Dan Vitale always dreamed of owning and running a training facility—a facility dedicated to fulfilling the needs of baseball and softball players of all ages and abilities. After playing both baseball and softball in college, and being named to the United States Specialty Sports Association Hall of Fame, his dream became a reality a few short years ago when he opened Extra Innings in Shelby Township, Michigan.

Before Dan became a business owner, he was a prominent vice president for LaSalle Bank and, to this day, he gives credit to Cleary University for his success. While working for LaSalle Bank, Dan realized that although he could do his job and do it well, he wasn’t going to advance any further without a degree. Cleary offered him convenience in course scheduling and accelerated programs…both of which he needed. At the time, he was working full-time, coaching a girls’ softball team and raising a family. In just over a year at Cleary, Dan obtained his BBA in Business Management. Although he admits that at times it was difficult, he did it for himself and for his kids—he wanted them to know just how important education is.

When LaSalle Bank was being taken over by another bank, he was asked to transfer to St. Louis or Dallas. Although he liked working for LaSalle, Dan wanted to stay in Michigan, so he took a buyout and opened Extra Innings.

While reflecting on what he remembered most about Cleary, Dan’s mind went right to his fellow classmates: “We were all in the same boat…all trying to work full-time and attend school full-time to get our degrees. It was easy to relate to one another.”

Without his Cleary degree, Dan said that he would not have been able to advance at LaSalle Bank or confidently open and run Extra Innings. His dreams came true because he was able to take what he had learned about business at Cleary and apply it to the "real world."

“Friends suggest that I look into retiring now and I tell them I feel like I am retired. I’m doing what I love to do!”