Dan is a seasoned marketing professional with a knack for being where things are happening. He helped open up the nascent southern California market as a corporate trainer for Starbucks when there were less than a dozen locations in Los Angeles, took up the banner of one of the first 100 CrossFit affiliates when no one had heard of it, and interviewed student protesters in Tiananmen Square in 1989, right before the tanks rolled in.

Dan has professional marketing experience with start-ups, Fortune 100 companies, and diverse industries, including software service, plastics manufacturing, video security, and fitness. While working in China as an English Teacher, Dan spent two years training in Tai Chi and Qigong. In the U.S., Dan achieved a black belt in Hapkido and spent more than a decade studying traditional Chinese Kung Fu (Pek Kwar) and Daosit yoga.

In 2008, Dan transitioned from member to owner of CrossFit Thousand Oaks (CFTO), one of the first 100 CrossFit affiliates. A year later, he moved CFTO out his garage and onto the main boulevard in Thousand Oaks, where it still thrives.

In addition to a L1 CrossFit certification, Dan holds nutrition (Robb Wolfe), barbell (Mark Rippetoe), football (John Welbourn), and endurance (Carl Borg) certifications from CrossFit. Dan was a judge at the CrossFit Games in 2009 (Aromas) and 2010 (Carson), as well as at several regional events. In November 2015, after more than 7 years as owner and over 5,000 classes coached, Dan turned over his affiliate to two trusted “CFTO-lings” to follow other passions.

Dan serves as the Vice President and Strategic Planning Chairperson for the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestras, and is an elected Parent Representative to the Thousand Oaks School Site Council. As Content and Community Director for Coaches Only, Dan will help drive our mission to help coaches rise above, and make the most of their practice and their businesses.