Dan Zoeller: Computer Sciences & Entrepreneur

By: Dezaray Barr

Dan ZoellerDan Zoeller transferred to Indiana Wesleyan University as a sophomore after spending his freshman year at Bluffton College in Ohio. While at IWU, Zoeller majored in computer information systems, minored in mathematics, and participated on the Track & Field team for three years. He graduated from the university in 2001.

During his time at IWU, Zoeller said he was very appreciative of Dr. Bill Cup, who taught not only the technical computer skills, but also put an emphasis on “the softer skills.”

“Those are the kind of skills that go beyond the technology and beyond the time,” said Zoeller. “The language I learned has changed since then, but those soft skills: how to make a presentation, how to write… those are skills that last until today.”

Zoeller believes these soft skills gave him an advantage after graduation as he entered into his career.

After graduation, Zoeller began working at a software firm, Ontario Systems, in Muncie, Indiana. He also returned to Indiana Wesleyan and interned in the computer department.

Now, Zoeller has settled into the specialty of retail video security and has been doing that for eight years. Most recently, Zoeller is the Director of Business Intelligence at 3XLogic, where he clouds software for retail stores.

Outside from his job at 3XLogic, Zoeller is making an impact in the ways that individuals can tithe and give to charity. “I’ve always been an entrepreneur,” Zoeller said. Zoeller is currently working with Justin Henegar, a professor at IWU, to create Change Giving.

Change Giving allows the user to connect their bank account to a web application, and the app rounds your change to the nearest dollar. “If I go to Starbucks and spend $3.50, it rounds it up to four dollars. It takes that 50 cents and puts it in a virtual money roll,” said Zoeller. “When you get to five dollars, you can donate that money roll to the charity of your choice.”

While there are other apps that do this to help personal investment, Zoeller believes this is the first app to do so specifically for charity and donating money. The app will allow individuals to look back at what they have donated at the end of the month, and allow people to be more comfortable giving or tithing their money.

Zoeller and Henegar are looking to release Change Giving in March or April.

 

Written by Dezaray Barr, PR Specialist for the Alumni Office. Dezaray is a sophomore Strategic Communication and Honors Humanities double major at Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College. At IWU Dezaray is involved in PRSSA leadership and runs both the JWHC Blog and her own blog. Visit Dez’s website at www.dezaraybarr.weebly.com.