David Bass-Clark

About David Bass-Clark

I’ve built my career by designing innovative learning experiences, leading emerging tech initiatives, growing small businesses, and investing in ideas—across education, hospitality, real estate, and the arts.Along the way, I’ve worked in Disney’s underground tunnels (ask me), taught in kindergarten classrooms, helped universities adopt XR tools, invested in startups and Broadway, and now own a local ice cream shop. Not a straight line, but there’s a clear pattern: I like building things, especially when there’s a creative challenge, a real-world payoff, and maybe a little chaos involved.As Director of XR at Unity College, I helped bring AR and VR to online education, turning experimental tech into practical measurable learning tools, and guiding faculty through the mildly terrifying act of putting on a headset for the first time. I’ve collaborated with faculty, subject matter experts, and higher ed leaders to design immersive, accessible, and engaging learning experiences.Since 2018, I’ve also been a real estate investor, managing a small portfolio of multifamily properties. I invest through Maine Angels, where I look for founders who are clear about the problem, smart about the solution, and ideally not allergic to feedback.These days, I own Willard Scoops, a seasonal ice cream business in South Portland, Maine, where I oversee operations and business strategy. Since acquiring the shop in 2023, I’ve led initiatives to improve customer engagement, streamline systems, and grow the brand’s local presence. This has included implementing a digital rewards program, building community partnerships, improving team training workflows, and driving a 100% increase in revenue.More recently, I stepped into Broadway investing (Operation Mincemeat) because I’m fascinated by where storytelling, business, and creative collaboration intersect. I will produce my first local show in Portland, Maine in 2026.Most importantly, I’m a dad. It is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had and the only one where the client routinely yells “no” and throws a banana.

Experience

1. Owner

   Willard Scoops

   May 2023 — Present · South Portland, ME, US

   I own and operate Willard Scoops, a small-but-mighty ice cream shop in South Portland, Maine. I lead everything from team development and marketing to product strategy and community partnerships.A big focus of my role is building relationships with local artists, nonprofits, and schools. From in-shop art installations to collaborative fundraisers—like our seasonal flavor benefitting the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine—I’ve worked to make the shop a space that reflects and supports the neighborhood we serve.Since taking over in 2023, we have grown revenue by nearly 30% year-over-year, expanded our rotating menu to 80+ flavors (including a dedicated plant-based line), launched a customer rewards program, and implemented systems to support a strong team culture and consistent guest experience. I see the shop not just as a business, but as a platform for creativity, connection, and community joy.

Education

• Muhlenberg College

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Business Administration and Music

  2006 — 2009

• University of Southern Maine

  Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.), Teaching and Learning

  2011 — 2014

• Donghua University

  Chinese Language

Skills

• Microsoft Office
• People Development
• Editing
• Educational Technology
• Event Planning
• Project Management
• Management
• Curriculum Design
• Teaching
• Virtual Reality
• Camtasia
• Strategic Planning
• E-Learning
• Public Speaking
• Research
• Social Networking
• Social Media Marketing
• Blogging
• Organizational Development
• Instructional Design
• Social Media
• Training
• Mac
• Staff Development
• Leadership
• Fundraising
• Customer Service