Dan Kruse is Chief Executive Officer, and Owner of CENTURY 21 Affiliated, the largest CENTURY 21 franchise organization in the world. Since beginning his career with the company in 2000 while earning a degree in Real Estate and Business Management from the University of Minnesota, Dan has become one of the most respected leaders in the real estate industry, known for his vision, innovation, and commitment to agent success.

Over the course of his career, Dan has served in numerous leadership roles, including Team Leader and Corporate Vice President, before becoming President and CEO in 2015. Today, he leads CENTURY 21 Affiliated, the #1 CENTURY 21 franchise in the world, with more than 90 office locations and over 2,000 agents across six states. The organization closes more than $3.5 billion in annual sales volume and is consistently recognized among the most successful residential real estate companies in North America. Under Dan's leadership, CENTURY 21 Affiliated has expanded its geographic footprint, strengthened its market position, and continued to deliver industry-leading growth, innovation, and agent success.

Beyond brokerage operations, Dan has built and cultivated strategic partnerships that support the real estate ecosystem, including ventures in title services, mortgage lending, home warranty programs, predictive analytics technology, and real estate investment holdings throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. His entrepreneurial approach has helped create integrated solutions that enhance both agent productivity and client experience.

A dedicated industry advocate, Dan has served in leadership positions at the local, state, and national levels. He served on the Rock-Green REALTORS® Association Board of Directors, including a term as President, and was honored as REALTOR® of the Year in 2008. He later served as Chairman of the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association in 2014–2015 and was recognized as Wisconsin REALTOR® of the Year for his outstanding contributions to the profession.

Dan remains actively involved with the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association and is a member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) and the PACC Real Estate Mastermind organization. He is frequently invited to speak on leadership, real estate trends, entrepreneurship, and economic development, including appearances at the Wisconsin Real Estate & Economic Outlook Conference hosted by the University of Wisconsin School of Business.

Committed to strengthening the communities where his company operates, Dan founded the Affiliated Foundation in 2015, creating a charitable platform that supports individuals, families, and organizations throughout the Midwest. Through both personal and corporate philanthropy, he remains dedicated to creating opportunities and making a meaningful impact beyond the real estate industry.

Dan's leadership has earned national recognition, including being named a 2026 RISMedia Real Estate Newsmaker – Luminary and being consistently recognized among the most influential leaders in residential real estate. Throughout his career, he has remained focused on helping agents, businesses, and communities grow and thrive.

Dan and his wife reside in Madison, Wisconsin, where they are raising their three children.

< Return to Leadership Team