Make Sail was founded by Dan Shipton with a simple mission: to empower small and medium-sized businesses with the strategic insights and operational expertise typically reserved for large corporations. With a career spanning over two decades in leadership, technology, and business development, Dan has a proven track record of driving significant results.

Dan is a forward-thinking professional who has consistently delivered top-tier software products and provided leadership development for high-profile companies. He is known for his ability to build collaborative teams and forge lasting relationships with company leaders, business partners, and stakeholders.

Throughout his career, Dan has consistently demonstrated his ability to transform businesses. He reorganized internal structures at Recon Roofing & Construction to increase productivity and responsiveness, and he achieved significant annual cost savings by identifying inefficiencies, analyzing spend, and improving collections practices. As a Product Management Consultant for Principal Financial Group, he earned a reputation as a thought leader and achieved complete client satisfaction, which led to multiple referrals. At BitMethod, where he served as CEO, he exceeded growth targets, optimized product design, and led all operations and budgets.

Dan's approach is rooted in an out-of-the-box thinking style that integrates market research, analytics, and other consumer insights to meet company goals. He believes in a hands-on, collaborative approach, working directly with clients to define objectives, overcome challenges, and build a solid foundation for future success. Dan is not just a consultant; he is a partner committed to your growth.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Science (Candidate) in HCI from Iowa State University. His comprehensive background in product management, software development, data and analytics, and strategic planning makes him uniquely qualified to help businesses in a variety of industries thrive.