Creating Opportunity for Military Families: Associate Profile on P1 Senior Estimator Dan Ott

“It’s not about what it is, but rather what it could be.”

At P1, we often see our associates’ passion for their work AT work, but many P1 people have a passion for serving and leading outside of their profession, putting creativity and heart into projects that change lives.

Such is the case for Las Vegas Senior Estimator Dan Ott.

Dan’s career in construction goes back almost as far as his commitment to supporting the men and women who fight for our country.

“I got into construction right out of high school,” Dan said. “I started washing plumbing trucks for two bucks an hour, and graduated from there!”

Living in California at the time, Dan says he went from ditch digger to general superintendent.

“Around 2020 I tried retiring,” he said. “But I found you can’t go from 120 miles an hour to zero.”

When his four kids were grown, Dan and his wife Lori decided to move to the Las Vegas area.

“I wanted to go back into the construction industry, but I didn’t want to go back into the field.”

In 2022, Dan found an ad for a plumbing estimator with P1 – just 10 minutes from his house. He had some estimating experience so he applied – and the rest is history.

Even though Dan never served, he has been a staunch supporter of the military, a commitment that dates back to the day his sister gave him a gift.

“When I was 13, my sister put a POW bracelet on my wrist – a soldier lost in 1970 in Cambodia,” he explained. “I still have it on today – because he hasn’t come home.”

“I was actually ready to serve,” Dan said. “But I made the mistake of stopping by my dad’s house before I made it to the recruitment station.”

Even though dad managed to talk him out of it, and he never made it to that recruitment station, Dan says he’s always felt a great amount of gratitude for the efforts and sacrifices of our men and women in the armed forces.

“Growing up I didn’t have scholarship opportunities, and I have four grown kids. I always think that if anything happened to me, the most important thing as a parent would be to make sure my kids were taken care of – that they would have an opportunity to go to college.”

And avid biker at the time, Dan had the idea to do an extended ride that could raise funds, and the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund was born.

As Dan prepared for that first ride, something happened that bolstered his commitment to the cause even more.

Standing in the cemetery for the burial of his mother 15 years ago, Dan noticed the headstone of a fallen soldier nearby.

The soldier was only 19 when he died.

“It reminded me that the reason I could do that ride is because of his ultimate sacrifice,” Dan said. “Everything about our American way of life is possible because throughout our history, soldiers have sacrificed their time, their lives, and their families.”

“It really struck me. He was only 19 – not even old enough to drink. I was nearly 50 at the time, free to ride 500-plus miles, all because of his – and others’ – sacrifices.”

What was supposed to be one 500-mile ride from San Francisco to Laguna Beach turned into almost four years and 60,000 miles.

The first seven-day ride raised about $4,000 through sponsorships.

But Dan didn’t feel like he was finished. Being able to meet the recipients of those first scholarships fueled his desire to do more.

Dan says the military families he met through this journey helped keep him going.

My rides were anywhere from a week to two weeks long,” Dan said.

“I did it solo intentionally – if I made it too easy, it wouldn’t mean as much.”

At one point, Dan said he had more than 1,200 followers on social media, following along as he made his rides.

When a health condition made it difficult to do the bike rides anymore, Dan didn’t give up.

“I have always enjoyed creating and building things with my hands,” he said.

Dan says his father encouraged his creative talents from an early age.

“I remember my dad coming to the garage when I was a kid and ask what I was doing. I said I’m trying to make this thing, and he would say ‘get in the car’.”

That meant a trip to the hardware store.

“Dad would say ‘walk around until you find what you need to make that be what you want’ - and that’s what I did,” he recalled.

So even though he’s not on a bike anymore, Dan still has a way to support military families with the proceeds from OttShott Creations, his own small business out of his home.

Dan’s website explains how he came to make custom items to continue supporting the cause.

“The true honor in making things is creating something that others find nice enough to display or to wear,” he said.

Aside from donating to military families, Dan says his shop is not about profit.

“I create mainly for the joy of it and not the money value, which is why my price points are low. Creativity should be shared and encouraged,” he said.

(left) One of Dan’s constant companions in the workshop is rescue dog Watson, his beagle/dalmatian mix. (right) P1’s Las Vegas office proudly displays some of Dan’s creations, including customized American flag business card holders and wood-carved maps.

Together, Dan and his wife Lori keep the shop going.

“My setup is just me and Lori. I create while she sells and supports. All the items are made in my little workshop, in my garage, typically while listening to a plethora of different tunes,” he added.

Dan also does frequent commissioned projects to meet specific customer requests for special occasions. P1 applauds Dan’s efforts and we wish him much success!

Dan took a photo of himself and his wife Lori, and created art. “I’ll take a photo and make a wood carving to match the photo – with this one, I put us on the beach.”