Dave spent 10 years as a network manager, ending up as Information Services Manager for the former Thomas-Conrad Corporation (now part of Compaq). In 1987, he was a founding SysOp of Novell's Novell Support Connection service on Compuserve and served as the first president of the Association of NetWire SysOps. He's a past recipient of NetWare Users International's Nuggie award for "outstanding contributions."

Dave was formerly Technical Editor of Networking Solutions magazine. His "Wired Windows" column appears in Network World magazine. He also writes frequently for PC World, The Novell Companion, World Wide Windows and NC World. He's written, edited and contributed to a number of books on networking and is a frequent speaker before both trade and business groups.

In 2011, Dave Kearns joined the Analyst Group KuppingerCole as a Senior Analyst.