and accomplishment.
Flash forward a few years, and my husband, an Air Force Veteran, retires from his job in Law Enforcement. He had always dreamed of the idea of running our own business together. But what kind of business? It’s funny how ideas come to fruition. It all started with our love of travel and our goal to retire someday and travel the world. We saw YouTube videos of brave souls who sold everything they owned and lived as digital nomads or Ex-pats traveling the world and documenting their incredible experiences. Could we do that? It sounds amazing, but we both need a little more stability than that and prefer to have a home base. Then, we found the Dream Vacations franchise. A way to explore the world ourselves and then curate similar experiences for our clients!
Owning and operating a franchise resembled my experience in the real estate industry. Excellent communication and listening skills are key for discerning the needs and desires of clients, whether in selecting a home or, in the context of travel, facilitating their ideal getaways and memorable adventures. With a franchise, there is a foundation of support, training, and established software systems geared towards success. But just like real estate, marketing, developing my brand, identifying my niche, managing daily tasks, and client transactions depend on my skills, heart, and hard work. The only thing is that the “my” became an “our,” and I get to grow and develop our Dream Vacations franchise with my best friend, my husband, utilizing his valuable life and work experience to enhance our business. As we grow our franchise as a team, hopefully, in the future, we can travel the world, all while having the ability to operate our business from anywhere, so long as we have a wifi signal.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

When our clients book their vacation through Matthew and Kelley Dunn Dream Vacations, they can expect to receive exceptional care, our utmost integrity, attention to detail, and quality service. We are committed to helping bring their travel vision to life, no matter how big or small it may be. Most importantly, we stay in contact every step of the way, from beginning to end, to ensure their trip is nothing short of extraordinary. We provide our clients with expert guidance and support throughout their journey, and we’re committed and take pride in scouring the universe to unearth the best travel deals to provide the BEST value for their money. We feel immense satisfaction when our clients arrive home and say how appreciative they are for our help, making their vacation memorable and relaxing because every detail was planned for them. They appreciate our bon voyage call before their trip to go over all the essentials needed for travel and ensure they have all they need for a smooth trip. In addition, they appreciate us touching base with them while on their trip, making sure they know we are here for them should anything unexpected arise.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Our most successful method for acquiring clients has been through referrals from satisfied clients and recommendations from friends and family. Over the past year, we have served as franchise owners and travel advisors, benefiting from a supportive franchise network that offers valuable connections and access to reputable suppliers for crafting exceptional vacation experiences. Add that to our reputation for reliability, trustworthiness, and extensive expertise, pivotal in driving those word-of-mouth referrals. Our focus is on expanding our social media presence to engage a wider audience and deliver exceptional vacation offerings.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I am fortunate that my life partner is also my business partner. Our journey began in 1995 at Nero’s 2000 in Ceasar’s Palace, South Lake Tahoe, California, where I first met my husband. This special encounter led to a photograph capturing the moment when a stranger mistook us for a married couple and offered to take our picture, a testament to our palpable chemistry. Recently, we celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary, a milestone that speaks to the continued strength of our relationship. Navigating the challenges of military life, my husband, Matt, has ventured to numerous foreign locations. We have explored destinations such as Bora Bora, Moorea, Costa Rica, various Mexican locales, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and several destinations across the United States. Next, we plan to extend our travel to Europe and Asia, where we hope to create wonderful memories and leverage these experiences to enrich our business endeavors.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mattkelbucketlistwish.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthew_and_kelley_dunn?igsh=ejdqZmN6dWI3YTFj&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553355746841
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/kelleydsellsaz?igsh=MTZzdWlhdjFybDdwcw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits

Nancy Prosory, Natalie Montez