Dan Baker is a long-standing figure in the detailing industry. He entered the franchising business after serving six years in the U.S. Navy during the 1970s. He first worked as a General Manager for Tuff-Kote Dinol, and then moved to a new company. The company, Ziebart International Corporation, got into detailing in 1980s when they purchased a detailing franchisor out of Florida called TidyCar. They began co-branding TidyCar and Ziebart brands and eventually developed their business model and expertise until they discontinued using the TidyCar name; cleaning, detailing, and appearance protection became part of the regular Ziebart store products and services line-up. From humble beginnings as a single service company offering only rust protection, today Ziebart offers over 30 different automotive products and services including cleaning, detailing, paint correction, appearance protection, structural protection, window tint and paint protection films, Rhino Linings spray-on Liner, auto and truck accessories, auto glass repair and replacement, 12V electronics, and more. Ziebart is the largest franchisor of window tint, detailing, and automotive protection services.

Now retired, Dan started with Ziebart in a Retail Operations position, and worked his way up to President of Ziebart Corp. and also Executive Vice President of Ziebart International Corp. During his long career, committed to the detailing industry, Dan contributed his time and efforts to growing the community of detailing, growing the industry itself, and improving the reputation and standards of the profession. He was a big supporter of the IDA, volunteering on committees, serving on the Board of Directors, acting as Treasurer for many years, and also contributing financially as a sponsor and supporter.

Dan believes in presenting a professional image, upholding standards, doing exceptional work, and giving your customers an experience exceeding their expectations. He also is a proponent of continuing education and having technicians certified and skills validated. He encouraged mentorship amongst detailers, supporting and lifting up the new generation of detail professionals. He is an advocate, a leader, and a builder of the industry and of IDA.