Meet Dan Schaffer

The opening of MacArthur Center 16 years ago drew Dan Schaffer (pronounced shah fer) from Raleigh to manage Fink's Jewelers in the new Norfolk mall. Today Dan is one of only two original mall employees still working at MacArthur Center. He recently rejoined the Rotary Club of Norfolk where he serves on the program and house committees. 

 

Dan grew up on a Minnesota farm and attended community college and Mankato State University and also earned a degree in mixology from a bartending school. Dan has had a varied career path -- supervising housing for a college, running a gas station, managing a liquor store, working in a department store and selling insurance. He has worked 18 years with Fink's -- the 29th largest jeweler in the United States -- and manages an 11-member staff. A natural-born salesman Dan says he loves the jewelry business because "I like dealing with people and the products. And, 98% of the time customers are here for happy occasions." 

 

Dan lives in the Western Branch area of Chesapeake with his wife Irina, whom he met while working in Bloomingdale's department store. They have one daughter who lives nearby with her family. When he isn't working Dan likes to play golf, spend time with his three grandchildren and attend air shows. He has a big interest in aviation -- particularly vintage aircraft. He also is active at St. Basil the Great Church in Hampton. 

 

Dan left our club in 2008 when the recession hit and his store had to reduce staff. He is happy to be back and appreciates Mal Branch, his Rotary sponsor, encouraging him to return to membership. "I like giving back to the community. Everybody should want to do that," Dan says. "This is a great group of people in the club."