We all wear many hats, and Ron Valerio is no different than most busy dads in town. However, his many obligations may also make one wonder where he finds extra hours in the day. Ron is Senior Vice President for Mortgage Lending at Unison Bank in Queen Creek, and he has worked in residential lending for the past 24 years. He is also President of the Queen Creek Rotary Club, the aim of which is to bolster and support teen mental health. In addition, he is ambassador for the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce, active in church, and father to Ellie 10, Owen 6, and Gracie 3.
The family/work life balance is a daunting prospect, so naturally, the question to Ron was how does he manage it all? Ron admits his job can be very demanding, but he tries to set boundaries and especially tries 'not to bring work home'. Unison Bank also prides itself on being family oriented and that support certainly helps matters. However, before his time at Unison, Ron worked deep in Phoenix with a long commute and found that he would leave before his kids were up in the morning, and return after they had gone to sleep. 'After not seeing my kids for a whole week, I asked myself what are my priorities?' he says. Now his commute is shorter, and although striking a balance can still be challenging, he tries to approach family life with intentionality.
Ron says he likes to spend one on one time with each of his kids, whether that is at bedtime, attending games, or even incorporating them into his efforts to give back. For example, Ron took his daughter, Ellie, to bring supplies to a disadvantaged family. He says they had good conversations afterwards, but it was also about setting a good example. Ron says being part of the Rotary has inspired him to have talks with his kids, even being honest about his own mistakes. Growing up, Ron said his uncle and father taught him a good work ethic. However, he is also forging his own path in being a dad who is present too.
Perhaps Ron's best advice was to manage expectations of yourself and from outside forces. The challenge is to prioritize what is truly important and setting up non-negotiables. Children grow fast, and Ron doesn't want to miss out.
'The challenge is to prioritize what is truly important and setting up non-negotiables.'