Born in Sarnia, Ontario Canada, Dan grew up both in Canada and the US, becoming a US citizen in 2008. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree from Calvin College in 1998, he moved with his wife, Sarah, to Japan where they taught English for four years. After taking a year off to travel by bicycle around South East Asia, Dan and Sarah moved to Muskegon. Dan completed a Master’s in Public Administration from GVSU in 2005 and worked as the Muskegon Main Street manager for five years at Muskegon Area First.
In 2010 Dan took a position at Muskegon Community College, first working in the Office of Community Relations, before becoming the Dean of Academic Affairs. In this position oversees the occupational credit academic departments of the college, such as manufacturing, business, CIS, early childhood education, among others, as well as the college’s non-credit Workforce Development department. He is active in a number of nonprofit organizations, including his local neighborhood association, the Michigan Irish Music Festival and Western Michigan Christian High School. Dan lives with Sarah and his two adopted sons, Micah and Elias, in a historic home, downtown Muskegon.