Daniel Zinnel will join Orchard Place as Chief Executive Officer on August 1, bringing more than fifteen years of nonprofit leadership and administration experience. His personal connection to our mission, shaped by his own family’s experience accessing services similar to those offered by Orchard Place, guides his commitment to making sure children and families receive the support they need to thrive.
Before coming to Orchard Place, Daniel served as CEO of Proteus, Inc., where he led statewide efforts to expand access to healthcare and mental health services for farmworkers and historically under-resourced communities. His previous experience includes serving as Executive Director of One Iowa and holding multiple leadership roles at Proteus. Earlier in his career, he worked at Lutheran Services in Iowa supporting youth on the Children’s Mental Health Waiver and individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Daniel has a long record of community engagement, serving on the boards of UnityPoint Health–Des Moines, the Iowa Primary Care Association, the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, and the Mid‑Iowa Health Foundation, among others. He has trained hundreds of healthcare and mental health professionals on leadership, inclusion, and LGBTQ affirming care and co‑founded the LGBTQ Health & Wellness Conference.
Daniel holds a Doctorate of Education in Leadership from Creighton University, a Master of Arts in Health Studies from the University of Alabama, a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with minors in Sociology and Psychology from Grand View University, and an Associate of Arts from Iowa Central Community College. He is currently pursuing an Executive Master of Public Health through the Yale University School of Public Health.
His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the LGBTQ Legacy Leader Award, induction into the Iowa Central Community College Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, the Des Moines Register Young Professional Influencer of the Year, the Community Vision Award for Challenging from the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, the Business Record Forty Under 40 Award, and the Karen Packer Spirit of Collaboration Award.
Daniel is committed to advancing accessible, compassionate, and trauma-informed care for children and youth at Orchard Place, ensuring all have the opportunity to Develop Strong Futures.
