Dave Spence graduated from Kirkwood High School and earned a degree in Home Economics from the University of Missouri. He purchased Alpha Packaging in 1985, growing it from 15 to 800 employees. With a family background in the plastics industry, Spence served as chairman of Legacy Pharmaceutical Packaging. His leadership in the private sector and family business experience form the foundation of his professional expertise.

Dave Spence's political identity is marked by a blend of traditional conservative values with a surprising openness to unconventional economic strategies. His business acumen, particularly in turning around a family enterprise, informs a unique approach to state economic policy, suggesting an ideologically agile stance. Spence's rhetorical style is characterized by a readiness to correct missteps, revealing an unexpected transparency that contrasts with more rigid political personas.