Dan Reiff was born and raised in Allen County, where he graduated from Shawnee High School. He is married to Judy, his wife of 42 years. They have two sons: Richard who is married to Pam and they have a daughter Kristy and a son Travis and Jeff who is married to Shelly and they have two daughters, Ashley and Lindsey. They all live in Allen County and have attended Elida Schools.

Dan started his career as a truck driver for a locally owned firm in Lima. He went on to work for an area savings and loan and a local bank as well as an area newspaper. During that time, he also started a small outdoor sports business, which grew into the area's largest outfitter and outdoor store. He ran that business for more than thirty years.

In 1978, Dan and Judy moved to American Township. In 1994, he was elected as an American Township Trustee. In 1997, he was re-elected as Trustee and served his second term through 2001 when he was again re-elected to a third term. He has dedicated the last decade as an American Township Trustee to learn about the inner workings of local government. Dan has served as the President of the Allen County Regional Planning Commission and Executive Board. He also chaired the Allen County Transportation Coordinating Committee and the Allen County Developmental Controls Committee. He has served as the Chairman of the Allen County Health Advisory Boards and on the Government Technical Advisory Committee at Lima Technical College. He also served with the Lima Area Development Corp. Dan has also chaired and served on various local and national wildlife conservation organization boards and committees. This has all been done in order to learn more about area needs and government but most important to satisfy a concern for Allen County and its future growth and success in the 21st Century.