Dave has been programming computers since 1983, when his parents bought him a Commodore 64 computer. “I taught myself programming and created different video games and software.  My parents complained, as most do, when I would tie up our phone line for hours on end, signing onto different local Bulletin Board Systems which were very early versions of online forums; pre-Internet by 10 years.” Dave said.

Dave continued his education and graduated in 1995 from the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science Engineering.

A neighbor, who was into acquiring artist-bears introduced Dave to teddy bear collecting. “He asked me to help develop software,” began Dave, “to make updating and managing his bears easy to do online. From this software, I adapted it to allow all bear artists to add and update their own listings online.”

Dave was impressed with the quality and artistry from the various friendly artists he discovered at Bright Star Promotions’ Cleveland show in 2000, that he continued to modify his software program and launched Bear Pile from it.

Dave’s vision for this type of software would lend itself to all sorts of industries. Dave is often approached by companies who want him to modify his software to accommodate their marketing needs, such as: medical supplies, cars, DVD's, videos, and a variety of collectible hobbies. “But there just isn't enough time to implement and promote or license this software right now,” he said. Dave holds a registered patent on his real-time database uploading software.  This software allows his web site users to upload and maintain their own inventory.

Dave has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine and mentioned in Glamour Magazine plus numerous articles in Cleveland Newspapers.

Dave’s main business is Musicstack which he developed and operates and it is similar to Bear Pile in concept. It helps people to track down hard to find vinyl records and used CDs. He has been running MusicStack since 1997 and has an inventory greater than eBay and Amazon with over 20 million titles listed.

Before Facebook and other social media sites, Dave ran another web site called Plugged In Cleveland which offers Cleveland area readers access to posing free classified ads and a place to follow Dave and Natasha's weekend adventures through the picture gallery. "In it's hayday the site is very popular in the Cleveland area with over 500,000 page views a month," Dave said.

Looking back in his childhood memories, Dave tells of a ratty old teddy bear that he and his sister would fight over. "For some reason we both used to think it belonged to each one of us and we both really loved it. At times, each of us would take it hostage from the other and not give it back for days, he smiled.

We take note of a bear by the fireplace in Dave's home.  It is a duplicate of the first ever bear that was sold on Bear Pile. Dave began, "the bear maker, D. W. Bears from England, was as excited as I was to have sold a bear from the new, easy-to-use online system, that she made another bear and sent it to me! I was elated to have received her bear." It's quite similar to framing the first dollar you made and hanging it on the store wall!

When not at his computer managing all his web site businesses Dave and Natasha find time to travel.

The Bear Pile artist-members are grateful that Dave had the vision to develop the easy software they use to feature their creations online. Collectors scout the web site daily and many bears are adopted within minutes of being listed on Bear Pile.

Way to go Dave!

Dave Stack

Member since May 2007