Dan earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences and an M.S. in Computer Science, both from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU), an MBA from Bradley University in Peoria, and a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from WIU. Dan previously worked as a Systems Analyst in the Factory Systems Group at the Caterpillar Mossville Engine Center, then as a Systems Engineer within the On-Highway Truck Software Group of CAT Electronics, then as a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt within the Remanufacturing Division of Caterpillar at Mossville, IL.