Dave’s earliest exposure to the trades began as a teenager, apprenticing under his father who operated a mechanical contracting business. While many of his peers were involved with sports and other extracurricular activities, Dave worked long hours after school and over school breaks on large-scale commercial projects, gaining hands-on experience at a young age.

After graduating from high school in 1979, Dave began college but was unable to continue due to financial constraints. He then opted to enlist in the United States Navy from which he was honorably discharged after completing a six-year commitment (three years active duty and three years reserves). While actively serving, Dave had military technical training in basic electricity and electronics. He also enrolled in a welding trade school during his active-duty term and earned a certificate upon completion of that program. To learn more about Dave's time in the military CLICK HERE.

Immediately following his honorable discharge from military service, Dave established a mechanical company through which he successfully bid on and completed several state and federal projects, as well as installing numerous heating systems in private residences. One of the bid jobs required asbestos removal certification, which Dave obtained to perform the work himself.

Periodically over the years, Dave accepted supervisory roles with multi-million dollar construction outfits. In these positions, he primarily managed clearing and site development work, further strengthening his heavy equipment operator skills. During the early half of the 1990s, Dave acquired a journeyman plumbers and pipefitters union membership and was hired as a working foreman for large union outfits. He was also elected and served as secretary of his local. Although Dave worked for other companies at times, he continued to operate his own business so he could quickly get work lined up ahead of any impending seasonal layoff (which was common). He always did all he could to avoid the unemployment line.

Through the passage of time, Dave built many beautiful custom homes under his own company, as well as assisting other builders with their home construction projects.

In more recent years (at age 50 SOMETHING) Dave again enrolled in college and earned an associate’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. While this was more of a bucket list item than anything else, he greatly enjoyed the experience he missed as a younger man.

Experience is not what happens to a man; experience is what the man does with what happened to him.