Early Life & Redemption

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, David Carroll’s early years were anything but easy. Growing up in an unstable household, he drifted toward the streets and began selling recreational narcotics as a teenager. A violent altercation left him severely injured, and he spent four years in prison, where he decided to change his path. After his release, he vowed to build a legitimate life for himself and his young family, channeling his work ethic and street hustle into entrepreneurship.

Building Businesses & DOPE Marketing

After leaving prison, Dave launched Lions Share Maintenance, a power‑washing and window‑cleaning company. To stand out in a crowded market he used data to mail postcards to homeowners around each job site, generating steady leads and annual growth. By 24 he had built the company to seven figures and eventually phased himself out by putting systems in place. In 2017 he founded DOPE Marketing when he recognized that most small businesses lacked effective direct mail tools. DOPE—short for Data On Previous Engagement—makes it possible to trigger personalized postcards, handwritten notes and even gift boxes based on CRM events or geographic radius with no minimum order. Today his Minneapolis‑based team serves everyone from local contractors to major brands and franchises, helping businesses integrate offline campaigns with CRM automation.