SOMA Camp > Class Schedule > Instructors
Faculty Biographies
David Law
David Law, president and CEO at Gourmet Mushrooms, Inc. in Sebastopol, California is responsible for guiding the innovative, cutting-edge company through the uncharted waters of business that it has seen since its inception in 1977. With a solid background in both science and business, coupled with well-honed analytical skills, David’s capabilities have enabled Gourmet Mushrooms, Inc. to develop a healthy profit margin in a traditionally small, niche market.
Born in Hong Kong, David grew up in a cultural environment where the mushroom was a treasured part of daily meals. David immigrated to the United States at age 18 to pursue a Molecular Biology degree at the University of Oregon and graduated in 1973. David attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin and earned an MBA in Finance along with an MS in real estate in 1977. It was in 1976 during the Spring break in California that he and Malcolm Clark met and realized their common enchantment with the mushroom.
David moved to San Francisco, at the time GMI was formed, to begin his career in commercial real estate at Equitable Life, Union Bank, and Merrill Lynch. At the end of the 1980’s, it was time to make a career decision: either move across the United States to continue his real estate career, or go to work at Gourmet Mushrooms, Inc. full time. In 1990, David chose the latter, and in opting for sweaters over suits, he became part of the day-to-day, high-energy business of growing and marketing exotic mushrooms.
Along with managing the executive functions at GMI, David is overseeing the marketing of mushroom products to the health food industry and to promote mushrooms as a platform for new medicine. He has delved into many aspects of medicinal uses of mushrooms, particularly in immune function support. David works with many health care professionals, including oncologists, nutritionists, and alternative medicine practitioners in formulating mushroom based nutritional supplements.
David sees that specialty mushrooms will be an important contributor to food supply for the growing population of the world. Mushroom cultivation is an environmentally friendly and sustainable enterprise that will add much to the diet of the population