Foodbanker since 2003
“Early in my career, I began to see and understand the correlation between the work of the food bank and the tragic impacts of poverty, substance abuse, mental health disorders and incarceration I witnessed growing up. From that time on, food-banking became a purpose in life for me. Sharing this work with other people who see purpose in it too is among the greatest joys in life. It’s all about the people.”
In 2003, Dan was hired as CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank at age 32, making him one of the youngest CEOs in the Feeding America network at the time. Since then, he has led the Foodbank through major capital expansions, facility moves and renovations, program launches, operational growth and through an unprecedented pandemic.
Under Dan’s leadership, food distribution has grown to more than 40 million pounds annually and during his tenure, the Stark County Campus opened in 2021, the Main Campus in Akron was renovated in 2023, and a third facility in Wayne County opened in 2026. The Foodbank was named Foodbank of the Year in 2012, the highest honor in the Feeding America network, and has received 13 consecutive NorthCoast99 awards recognizing it as one of Northeast Ohio’s best places to work.
In 2025, Dan received the John van Hengel Fellowship Award, Feeding America’s highest honor. The lifetime achievement award recognizes a career marked by exceptional dedication to fighting hunger and serving communities in need.
Dan began his career as a congressional intern for U.S. Representative Dale E. Kildee of Michigan’s 5th Congressional District while in college. After graduating, he joined the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan as a grant writer and later became director of agency relations. Early in his career, Dan distinguished himself as an innovative foodbanker, developing the nation’s first online ordering program and helping foodbanks across the country scale their own online ordering platforms.
Dan’s leadership in the community and in the national food bank network has been extensive, including service as the former vice-chairman of Feeding America’s elected National Affiliate Council (NAC), past chairman of the Ohio Association of Food Bank’s Board of Directors and past chair of the WKSU Community Advisory Council. He has also served as a member of the Aultman Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, Better Business Bureau Akron Board of Directors and several others. Dan is a proud graduate of Leadership Akron, Class 22.
Dan resides in Akron with his wife, Holly. They have three adult children, Andy, Jon and Mary. He is an avid reader, guitarist, bow hunter, taxidermist and martial artist, holding a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. He is a regular columnist for Smart Business Magazine.