Driven by a deep commitment to Detroit, Dan Varner has been instrumental in advancing the non-profit and educational infrastructure of the city. In November 2016, Dan became the President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, leading efforts to support 900+ local businesses with a reliable workforce, and empowering trainees with skills for workplace success. Before joining Goodwill, Dan served as the CEO of Excellent Schools Detroit, a partnership of city organizations working to improve Detroit’s public education system.

He is also the co-founder and former CEO of Think Detroit, a nationally recognized youth development organization. After merging with the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL), the organization became the largest provider of youth development sports programs in the city, serving 13,000 participants a year. Dan serves on many boards, including the ACLU of Michigan, ConnectED, and Detroit PAL. He also served on Michigan’s State Board of Education and is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. An attorney by training, he is a graduate of both the University of Michigan and the U of M Law School.

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