David attended community college for one semester and then joined a fledgling Christian singing group. He played the violin, and he was the group’s business manager. The group traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada. After four years of ministry, the group disbanded.

In 1983, David received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree, Summa Cum Laude, with a dual major in General Business and Marketing, from the University of Arkansas. He received his Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Texas at Austin.

After graduate school, David worked eight years for the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), the Texas budget office that evaluates state agency performance, recommends appropriation levels, and writes appropriation bills. At the LBB David made annual budget recommendations totaling more than $1.65 billion to the legislature for the thirty-five Texas public universities. He conducted and chaired budget hearings, advised legislative members, and made presentations to legislative committees and various groups and associations. While at the LBB, David analyzed the financial needs of the universities and identified opportunities for annual savings of $20.5 million. He guided recommendations for these savings through the legislative process and persuaded the legislature to adopt $18 million of the $20.5 million identified. When the Texas state government implemented strategic planning in 1992, David helped design the higher education model.

For four years, from 1996 to 2000, David was the Director of Budgets for Baylor College of Dentistry, a member of the Texas A&M University System. When the College updated its five-year strategic plan in 1998, David served on the review committee.