One of the themes woven throughout Peter Dalton’s life is his desire and ability to help people across the world stay connected. Communication is key to building a better world. And that’s just what Rotary does – brings people together with shared values and servant hearts to solve global challenges. It’s fitting that Dalton and Rotary found each other.

A Newcomer with Deep Leadership Experience

A relative newcomer to Rotary, Dalton is an experienced leader who first encountered Rotary more than 20 years ago when he spoke at two California clubs. “I didn’t have an understanding of Rotary at the time,” he said.

Fast forward to 2023 when Chris Gaines, a Dawson County Rotarian and a member of the Dawson County Board of Commissioners, met Dalton and invited him to Rotary. Today, Dalton serves as a Rotary board member. “I better understand the mission and have made some great friends in my short tenure. Being able to help the community and other causes, while working alongside those you respect and like is a great motivator,” he said.

With a history of leading companies to positions of prominence and financial success, Dalton has spent more than 40 years as the CEO of companies from such diverse segments as semiconductors, telecommunications, medical products, food distribution, housewares and more.

A Career with Unforgettable Moments

His career has given him many unforgettable moments. He recalls ringing the opening bell at NASDAQ  in honor of an initial public offering for Globalstar, an international telecommunications company.  He co-founded BevMo, a chain of 179 specialty stores, now the leading beverage retailer on the West coast. His company introduced Spot Messenger, which provides a critical line of communication for travelers between cell towers and was recently named one of the 100 best gadgets in history. Another product, Spot Connect transmits messages via satellite from anywhere in the world and won the Design and Engineering Achievement Award at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show.

Another chapter of his career involved leading a company that toured major entertainers, including Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Reba McIntyre, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and others, around the world.

However, he believes his greatest achievement which changed the world was bringing satellite television to places where TV reception did not exist. After he witnessed a TV station receiving 24 different programs from a satellite, he thought – ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if people in outlying areas of the world could see this?’  The $40,000 price tag was an obstacle, so he worked to get the cost down below $1,000 within 60 days and sold millions of reception devices worldwide.

“People were able to watch the evening news for the first time in their lives,” he said, and had access to more than 200 channels. He met with industry pioneers like Ted Turner and Barry Goldwater to help legalize programming reception from satellites.

Membership and Recognition

In 1977 at the age of 33, Dalton was inducted into the Young President’s Organization. He has been an Executive Fellow of Santa Clara University’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a member of the World President’s Organization, and a mentor to the Young Entrepreneurs Organization. Dalton co-founded the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University and regularly lectures there, as well as Stanford University and other institutions.

Dalton’s contributions to technology earned him recognition from CNN as one of the most innovative technologists in America. His accomplishments have been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, INC Magazine, Popular Science and others.

A Foundation of Innovation 

Dalton credits his early years in Red Bank, New Jersey, with shaping his future. His father was an entrepreneur in the air conditioning industry, and his mother was a college graduate and a registered nurse. This background provided him with a foundation of innovation, resourcefulness and compassion. Dalton’s interest in technology began at age 13 when he became a ham radio operator, a hobby that eventually led him to a career in high-tech innovation. He graduated from LaSalle University with three diverse majors – English literature, accounting and philosophy.

Today, Dalton serves on the alumni board of his alma mater and has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations. He and his wife, Elizabeth Anne, relocated to Dawsonville from Florida to be closer to some of their five grown children and two granddaughters. Outside of his professional life, his hobbies include yachting, photography and, of course, ham radio.

Through his leadership and service to others, Peter Dalton exemplifies the values of Rotary and continues to make a lasting impact on his community and the world.