Educated in Psychology and Philosophy at the University of Michigan followed by a Masters study (MBA) in Finance & Organizational Behavior at Cornell University, David embarked on a successful 13-year career as a wealth advisor with the most prestigious financial firms on Wall Street. There, he reached most of his early hopes and dreams, but ultimately felt empty: No connection, no passion, and no purpose in his work.

He came home for good to New Paltz and the Hudson Valley (Lenapehoking) in 1998, where he and his partner, Jerilyn, began to realize a life dream - fully sharing in the care and parenting of their three children, Kole, Jeremy, and Asher, and creating a small family farm, raising dairy cows, goats, chickens, bees, as well as fruits and vegetables in season. A growing connection to land, food, family, and freedom brought new fulfillment and aliveness.

With more space to breathe and dream, and this deepening connection to place, David co-founded Wild Earth, a social profit organization leading nature immersion experiences that cultivate character, confidence, passion, and perseverance in New York’s youth.

For nearly twenty years, he led this innovative organization from its humble beginnings serving a few dozen local children to one that now serves close to 4,000 youth, teens and adults each year at summer camps, year-round, and school-based programs. His most important work at Wild Earth has been creating and implementing an expansive and uniquely powerful community partnership with the Kingston City Schools which offers a successful model that re-imagines youth development and education.

Today, Wild Earth leads programs in the Mid-Hudson Valley almost every day of the year, and employs 20 full-time and 60 part-time and seasonal staff.

With a solid financial foundation, a 135-acre homeland at Rock Haven, a shared structure of organizational leadership, and a vibrant scope of empowering programs serving an inclusive and expanding community, he courageously stepped back as Executive Director in 2023 to fully empower the next generation of capable leaders and prioritize Wild Earth’s legacy for the future.

Through the years and along the way, he was elected by his community to serve a four-year term as New Paltz Town Councilman. He was also mentored in and earned a certification as a 50-50 Helper (Personal Counselor). In this work, he has mentored dozens of individuals and couples, and led several men's circles over the past two decades.

Today, through this Root Connections practice, he is called to offer both his personal and professional experience to individuals, organizational leaders, and teams focused on serving their communities and creating a more connected, just, and regenerative world.