Bio for Dan Holben

Dan's interest in electronics, technology and photography started back in 1957 when he was eight years old. Two events clearly marked the beginning of his career. First, he learned about "pin-hole" cameras and the plain box camera. Those early images were the beginning of many more to come. Second, he and his father built a two tube AM radio from junk parts as a Cub Scout project. His enthusiasm for radio continued and at the age of 16 he passed the FCC test for the Novice Class Amateur Radio license (WN3FEW). He built his own receiver and transmitter from spare parts, strung up a wire antenna in the back yard and was able to contact other Ham Radio operators around the world using Morse code. Today, he holds an Extra Class Amateur Radio license (K2VY) which is the highest class issued by the FCC.

Throughout his youth, Dan was very active in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was also inducted into "The Order of the Arrow". In 1966 his parents moved to Haddonfield where he spent his senior year at Haddonfield Memorial High School and graduated with the class of 1967. Afterwards, he studied electrical engineering at Drexel Institute of Technology and started working for Conoflow Corporation as a digital circuit design engineer. While at Conoflow, he also had a chance to go on various product service calls at large manufacturing companies, refineries and in the engine rooms of ocean going ships getting a first hand look at their operations.

In 1973 he joined his father’s one year old manufacturing company, Conameter Corporation, which produced flow meters, viscometers and pneumatic instruments. He worked in all areas of the new company including shipping, engineering, accounting, manufacturing, inventory control, purchasing, service and human relations. In 1978 the company bought their first mini-computer (an IBM 5110) and Dan wrote various business application programs to support the operation. Later, when the IBM PC was introduced, Dan converted the operation to PC's and wrote new applications. He was appointed President of Conameter in 1979 and remained until 1985 when he left to establish his present company, Holben Associates.

Holben Associates started out as an electronics consulting company designing and programming microprocessor based flow computer’s for the steam industry plus various other electronic products. Then in 1994 Dan changed the company’s emphasis to programming applications for personal computers. His primary programming was for the international banking industry with applications in funds transfer, letter’s of credit and export collections. His programs are still in use today by major banks around the world. In 1997 he started programming commercial Web sites for the Internet and quickly discovered the intricacies of successful Internet eCommerce. In 1999 Dan set up the company’s first Internet server with a high speed Internet connection and started hosting commercial Web sites and email. In 2001 he introduced a new service called SOSDS, "Secure Off-Site Data Storage". This application allows small companies and individuals to store their critical computer files off-site. The key features include file compression and encryption before the customer’s data leaves their computer, thus insuring security and privacy for the customer. This provides a low cost and easy method of storing critical files off-site without the need for diskettes, tapes or CD’s. On October 25, 2002, Dan was presented the "Keeping America Strong" award by Rear Admiral Kevin F. Delaney, U.S. Navy [Ret] for doing his part after the events of September 11. The award was presented on the "Heartbeat of America" television show hosted by William Shatner.

Back in 1973, when Dan was working at Conameter, his love of photography soared as he took an avid interest in amateur photography. After formal training from the New York Institute of Photography, plus tens of thousands of pictures later, his attention turned to commercial digital photography in 2001. He sold all of his film equipment and purchased professional digital equipment and editing software to produce high quality images for the Internet and print. His images are used in his development of commercial Web sites as well as news papers, magazines and prints. The portfolio includes a few samples of his images.

Dan is a firm believer in community service. He has contributed nine years serving the local Emergency Management team as Emergency Management Coordinator and as Deputy Coordinator. He spent hundreds of hours writing emergency plans and keeping up with the latest training. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Haddonfield (Club 5950, District 7640) and on the board of directors.