David Zach is one of the few professionally trained futurists on this planet, having earned a master’s degree in Studies of the Future from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Then again, that was back in 1981, which means it’s pretty much history by now.

As a futurist, he’s worked with over 1400 associations, corporations and colleges offering insights on the personal and professional impact of strategic trends. In other words, he gives funny, fascinating and thought-provoking talks and workshops about both trends and traditions with technology, business, education, demographics and society.

In his work, he studies history more than forecasts. He doesn’t want to tell people what to think about the future, his goal is helping them to understand how to think about the future. He thinks fascinating forecasts can be fun, but thoughtful, long-term choices between change and tradition are much better.

Dave previously worked at Johnson Controls and Northwestern Mutual Life in the roles of environmental scanning and strategic planning. He has also taught Future Studies in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.

Dave is a member of the board of the American Institute of Architects and the board of the American Chesterton Society. Past activities include: Wisconsin Small Business Development Center Advisory Council, the Future Milwaukee Advisory Board, the Community Advisory Board for the local NPR station WUWM, Rotary Club of Milwaukee, chairman of the Goals for Greater Milwaukee 2000 Education Committee and co-chair for Design Milwaukee.