Dan Fried attended Central Connecticut State College where he majored in organic chemistry. He began his working career at Chesebrough-Pond's (now Unilever) working in the research and development lab specifically doing atomic absorption and infrared spectroscopy as well gas chromatography. While mostly working on food and cosmetics, Dan had his eye on the bigger picture specifically going after metals of all different types in the laboratory. Working for five years as a lab chemist gave him the background he needed for his own work. As a member of the international precious metal Institute, Dan regularly attends conferences and workshops to keep up with the latest and greatest in lab and metal refining technology.