David J. Burton, AICP, is a native of Columbia, SC. and is the Founder and CEO of the Diverse Manufacturing Supply Chain Alliance (DMSCA) and the DMSCA Supplier Development Foundation. Burton obtained his B.S. from the Morgan State College and a Masters from the University of Pennsylvania in City Planning and Regional Science. Burton is a former Adjunct Professor in Planning at Howard University and a decorated Vietnam Veteran. Prior to DMSCA’s formation Burton was also Vice President of Planning and Development for the Harbison Development Corporation (CDC), a new town developer in Columbia, South Carolina; National Sales Manager for the former Control Data Corporation (CDC), developer of small business incubators throughout the U.S.; a National Project Director for City Venture Corporation, a national initiative that leveraged CDC small business incubator development to spearhead inner city revitalization and job creation. Burton was also President of Burton and Associates, a planning and economic development consulting company. A Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Burton resides in Gaithersburg, MD.