In his own words, West Banker Dan Fitzgerald explains, “I enjoy building relationships and helping my customers succeed. I enjoy the creation of the deal and how it will benefit the customer and the company.”  

His ability to make connections and build relationships has contributed to his success at West Bank and in the community.  Outside the bank, Dan shares his passion for the great outdoors and connects people with similar interests to build a better world for the future.

Sharing the Great Outdoors

An avid pheasant/ turkey/ deer/ and predator hunter, and novice skeet shooter, it’s not surprising to find Dan serving on the Polk County Conservation Advisory Board and actively involved with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). Dan serves as treasurer for the NWTF Central Iowa Long Spurs Chapter (2016-2018). Hunters and organizations like NWTF play a huge role in preserving our natural resources and conserving our wild places for future generations.

 As a hunter education instructor, Dan enjoys taking new hunters out for their first hunt.  Not wanting anyone to be left out of enjoying the outdoors, he also finds reward in the NWTF’s Wheelin’ Sportsman Program which allows him to guide a person with a disability on a hunting adventure.

Dan is the Polk County Coordinator (2017 & 2018) for the Connecting Individuals to the Outdoors (CITO) Program of the NWTF, serves as the Treasurer for state wide program, and helps other chapters organize their CITO programs. For his efforts with this program, the NWTF presented him with their Volunteer of the Year award at their annual meeting in January 2018. The program aims to build skills for a group of 15-20 outdoor-loving individuals through hunter education, firearm safety, introduction to wildlife and habitats, scouting tips, and healthy eating. This program is part of the Iowa Save the Hunt plan which has the goal of creating 20,000 new hunters in the next 10 years.

Pack 29

Having a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout in the family, Dan, who had no scouting experience of his own, took a look at his sons’ pack and recognized how he could use his time and talent to help it grow. 

Seeing that the volunteer-run organization needed help with finances, he applied his banking expertise as pack treasurer. In updating the pack’s financial records, he made connections in the Johnston community and raised awareness of and interest in the pack. Of course he had to give equal time to his two sons by being a den leader for both of them.  Today he serves as both the Chairperson and Treasurer of Pack 29.

With Boy Scouts of America’s goal to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and later career-oriented programs, it seems Dan has found a perfect match.

Building Strong Communities

In addition to his full-time job at West Bank and being a hands-on dad and supportive spouse, Dan gives around 200 hours a year to his volunteer endeavors. He is an instructor for the Johnston Archery Club (which he co-founded) and still finds time to volunteer for Winefest, Variety – the Children’s Charity, and other West Bank sponsored events.

Helping others to succeed is what makes Dan Fitzgerald tick. He understands that in a community, the people, businesses and community organizations are all interrelated and dependent upon each other and it is important to help our young people to recognize that working together is the way to build a better world for all.