We’re a group of dads, who live in town, and care deeply about our home, Milton.
After witnessing their wives having so much fun and meeting so many new people through a local moms group in Milton, co-founders James Secondino, Zane Mistry, Victor Teles and Ryan Sullivan thought…why should the moms have all the fun and thus, the Dads of Milton was born.
Beginning in 2014, the DOMs started off as a small group of 10-20 dads interacting over facebook, playing soccer and meeting up at local hangout spots and garages under the premise that…being a dad is hard, so let’s help each other and have fun along the way. Over time and mainly through the vision and immense networking skills of its founder James, the DOMs grew to several hundred Dads and expanded its mandate and purpose around 5 main foundational pillars:
- Giving back the community
- Helping small Milton run businesses
- Taking care of yourself, physically and mentally
- Teach each other new skills
- Have tons of fun along the way
Today, the DOMs are 2,600 strong and one of the largest and most distinguished non-for-profit organizations in Milton. Over the past 8 years, the DOMs have raised thousands of dollars for the Milton community, local charities and select Milton families in need. Anchored by its marquee events Step Up to the Plate and Summer Golf tournament along with multiple networking events and socials throughout the year, the DOMs continue to grow in numbers while honouring the pillars that reflect who they are and what they do.
Any dad in Milton can be a DOM, so please join through our Facebook group if you are interested. Please remember to be respectful, be active and help one another the best you can. We hope to see you soon.
The Executive Team
Co-Founder
Co-Founder
Born in Etobicoke, raised in Mississauga, found Milton accidentally one Sunday afternoon on a casual drive through the country. 14 years later I couldn’t see myself living anywhere else.
Personally, one of the main reasons I co-founded the DoMs is because of how much I fell in love with Milton shortly after discovering it. My wife and I were relatively new to the area and one of the things we loved so much that we had never experienced before was that “small-town” feel it had. At the time, Milton’s population was around 30,000. It was awesome walking to the grocery store and being greeted by a familiar face at the cash register or a stranger that held the door open while smiling.
Slowly as the population grew and other stores and restaurants opened up, I wanted to create something that preserved the small town feel I experienced and had grown to love. Shortly after discussing the idea with a few buddies, I read an article in mens health magazine that said how men have a hard time making friends as they get older. It made a lot of sense to me and since many people were moving to Milton not knowing many people, I could see this problem worsening.
8 years later, with mental health concerns being at an all-time high – I’m proud to say we’ve built a community of 2600 members and counting. Dozens of pockets of friendships have emerged and it is truly rewarding to see.
Deep is an accomplished professional with a background in business and marketing.
Having started his first business at the age of 16, his entrepreneurial skills only increased over time. As a former business owner, involved in leading edge virtual reality entertainment, his focus on customer service is high.
Deep’s attention to his customers gives him a great perspective on the best ways to serve. Prior to this, Deep spent 20 years in sales and marketing for some of the world’s largest companies, such as Compaq Computers (now HP), CDW, Ingram Micro and Xerox.
His success with these companies allowed him to grow and manage multi million-dollar accounts nationally. Deep’s successful sales career has taught him how to interact within the corporate environment with both colleagues, management, and customers. Clear and concise communication is at the core of all he does, without which, success is difficult to achieve. Deep holds a degree in Economics from the University of Toronto.
He lives in Milton, Ontario with his wife and 2 kids
Originally from Mississauga, I moved to Milton in 2008 and immediately felt that this town/community would be a great place to plant my family roots. In 2012 with the birth of my 1st daughter, that feeling was solidified as I noticed how supportive the overall Milton Community was.
I’m a father of two incredible daughters who while keeping me on my toes, have provided me invaluable life lessons as well. I take great pride in being a father and providing them the best example I can of what being a parent is like.
Little extra background info, I am from the Financial Services industry working for one of the major Banks in Canada delivering automated solutions supporting various lines of businesses within. I am a huge sports fan, supporting the Leafs, Raptors, Blue Jays, TFC and TB Buccaneers.
Growing up in Toronto, as a Montrealer was a lot of fun. I moved to Milton and immediately saw some similarities with my hometown of Montreal. Friendly people and a “town” feel instead of a city drew me in right away and I knew right away, this was where I want to raise my family.
14 years later, our family is proud to call Milton our home. Wherever we are, we are greeted with friendly smiles and waves, and this sense of “community” never gets old.
With 2 kids under 10, it’s challenging to get involved with the community. Thankfully, I’m deeply involved with the Optimist Club of Milton, and more recently, the Dads of Milton. Both of these groups are incredible in their own ways, and seeing them always standing up to help each other out is awesome.
Professionally, I’m a marketer with a background in International Communications, having managed a global online panel with over 5,000,000 members worldwide. That experience helped propel our small business, which is focused on helping SME’s with their online presence.
I’m a techie at heart, love gadgets, toys, cars and finding ways to connect them all to drive my family nuts with our “smart” home 🙂
-GO HABS GO!