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Daniel's unique mix of coaching and consulting draws from his varied background in education, non-profit service, entrepreneurial leadership, fundraising, ordained ministry, business, and competitive endurance sports. 

 

Getting his professional start as a high school social studies teacher and cross country coach on the north side of St. Louis, Daniel’s sense of calling to serve others has remained consistent with each new season, and his focus on helping both individuals and teams develop and succeed has characterized his approach to leadership. 

 

Daniel’s experience spans from student ministry at the University of Illinois, to church startup leadership, to adjunct teaching in Uganda, to organizational consulting a budding financial advising firm, to coaching a new CEO as she leads her organization through institutional change, to personal fitness coaching clients ranging in age from 14 to 88, to coaching IRONMAN distance triathletes. Before founding Strive Performance Daniel helped start VQLabs, a new human performance lab and cycling training center here in Indianapolis. 

 

With decades of organizational and people leadership, Daniel has endured his share of mountain tops and valleys. He has seen and weathered much in his 25 years of professional leadership. The refinement of his character, his expansive base of personal and professional experience, his personal and patient approach to coaching, his deep sense of security and joy, and his now-silvered beard are just a few of the positive outcomes of this journey. Being encountered by intense life storms and walking through valleys of challenge and pain have given him the distinct opportunity to learn and grow in character, perseverance, and a deeper sense of identity and purpose. Passing on the lessons he’s learned, Daniel encourages all of his clients to see these inevitable storms and valleys as opportunities for personal refinement and growth in wisdom and virtue as they pursue their own goals.

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This approach of learning fortitude has not only served in leadership and life, but has helped Dan accomplish some incredible endurance events. A 4-time IRONMAN finisher, he’s also served on a cycling support crew for the 3000-mile Race Across America (RAAM), helped to rally 5 other guys and a support team together to attempt a charity relay swim across Lake Michigan to start Team Hope In Motion, and continues to apply this endurance mentality to both his coaching and personal life. 

In addition to his varied professional, volunteer, and athletic experience, Daniel also holds certifications as a Team Clock Consultant through the Center for Team Excellence, as a Certified Personal Trainer through the American Council on Exercise, and as an IRONMAN U Certified Triathlon Coach. He holds a Masters in Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary, a Bachelors in Social Sciences from Illinois State University, and although he no longer serves with a specific congregation he remains an ordained Presbyterian minister.