Dennis Petty is the CEO and founder of talent management agency, DDP Worldwide. “I founded the Gilbert-based talent management agency DDP Worldwide to develop, book and promote local and national music artists, entertainers, and speakers for the world’s largest stages.” Learn about Dennis Petty…

Follow at: @ddpworldwide

Hometown: Central Point, OR and Glennallen, AK.

First job: I worked for my parents’ restaurant when I was about 12 years old. I did anything you can think of in the kitchen and became a fourth-generation chef.

Favorite ways to spend your free time in AZ: I spend most of my free time outside. I love playing golf and spending time with my wife.

Your biggest accomplishment and why: Raising my kids to be good human beings. They are all happy, healthy, and successful.

The biggest obstacle you overcame: People telling me I can’t. I’ve been told I couldn’t do things all my life, and I proved them wrong every step of the way. I proved to them I could take a business and make it better. That’s what I did with my restaurants and other companies I owned like my sporting goods store. I proved to them I could do it, and now I’m doing it in the music industry with DDP Worldwide.

Someone who inspires you and why: My kids, grandkids, and wife inspire me every day. On the business side, Bob Parsons and Elon Musk inspire me because they’re also two people who were told they couldn’t do it, but they did.

Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: It’s a tough business. I was told that the restaurant business is tough, but the music industry is a close second. You need to have thick skin because you will hear the word “no” so many times.

Favorite quote: “Live life.” –Me

Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: There are two things that people are amazed to know about me: that I lived in Alaska for 23 years and that I love chick flicks. I had to watch them with my daughter, and I guess I got to like them.

What makes someone fabulous: Having that certain it factor about them that makes a positive impression on you. Their confidence, passion for life, and how they treat others with kindness and respect. To me, that’s fabulous!