Dan Zimmerman

Kindness and Collaboration Leader

Dan Zimmerman started with Next Step Adventure bringing mindfulness and yoga to a local elementary school through after school programing, at first for students and then teachers. Dan also works on the Central Iowa Yoga Retreat and Farm to School and Early Care Coalition, including Iowa Kids Garden Day.

After 25 years behind a desk at businesses from 5 to 250,000 employees, Dan is off on a new adventure! He has helped build local, national and international teams in Finance, Information Technology, Insurance and Human Resources. His focus on psychological safety, having fun, and learning from and supporting one another resulted in teams highly engaged in their work and relationships. Prioritizing the top goals and getting them to market quicker, while keeping an eye the overall product and competition is also a key trait. As an expert in recurring team reflection and celebration, Dan has helped the teams continue to push the edge of possibility. He also worked at the Dogpatch Urban Garden Center in 2023 and 2024 and currently teaches a weekly yoga class at Shakti Yoga Shop.

Dan has been involved in farm to table and local food for over 20 years, starting with his first Consumer Supported Agriculture subscription in 2004. His support includes being a founding member of the Tallgrass Coop in Valley Junction (2011-2012), helping Grade A Gardens build a barn on their new farm (2021) and helping Dogpatch Urban Gardens build greenhouses (2022).

Growing up Dan moved around the Midwest before finding home in the Des Moines area where he has lived since attending Drake University in the 1990s. In each community, Dan experienced the unique culture formed by nature’s effects including long and snowy winters in Austin, Minnesota and the impact of the Mississippi River on weather in Dubuque where many high school days were delayed due to fog. After attending Drake University, Dan began working full time and finished his Bachelor’s degree in Business at Upper Iowa University’s West Des Moines campus.

When not helping teams work better together, you may find Dan jogging or biking on the Neal Smith Trail near Saylorville Lake, on his mat (over 17 years practicing yoga and 10 years teaching) or cooking for his family. He has four children to help keep things interesting and is married to his number one supporter: a talented musician, music teacher, yogi and Mom.