DAN ZONGKER

Class of 1979
​Inducted in 2014

Dan was inducted into the SHSAA Hall of Fame in 2014.

Dan Zongker attended Bellevue College before starting Zongkers Custom Furniture in his basement with his brother, Dennis. After 18 months, they moved to the company’s current location in the heart of South Omaha in the Metz Brewery building on Third and Hickory streets. They make custom furniture for homeowners, businesses, religious organizations and government offices. Zongkers has customers all over the world, even shipping to Japan. The company has 10 employees and is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2014, moving forward with a website featuring their work.

Dan has received the following ASID awards: National Merit, Chapter Presidential Award (three years) and past IP Board Member. He was named LaVista Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year, Wood & Wood Products Magazine’s top 100 ranking (five years) and earned Wood & Wood Products National Furniture Design Award. He was nominated for the BBB Honor Roll and Business of the Year award. He also was named Sarpy County Chamber Volunteer of the Year. The company was named Omaha Chamber business of the Month and was a Sarpy Chamber Business of the Year nominee.

Dan has been involved in Omaha, LaVista and Sarpy Counties chambers of commerce, Papillion Historical Society and Boy Scouts of America as well as Special Olympics, NFIB and ASID.

​Omaha and Council Bluffs high school students are invited to tour the business to learn what a woodworking career would be like. The brothers also have judged student woodworking projects and taught woodworking classes. They welcome visits by hobbyists and woodworkers. Dennis wrote a how to book published by Taunton Press titled “Wood Boxes: Skill Building Techniques for Seven Unique Projects.”

Dan attributes his love of woodworking to a class he took at SHS and feels the faculty and staff provided him with the tools to venture forward. Being a Packer provided the encouragement to accomplish his goals and the willpower to persevere. He feels that his classmates had outstanding talents and achievements, and the school has a deep tradition of greatness. His graduation was a much-needed milestone in his life.