Portage resident Dan Petreikis’ exploits as a “renaissance man’ have already been well documented but are only a fraction of his life’s total experiences. Dan’s thirst for knowledge and wanting to best serve his community have led him on a variety of journeys and projects, always wanting to undertake the next challenge and expand his horizons.
“When I was younger I remember wanting to be like James Bond,” says Petreikis. “I was always amazed that his boss, M could ask him a question about anything and James would be able to answer it. I wanted to be like James, I wanted to be as knowledgeable as he was.”
Petreikis, currently a sales consultant at Harbor Buick GMC has always been a part of Northwest Indiana. Growing up in Chicago, Petreikis soon found his way to the NWI area and spent his time living in Valparaiso, Whiting, Hammond, Highland and Griffith before settling in Portage.
I actually settled here because of Harbor’s job offer and even through that offer, it was chance that I was hired,” says Petreikis. “I was working for an event management company, and I was there for an event across the street at Walmart. I was in a suit and tie, I had my resume with me, I just thought to myself ‘I wonder if Harbor is hiring?’ and sure enough, after talking to some people, I got the job.”
This forward thinking, “just go for it” approach is one of Dan’s signature character traits, leading him to a bevy of interesting and varied job experiences.
These experiences include a U.S. Steel worker, firefighter, security guard, and Albanese Gummy Bear maker just to name a few. It’s his interest in the world and desire to experience as much as possible that has lead him to these career paths, something he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Petreikis enjoys living in the Portage community and enjoys its growing community and good people. “Portage is a growing community,” he says. “It’s got a good school system and is filled with good people. I’ve spoken with people who said that 10 to 15 years ago, this community had nothing here, now it’s coming together as this great, affordable place.” In his spare time, Petreikis enjoys writing and photography along with target shooting. Petreikis is also always looking to help out those in the community by keeping them informed and taken care of.
“My favorite thing is to keep the community in touch with each other,” says Petreikis. “There are so many people here who are not aware of all the great and positive things happening in Portage and the rest of Northwest Indiana, I want to be able to connect those people to good people in any way I can. I want them to experience the cool stuff, the good things happening in the community.”
Petreikis is not planning on stopping his pursuit for more knowledge and experience anytime soon, and plans on learning more and mastering more skills for the foreseeable future.
“I believe the day you stop learning is the day you start to die,” says Petreikis. “I just don’t want to stop now.”