David is a Washington native who has lived in Seattle for over 16 years. He married his college sweetheart, Donna Hartmann-Miller, in 1993. David and Donna live in the Maple Leaf neighborhood.
David grew up in Hoquiam, a small town on the Washington coast. His mother, Rachel, was a grade school teacher’s aide for many years at Washington Grade School. His father, Jack, retired after 42 years of service from Grays Harbor Paper Company. Jack was one of the co-founders of the AWPPW union as a shift worker, and eventually served as the mill’s Industrial Relations and Personnel Manager. David manages the Rachel and Jack Miller Memorial Scholarship Fund benefiting Hoquiam High School students in their name.
David graduated cum laude in 1990 from Western Washington University with a degree in Communications and minors in Business and Political Science. He was the Communications department’s Most Outstanding Graduate in 1990.
David graduated with honors from Hoquiam High School in 1985.
David is the co-founder and CEO of Biotech Stock Research, LLC. BSR is an independent firm specializing in research on biotech companies for investors. The company was founded in 1999. BSR provides detailed financial and scientific analysis of biotech companies and serves investors from around the world.
David is also a member of the teaching team for the Entrepreneur’s Workshop at the University of Washington – Bothell. This for-credit class takes student entrepreneurs from business idea to business plan in 10 weeks or less. The Entrepreneur’s Workshop, the UWB Center for Student Entrepreneurship, and the student group SproutPoint have helped launch dozens of companies since inception. David also taught Business Writing and Communications at UWB, and co-taught a MBA-level operations class.
David’s second job out of college led to his first executive leadership position. Versidata Systems, Inc. offered software and services for automobile dealerships. David worked there from 1991 through 1998, holding the position of CEO starting in 1993. During this time, Versidata grew from a garage business to a regional market leader. His responsibilities at Versidata included governmental relations. David wrote and secured passage of legislation that enabled businesses across the state to accurately calculate automobile excise taxes. He also served on multiple Washington State Department of Licensing committees responsible for simplifying auto industry licensing and regulatory procedures, resulting in increased compliance and lower compliance costs.
During college, David put himself through school working summers on the graveyard and swing shifts at Grays Harbor Paper Company located in his hometown of Hoquiam, WA.
David is the past President of the Maple Leaf Community Council. Maple Leaf is home to one of the most active and respected community councils in the city, representing almost 4,000 homes and businesses in Seattle’s north end. David joined in 2005 and was President from 2007-2008. David represented Maple Leaf on the North Seattle District Council, the Seattle Police Department’s North Precinct Advisory Council, and the Seattle Community Council Federation. David chaired the Waldo Hospital Working Group responsible for the community’s effort at the historic Waldo Hospital to promote better quality and more environmentally-friendly development on the site.
David was nominated by the Seattle City Council to serve on the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Citizen Advisory Committee. This committee put together Seattle Proposition 2, the Parks and Green Spaces Levy that passed in 2008 by nearly 60%. The Advisory Committee constructed the levy in just about three months based upon several years’ worth of public process that identified parks and green spaces needs across the city.
David joined the Green Legacy Coalition in 2007. This organization successfully convinced the Seattle City Council to put a parks levy on the ballot in 2008.
David has worked with a number of community groups on in-city environmental issues including advocating for a tree inventory and an update to Seattle’s outdated tree ordinances. He’s authored ordinances and resolutions considered and passed by the City Council
David is a member of the 46th District Democrats, the Human Rights Campaign, the Cascade Bicycle Club, and the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance.
David's primary hobby these days is bicycling. He’s a 7-time Seattle-to-Portland rider, completing the 204-mile ride in one day in 2008. David and Donna are also in a lengthy do-it-ourselves remodel, which includes moving their kitchen. David is also fond of his neighbors, softball, the intricacies of the land use code, good beer, parks, and summers in Seattle. |
