Related Link: http://www.nfib.comDonald A. "Dan" Danner was named President and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business association, in February 2009. Danner is only the 6th president in the history of the organization.
Before rising to the top spot, Danner was executive vice president, overseeing NFIB's federal and state public policy and political activities as well as the organization's three 501(c) 3 operations: the Research Foundation, Small Business Legal Center and Young Entrepreneur Foundation. He came to NFIB in 1993 as vice president of the NFIB Education Foundation (now known as the Young Entrepreneur Foundation) and was named vice president of federal public policy in 1995.
Previously, he was chief of staff to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Danner also worked in the White House Office of Public Liaison, where he was special assistant to the president and deputy director of the department. Before joining the White House staff, Danner was an executive with Armco Inc., a steel manufacturing company. He held leadership positions in sales and marketing, as well as state and federal lobbying on issues such as energy, environment, taxes, and trade. He also served four years as vice president of federal relations at George Mason University.
A native of Middletown, Ohio, Danner has an MBA from Xavier University and an electrical engineering degree from Purdue University.
He and his wife Bekki have three children and live in Arlington, Va.
