DALE FOR CARMEL MAYOR
Let's Make Carmel Better...Together
Dale's Vision for Carmel
Building a Stronger Community
When COVID struck Carmel in 2020, the City was shut down, staff and budgets were cut and many services curtailed. Our priceless public spaces, already needing attention, would have continued to decay. But, it was then that Carmel Cares was started as a grassroots volunteer organization to look after the town. Under Dale's leadership, it grew into a powerful force for good in our community and beyond and Carmel came out of COVID looking better than ever. City Leadership now says they couldn't run the town without it.
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What if that kind of thinking could be applied to the entire City Government? What if the power of hundreds of residents could be harnessed to supplement City staff and help finance projects that are beyond the scope of the City's budget? What if the residents, businesses, and City were truly marching to the same drummer, working together to build a stronger community.
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That is my vision and that is what I will work towards as your Mayor.
Get to know Dale
Dale is out and about Carmel 7 days a week making improvements to the town himself, managing professional contractors working on projects, supporting the work of other volunteers, and meeting with residents and businesses to discuss how Carmel Cares can help make Carmel more beautiful, safe, and more inviting. You'll see him in his orange Jeep Gladiator pickup truck with his yellow safety vest and hat. He loves to talk and will be happy to discuss anything that's on your mind.
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​​Dale has a strong business background starting and running worldwide software and consulting companies. His companies were known as innovators in both technology and marketing techniques, and they quickly grew their customer base by being better, faster, and more customer focused. He has also done many home development projects over the years, including five hand-crafted homes in Carmel.
Unique Experience - Perfect for the job
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Having built five homes in Carmel over the last 10 years and founding and leading the nonprofit Carmel Cares the last four years, I’ve had the unique opportunity to work closely with every department manager, every associate in the Public Works Department, and many other staff members in the City while holding more than 100 detailed meetings with City Leadership. I understand the pressures the City is under at a grass roots as well as high level and have a good handle on where efficiencies exist and where efficiencies can be found.
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But there's more. Volunteering at the Carmel Chamber Visitors Center, leading a City Support Group with over 150 volunteers and 300 donors, and managing a philanthropic fund, I have also interacted with countless residents and visitors, well over a hundred Carmel businesses, and nearly 100 nonprofit organizations. This has allowed me to develop relationships and really understand what’s happening in town at many levels. Finally, while taking on a wide range of tasks from pulling weeds to planning and managing significant infrastructure projects to building and shepherding several dedicated volunteer groups, Along the way, novel ways of interacting with City Government were created to efficiently create, fund, and manage City and neighborhood projects and programs that are continuing to transform many of our public spaces.
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I'm already putting my experience to work and seven days a week and will continue to do that right up to the election and after.
A Lifetime of Achievement and Community Service
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Dale Byrne is a dedicated entrepreneur and community leader with a long-standing commitment to creative and collaborative problem-solving. A hands-on leader, Dale believes in inspiring those around him to use positive thinking and express their passion in everything they do. He earned his BS and MBA from the University of Southern California and immediately embarked on his journey to build a career in technology companies and a passion for improving properties while raising a family.
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Throughout his career, Dale gained extensive experience in sales, sales management, and consulting. He managed, consulted for, and founded several innovative software companies. Notably, he grew his largest company from a concept to a dynamic firm with 250 associates, offices in 12 countries, and 3,000 customers, including industry giants like Walmart and Procter & Gamble, all without any outside capital. After selling this company, he acquired one of its products, started a new company, grew it for 10 years, and then retired to Reno, NV in 2009.
Dale and his wife Margaret first visited Carmel in 2003 with their miniature poodle and instantly knew it was their forever home. They initially stayed in hotels and rented VRBOs before buying a cottage eleven years ago. Since then, they have meticulously crafted five Carmel homes before moving to Carmel full-time in 2017.
In retirement, Dale's passion for community service flourished. He and Margaret became integral to the Carmel Residents Association, heading up membership, writing newsletter columns, leading infrastructure improvements and community engagement initiatives, and a business discount program that doubled the CRA’s membership, strengthened ties with local businesses, and prepared them for future growth.
In 2020, they launched Carmel Cares, a grassroots movement focused on mindful behavior and community beautification and it quickly grew into a highly effective nonprofit organization. Under Dale’s leadership, Carmel Cares has over 150 volunteers and nearly 300 donors, accomplishing countless improvement and maintenance projects. Their innovative programs and public/private partnership with the City of Carmel have contributed over $850,000 in services, materials, and equipment, and over 25,000 volunteer hours to the city. These efforts have not only beautified Carmel but also strengthened its community spirit and created a legacy of motivated groups focused on initiatives like litter reduction.
Dale's love for and dedication to Carmel and public service has been widely recognized in local publications, and he has received prestigious awards such as the CRA Citizen of the Year and the Carmel Chamber’s Community Champion Award. Started at the beginning of the pandemic, his stewardship of the Carmel Gives Fund has resulted in nearly $2 million being distributed through over 300 innovative, highly leveraged grants to local businesses, nonprofits, and community projects.
For Dale, Carmel Cares and Carmel Gives are more than just nonprofit endeavors; they embody the spirit of community and collaboration. He continues to inspire with his full-time commitment to Carmel, including his campaign to become Carmel’s Mayor. Dale is committed to creative, collaborative, and transparent leadership. He believes in fiscal responsibility and that elected leaders should be accountable to their constituents. He will never stop working to protect the historic character of this special village and pursuing a better Carmel, for today and the future.​​
Education
1968-1972 High School Diploma
Major in Metallurgy
Don Bosco Technical Institute
Rosemead, CA
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Don Bosco is a private high school where each student selects a four year technical major. Dale majored in Metallurgy and received the first place award in his major upon graduation.
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1972-1976 Bachelor of Science (Marketing/Finance)
Certificate in Food Marketing Management
University of Southern California
Los Angeles
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Took all prerequisites for Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering before transitioning to Business Administration. Received a full paid state scholarship and a supplementary engineering-related scholarship. In his fourth year, also received a full scholarship sponsored by the retail food industry. Worked for a supermarket chain during this time. Graduated with BS in Business Administration with an ancillary certificate in Food Marketing Management.
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Masters in Business Administration
University of Southern California
Los Angeles
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Dale was asked to return as the Program Coordinator for the Food Marketing Management Program. This was a paid position with an on-campus office and full scholarship. In that role, he represented the Program at industry events and recruited industry professionals for this full-scholarship program. Also, continued working full-time for a supermarket chain.