Through The Years
Father: Rancher, cotton farmer, miner, founder/Vice President- Secretary of insurance company, founder/Director of Community Bank, Executive Vice President of Financial Corporation, Air Force officer in World War II, State Legislator/politician, eldest son of eight children, passed away of carcanoid cancer in 1990.
Mother: Grew up on a farm in Idaho, school/community/church volunteer, great cook/caterer, stay-at-home mom, youngest of nine children, her dad died when she was 6 years old,- raised by single mom, 78 years young.
 Born: March 14, 1955 in Mesa, Arizona-3rd child-older brother and sister; younger brother.
A family of college graduates, extremely successful in insurance, real estate and investment banking; church leaders, coaches, community volunteers, political activists, very patriotic and huge football/ basketball fans!
1960's
 8 Years Old
Young Dan battled through weeks of hospitalization to overcome a life- threatening, cancerous abscess in his throat.
Was an All-Star baseball player from 9 to 12 years old, started playing football at age 10 and was a proud Cub Scout earning all ranks including “Webelos.”
12 Years Old
 Dan acted in stage plays, appeared in TV and radio commercials, was the voice of a TV cartoon character named “Rupert” and appeared weekly on the television series, “47 Happiness Way,” broadcast on CBS, directed and produced by Fred and Don Bluth.
In 1967 as a junior high school student, Dan wrote two of his most powerful and famous stories to enter in essay/speech contests: “The Circus” about Dan's dad teaching him Service Above Self and “Puppies for Sale” about a physically challenged boy finding a physically challenged dog who needed someone who “understands.”
At ages 12,13 & 14, Dan's Little League Football Team went undefeated, won the State Championship and played in Santa Clara, California in the “Toys for Tots Bowl” and in Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado and Alhambra, California against their champions.
Dan started playing the guitar at 8 yrs old and played the trumpet and the drums in the Junior High School band.
1970's
During his Teenage Years Dan Started Developing an Extraordinary Pattern of Exemplary Work Ethic, Risk Taking and Winning.
 Golden Gloves Boxing Champion
Moto X Racer winning on the Intermountain Circuit
Alpine Ski Racer for “GTO” - Gaddis Training Organization
Competitively ski jumped
Sang in the High School Performing Choir
“LIFE” Boy Scout (turning 18 years old one merit badge shy of his Eagle!)
Four sport, nine time high school Letterman on #1 state ranked teams in football, basketball, baseball and track - team captain; “Sunkist All-American” in football; beat the state track champion in 100 yard dash (9.9 seconds); All-Star pitcher with an invitation tryout with the Kansas City Royals major league baseball organization
Highly Recruited Athlete (UCLA, Colorado, Arizona State, Nebraska, etc.), accepted a full ride, four-year scholarship in football and baseball to the University of Utah.
At the University Dan majored in Business Management and Psychology with intentions of following in his uncle's footsteps and attending the J. Reuben Clark Law School named after him! Dan pledged Sigma Chi Fraternity and made time for modeling and even played significant roles in three NBC Movies of the Week, including “Time Machine.”
In his junior year, Dan started his own printing company, serving exclusive clients such as J.F. Images Modeling/Talent Agency out of Denver, Colorado. Dan also started his own summertime, full-service landscaping company, working with high-end home owners, designing and installing sprinklers, walls, fountains and greenery.
Paralyzing Injury
 As a student athlete, Dan was the starting wide receiver, then gained size and strength to become the starting defensive end beginning his sophomore year. At 6'5”/250 lbs/400 lb bench press/4.6 40-yard dash, Dan was projected as a #1 Draft Choice in a confirmation letter from Ron Wolf and Al Davis at the NFL Oakland Raiders.
Dan then suffered a paralyzing injury that cut short his football career. At the Raiders camp the year they won Super Bowl XV (1980- 81), Dan met with owner Al Davis, couldn't pass a physical examination and later went to team physician Dr. Jobe at Centinela Hospital in Ingelwood, California. His 10% chance for recovery prognosis ended Dan's NFL opportunity and validated what the other 15 doctors would conclude.
 However, after inspiring the team, in later years Dan was awarded a Super Bowl ring which he proudly displays next to his State Championship ring from Morgan High School (1978) and his newest State Championship ring as a coach at Skyline High School in 2005.
1980's
Dan's Speaking and Writing Career Begins!
As Dan recovered from his paralyzing football injury after doctors said he would not, he was asked to share his inspirational story with junior/middle/high school and college students and faculty and created one of the first ever motivational school assembly programs in North America.
Dan formed a group of four friends into a non-profit organization called “Tomorrow's Leaders Youth” and traveled to schools in Utah. In 1981, Dan received a grant from the State Legislature and Office of Education to speak to every high school and junior high in the State of Utah. Streamlining into a two man show, Dan fulfilled this grant, which was renewed again in 1982! College convocations and teacher In-Service programs followed.
In 1981, Dan sold both of his businesses. While fulfilling his contract with the schools in Utah and strategizing on how to take his speaking career to the next level, Dan worked for a year in management and instruction at a mega “Sports Mall” which gave him exceptional experience in the corporate leadership/sales/customer service world.
Statewide to Nationwide
In 1982 Dan was sponsored into the National Speakers Association by world renowned motivational teacher, Zig Ziglar. Soon Dan was called into the Ronald Reagan White House to be the primary speaker in Nancy Reagan's national “Just Say No” program and then into “Canada's Pride” nationwide program. Dan was in the meeting when the “Red Ribbon Week” program was created that is still in our schools today and helped start the “National Federation of Parents For Drug Free Youth.”
In 1983, Dan had his first book, Getting High, How To Really Do It published and wrote and recorded his first album of songs. Dan finished the 1980's with five published books, three albums of songs, a series of 20 posters, a “One-Minute-Messages” radio program and a 20 tape audio/video/workbook/study guide used by schools all over North America called “Born to Succeed.”
No One Better
From 1983 to 1993 Dan was the hottest and busiest educational speaker in the country as he spoke to 3 to 4 schools to an average of 5,000 students every day, five days a week for 150 school days per year, every year for ten years! Do the math! Dan spoke hundreds of times to hundreds and hundreds of thousands of students in all fifty states and all ten Canadian provinces.
Dan also keynoted the national conventions for all 16 National Student Leadership Organizations including Student Council, FFA, DECA, DEC, FBLA, PBL, TSA, FHA, 4-H, International Key Club, Hugh O'Brien, Junior Achievement and the others and spoke at every Region and State Conference!
Dan keynoted the National School Board Association, the National Association of School Superintendents, the American School Counselors Association, the National Elementary School Principals Association and most of their state affiliate Associations. Dan was known as the “Hilarious, Sensitive Football Player Who Sang” and often concluded his speeches with his emotional hit recorded with “Sun, Shade & Rain” called “I'll Build You A Rainbow” or his powerful tribute song written for his dad called “Will I See You Again?”
From 1984 to 1987, Dan's office was in Oklahoma City, where he teamed up with Leadership Development Institute. Among many other incredible publishing, speaking and convention services, “LDI” wrote the curriculum for and conducted eight, five-day, high school/college student leadership summer camps in five states, every summer for four years.
In 1987, Dan became the youngest member of the National Speakers Association to be awarded their highest earned designation: CSP - Certified Speaking Professional. CSP is the international measure of professional platform skill based on a Code of Professional Ethics, a consistent level of excellence ratings from satisfied customers and a minimum of five years as a committed, full-time speaker. Less than 10% of all the thousands of professional speakers worldwide hold this important, prestigious designation!
From 1987 to 1990, Dan had affiliate offices in North Pole, Alaska, Hurst, Texas, Oakville, Ontario Canada and in Stamford, Connecticut where Dan helped start the “Teen Life Center” still in operation today!
1990's
 From Education to Corporate
Dan's credibility and message have always been linked together. As the high school leaders became college leaders and graduated to work in Human Resources in their corporations, Dan's relationships and speaking career matured and moved along with them.
Making the transition from youth/educational speaker to corporate/business speaker/consultant was a natural, smooth transition as the messages of success remained the same - only the stories, examples, studies and delivery system changed. Dan spent time studying successful businesses and their corporate leaders and interviewing extraordinary individuals to add to his own business experiences!
 In 1992, Dan started reading one book per week and has continued studying the hottest best selling business books and latest novels to this day. By 1993, Dan was exclusively speaking in the corporate/trade association market and again, became one of the busiest and most sought after speakers in North America!
Quickly Dan broke into the international arena and to date, has already spoken in 35 countries on six continents. Dan's stories have been published in over 30 million books in 30 languages worldwide!
The Expert Who Speaks
Dan's empathetic understanding of resiliency and the power of the human spirit come from personal dealings. Dan has broken his neck, back, nose, jaw, had his head sewn up 11 times, broke his shoulder, left arm, all the bones in both hands, left wrist, both thumbs, both little fingers, has had two hernias, his appendix burst in the hospital, he has blown out both knees four times each, broken both ankles, snapped both patella tendons in his knees, ruptured his left Achilles tendon and L5 vertebrae. Dan's shoulder and upper right thigh are still numb from his football injury! Dan is happy to be here! Actually, Dan is happy to be anywhere!
1991 - Dan conducted United Nations Leadership Training in the Philippines and Europe, and in the former Soviet Union where Dan's 90-minute speech was broadcast live on “Moscow One” television to millions in all 15 Commonwealth of Independent States (this was a huge diplomatic deal as Dan was one of the very first Americans ever to appear on Russian TV!). Dan's popularity got him invited back four times!
 1992 - Dan was the General Session Keynote Speaker at the United Nations World “NGO” Congress in Germany.
1993 - Dan becomes a primary contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul.
1997 - Dan's own book goes to #2 on the New York Times Best Seller list.
2000
Dan is honored by the National Speakers Association when he is invited to be the Closing General Session Keynote Speaker at their National Convention in Washington!
2001 - Dan is named one of the “Top Ten Speakers in the World” by Achievers North America and Achievers Europe.
Speech / Book Consultant / Media Coach
By request and still in demand, Dan starts his speakers “School of Champions” working with clients such as American Idol personality Paula Abdul, former WWF wrestling superstar Diamond Dallas Page, Tiger Woods' golf coach Hank Haney, Grammy Award Winner Michael Bolton, Debbie Fields (Mrs. Fields Cookies), former NBA stars Thurl Bailey and Mark Eaton and other celebrities!
Military Service
 Dan never served in the military, but in February of 2000 is made Honorary Wing Commander of the 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. After September 11, Dan graduates from the National Security Forum at Air War University and is commissioned to be a Character & Leadership Development Consultant/Lecturer for the United States Military. Since 2001, Dan has spoken to Airmen/Cadets from all five US Military Academies, speaks every five weeks to the new class of Officers at Air War College Squadron Officer School and continues to speak to Military Commanders Conferences all over the world including “CORONA” for the Air Force Four Star Generals!
Hall of Fame Speaker
In 2005, Dan was inducted into the National Speakers Association Speakers Hall of Fame and presented the highly coveted “CPAE” - Council of Peers Award of Excellence. It is a lifetime award given to a maximum of five NSA members annually who have reached the top echelon of the speaking industry and demonstrated platform excellence in seven categories: image, material, style, experience, delivery, professionalism and communication.
 To date, out of thousands of professional speakers in the world and the hundreds that are nominated each year, only 173 men and women have been inducted into the CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame. Currently, there are 116 living members in this prestigious fraternity. Dan has been a full time professional speaker for over 25 years. Dan loves the National Speakers Association, attributes his success to his membership, recommends joining to everyone who wants to be or is currently a speaker and holds this CPAE as his greatest honor!
From 1981 to 2005, Dan has delivered more than 150 speeches annually, to more than 4,000 audiences, to over 3 million people, in all 50 states, in all 10 Canadian provinces and in more than 35 countries on 6 continents worldwide!
Do-It-All Dan!
 Among a hundred other things that make Dan one of the most credible, fascinating and inspirational speakers on the planet, Dan has written 20 of his own books, has been a house guest of Muhammad Ali and Larry King, has had breakfast with President Bush, lunch with Michael Jordon, dinner with Colin Powell, has ridden elephants in Thailand, flown fighter jets with the Air Force Thunderbirds, ridden his Harley “Screaming Eagle” motorcycle across the U.S. on the 100th Anniversary “Ride Home” to Milwaukee.
Dan has spoken to the combat troops in Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Afghanistan and to sailors on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Persian Gulf, has flown in Blackhawk Helicopters over Baghdad, visited with the wounded soldiers in hospitals in Iraq and in Germany, AND… has powerfully impacted Fortune 500 companies, NASA, Super Bowl Champions, doctors and staff at Mayo Clinic and hundreds of other satisfied repeat clients.
Has Dan ridden camels in Morocco? Yep! Raced dog sleds in the Arctic and slept in an igloo at 60 degrees below zero? Been there! Raced automobiles at the Nurburgring in Germany? Done that! Worked with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and the 51 contestants of the national Miss USA Beauty Pageant?
 Yep, got the t- shirts! Selected and honored to carry the Olympic Torch in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games? Dan was extremely honored to do so! Shared the program with Garth Brooks, Michael Bolton and David Foster? Of course Dan has! Written hit songs? Dan received a Gold Record with country artist Michael Peterson for his collaboration on the #5 hit single, “Drink, Swear, Steal and Lie.” Dan wrote the story of the little boy baseball player used by Don Schlitz to write “The Greatest” recorded by Kenny Rogers. Over 30 of Dan's songs are recorded with many on hold!
“S.E.E.” - Significant Emotional Experiences move us in a way where we can never be the same. Dan's five S.E.E.'s: volunteer mission for his church; paralyzing football injury and recovery; marriage and kids; Dad's death; and visiting with our brave and devoted troops in Southwest Asia!
Dan currently and proudly serves on the National Board of Directors of OK Kids Children's Charities, on the International Board of Governors of Operation Smile, on the University of Utah Crimson Club Board of Directors, on the Granite Education Foundation Board and on the Utah Governor and First Lady's Executive Council on Youth.
Due to his ever-growing popularity as one of
America's best loved speakers,
Dan's calendar fills up quickly.
Hire Dan now for your next event!
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