About

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

That’s what I do. Every day. At the end of the day I hope I make this a better journey for all us. Here’s a little more about me. Written in the third person to make it easier to copy and paste. 😉

David has 18 years of creating experiences that impact people’s lives. From his work in eCommerce, marketing, and digital strategy with the American Cancer Society, and founding Lights. Camera. Help. (which connects filmmakers and nonprofits), to his work consulting companies like Southwest Airlines, Pepsi, Lululemon, Dell, Ann Taylor, Wolverine Worldwide, Discover Card, Jack-in-the-Box, Kingfisher, Tesco, Gatehouse Media, and L.L. Bean.

He currently works as the VP of the data-driven consulting practice at Clearhead (aquired by Accenture Interactive), where he was able to create, market, build a team, scope and sell the first consulting products at the company. He works with Fortune 500 brands on thier eCommerce strategy and building test and learn cultures within their teams. He is the author of three books including “The Future of Nonprofits : Thrive and Innovate in the Digital Age.” (Wiley, 2011) and “IGNITE: Setting your Organization’s Culture on Fire with Innovation.” (IdeaPress, 2016). His latest book focuses on architecture and is a love letter to Austin, TX. “Weird Homes: The places and people that keep Austin strangely wonderful.” (Skyhorse, 2018). He’s also the author of the long running blog, 501derful.org.

A driven entrepreneur, he’s the founder and past CEO of Lights. Camera. Help (LCH). LCH is the world’s first nonprofit focused on cause-driven and nonprofit filmmaking. He’s also the co-founder of the Weird Homes Tour. A social impact startup that invests in affordable housing solutions.  And was the co-founder of HelpAttack! a tech fundraising startup for nonprofits.

In 2014 he was honored to be named the top person for Austin under 40  for the nonprofit and community service category.

In his recent past, he has executed strategic marketing plans for Best Friends Animal Society, Emory University, PBS, SAP, Jack in the Box, Wells Fargo, Tesco, Office Depot, Starbucks, Dell, The Center for Disease Control, VivoGig, AuntBertha, KLRU-TV and KCPT-TV.

From 2000-2009  he worked at the American Cancer Society where he directed all web and interactive strategies and online properties for six states and consulted monthly with national headquarters on it’s US wide plans. While there his department managed the division’s eCommerce strategy, Social Networking/Media strategy, Online Community strategy, Film and PSA production, and all online properties for the division.

He was also named one of the Top 20 Social Media People in the state of Texas by the Austin American-Statesman, and the American Marketing Association awarded him the Nonprofit Social Media Marketer of the Year in 2009. Additionally, he was named a SXSW Dewey Winburne Award nominee for 2010.

David has been quoted on NPR, KLRU, Mashable, The Huffington Post, KUTFM, KLBJFM, Austin-American Statesman, Alaskan Airlines Magazine, Travel and Leisure, Texas Monthly, KEYE, KVUE, FOX7 and in several nonprofit focused books and hundreds of blogs across the web.

A frequent speaker, trainer and lecturer, David has spoken at TEDx, SXSW several years in a row, and has also presented at the American Marketing Association National Conference, AFP, Convio Conference, Blackbaud Conference, keynoted the Artez Fundraising Conference in Canada, The Texas Nonprofit Summit multiple times, spoken at the NTEN conference multiple times, and spoke at conferences for The Texas Association of Museums, Texas Veterinary Medical Association and many, many more.