David grew up in mid-coast Maine and studied Chemistry at Colgate University and the University of Maine at Orono. He took a year off during that period and worked as a beginning carpenter for Mick Cappelletti and Dan Tishman. He liked being even a minor part of a creative team of extremely skilled and creative builders and later worked for a number of fine construction companies in the mid coast region: Morse & Doak Builders, Greg Simard, and Darrell Heroux, first as an apprentice and then honing his skills as a master carpenter.

David was influenced by his grandfather who built beautifully crafted small boats and exquisite boat models. His deep appreciation for the inherent beauty of natural materials, and thoughtful attention to detail and craftsmanship result in a true balance between design aesthetic and functionality.