Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Altomare.
Hi Robert, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey has been anything but a straight line—more like a zigzag across continents, careers, and a series of entrepreneurial adventures that prove I have a knack for turning “What could possibly go wrong?” into a business plan.
After high school, I spent a decade in the Navy as a cryptologic linguist, working on counternarcotics and intelligence collection missions in the Caribbean and former Yugoslavia. My career then shifted to defense consulting, including a few deployments to Iraq, followed by counterintelligence work with NATO in Italy with more deployments in Kosovo and Afghanistan. These experiences gave me a global perspective and a deep understanding of the world’s complexities. The stories I could tell!
Eventually, I decided I’d had my fill of war zones and government service and made a deliberate pivot. I enrolled in the MBA program at the University of Central Florida, determined to trade classified briefings for balance sheets. My last “traditional” job was as Director of Project Management for a health insurance company—about as far from a war zone as you can get.
Then came the corporate curveball: our company was acquired, and I was politely shown the door. Instead of dusting off the résumé, I spent the rest of that year writing a book called “The Tradesman’s MBA.” I’d always admired folks like Mike Rowe who champion the essential “dirty jobs” that keep society running, but I also saw too many talented tradespeople struggle when they tried to turn their skills into a business. Ignorance of business fundamentals and techniques is painful and expensive. So I figured if I could share some of the business tools I’d learned the hard way (and from a few spectacular failures!), maybe I could spare them some pain.
Once the book was out, I started hunting for my next chapter, so to speak. A friend half-jokingly suggested I look into pet cremation. I laughed… but when I really looked into it, I realized it might be the perfect fit for me.
I’ve always loved animals, and I’ve always found deep satisfaction in helping people through tough moments. I’ve always been involved with pets; back in Oregon I owned my own small plane, and I flew for a charity called Pilots and Paws which allowed me to donate my time and fuel to transport pets to their new adoptive parents all over the country.
So once I spent some time looking into it and making a plan, I dove in headfirst, adding one more unconventional venture to the résumé.
Entrepreneurship has always been my itch, which might be why I wrote the book. I’ve started several businesses along the way, each one a masterclass in optimism (and humility). I started with a judgment recovery service—helping people collect the money they’d won in small claims court. Spoiler: winning the judgment is the easy part; getting paid is where the real fun begins.
Then I launched a small-business consulting practice, teaching passionate entrepreneurs how to borrow tactics from big corporations without needing a corner office or a bloated budget. I loved watching good ideas turn into sustainable companies.
My personal favorite (or at least the most cinematic) was running a small-scale gold mine in West Africa. On paper it sounded great. In reality, it was a crash course in corruption, equipment breakdowns and jungle justice. I learned more about risk management in one rainy season than in my entire MBA program. (Pro tip: If your business plan involves phrases like “artisanal mining” and “remote jungle airstrip,” maybe stress-test it with a few friends first.)
This past year has been one of the most rewarding of my life. Yes, every family I meet is saying goodbye to a beloved pet, often during one of the hardest days they’ll ever face. But being there for them—listening, guiding, and helping create a beautiful, personal memorial—feels profoundly meaningful. The people I’ve met have been incredible: resilient, kind, and so openly grateful. After all the globe-trotting and gold-chasing, I may have finally struck something truly priceless—right here at home.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t call them ‘struggles,’ per se. Just some aspects of providing pet cremation services that I couldn’t have predicted.
The first obstacle is what I call the Emotional Sponge effect. Every day, I meet people at their absolute lowest point. It’s a heavy responsibility, but I’ve found that the “Golden Rule” is the only way through. My job isn’t just to create a memorial; it’s to sand down the jagged edges of one of the roughest patches a human can experience. I approach every door with softness and compassion, but I’m not afraid to sprinkle in a little gentle humor when the timing is right. If I can get a grieving owner to transition from “gut-punching loss” to “fondly remembering” by the time they pick up those ashes, I know I’ve done my job.
Then, there is the Social Vibe Killer. When you tell someone at a dinner party that you spend your days with a high-heat retort, the conversation usually takes a sharp turn into existential dread. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that most people actually appreciate the weight of what I do. They see the dignity in it and offer compliments for taking on a role most couldn’t handle. That being said, I’ve learned to read the room—I certainly don’t lead with “I cremate poodles” on my online dating profile. There’s a time and a place for the “Afterlife Architect” talk, and usually, it’s not over the first round of appetizers.
Finally, there is the looming shadow of The Solo-Preneur Burnout. People ask me how I handle the 2:00 AM phone calls or the fact that I haven’t had a genuine day off since last April. The truth is, I’ve had to rewire my brain. While others spend their downtime playing video games or binge-watching the latest Netflix series, this is how I spend my time.
I’ve learned to set my own needs aside because I view service to others as my highest calling. When that phone rings in the dead of night, I don’t see an interruption of my sleep; I see a family whose world has just collapsed and who needs help now. It isn’t about me anymore. By making the business about the mission rather than the schedule, the burnout doesn’t stand a chance. I’m not just running a machine; I’m carrying a lantern for people walking through the dark.
As you know, we’re big fans of Affordable Pet Cremation of Fl. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
When people ask what I “do,” the technical answer is pet cremation. But the soul of my business—and the reason I named it Affordable Pet Cremation of Florida—is centered on the idea of accessible dignity. I believe that providing a respectful, high-end goodbye shouldn’t be a luxury reserved for a few; it’s a right for every pet owner, regardless of the hour or the price tag.
I like to think that what sets us apart isn’t just the machinery; it’s the unflinching availability. While the corporate “big box” crematories often operate on a “9-to-5, leave a message” schedule, I am known for the 2:00 AM response. I specialize in being the person who actually picks up the phone. When you call APC, you aren’t getting a call center or a rotation of strangers; you’re getting a professional who understands that grief doesn’t keep office hours.
In an industry that can sometimes feel like a cold, industrial conveyor belt, we have carved out a reputation for Individualized Dignity. We aren’t a high-volume factory, and we don’t want to be. Being a small operation is our greatest strength because it allows for:
The Single-Pet Promise: We specialize in private cremations where your pet is the sole focus. There is no guesswork and no “assembly line” feel.
Special Requests as Standard: Because we are small, “special requests” are actually our specialty. Whether it’s a specific way you’d like your pet handled or a unique memorial idea, we have the flexibility to say “yes” when the big guys would say “that’s an extra fee.”
One of the things I am most proud of brand-wise is the Total Accountability I offer every family. In a world of outsourcing and middle-men, I provide a “straight line” of care.
When you call, it’s me answering the phone. When your pet is picked up, it’s me in the van. When the cremation takes place, it’s me placing your beloved pet in the chamber.
You will see the same face and speak to the same person every single time. I am proud of the fact that I can look a grieving owner in the eye and promise them that their best friend will never leave my sight until they are back home where they belong. My brand isn’t built on “death care”; it’s built on personal stewardship.
If there is one thing I want you to know about Affordable Pet Cremation of Florida, it’s that we don’t just “process” pets. We honor the bond that kept you company for a decade or more. I offer a boutique, 24/7 service because I believe the final chapter of your pet’s story deserves to be written with grace, softness, and a bit of much-needed light—delivered by someone who is personally invested in getting it right.
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