Dave Glover

Dave Glover
Co-founder
Vice President of Software Technology

• Nine years leading software development for Rent-A-Center (RAC) 
• Integral in pioneering rent-to-own (RTO) industry core software
• Instrumental in software conversion of 1,440 retail stores
• Early adopter of Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Co-founder of High Touch

Technology was not on Dave Glover’s list of career choices when he began attending Wichita State University in 1971. An aspiring young trumpet player, he had dreams of becoming the next Doc Severinsen. Soon, and quite by accident, he discovered his true passion, in a class called Fortran. It’s ironic that someone so gifted at the language of computers is a man of such measured words. In meetings, Dave is often the person listening to the clamor of ideas, analyzing them and scribbling on a notepad. His Bachelor’s in Computer Science and minor in Mathematics made him a natural at custom programming, and after graduation, a perfect fit for a one-man custom software company owned by his former professor, Ted Cary.

For two years, Ted and Dave took on interesting projects with great results. In 1983, after the addition of Mark Lenz, the group took on perhaps the most opportune project of all: Designing the point-of-sale software for ABC Rentals of San Antonio. The success of that software broke new ground for the rent-to-own industry; it also created a need for maintenance and support, spawning the creation of High Touch.

As with many entrepreneurs, Dave has juggled roles from hands-on assignments to management. In 1999, as the RTO industry evolved, he assumed leadership of RAC software development. At that time, Dave was the largest share owner of High Touch, which carried with it other significant demands and responsibilities. Dave felt he could not be successful at both, so with RAC’s needs being paramount to the future success of High Touch, he sold his ownership back to High Touch, dramatically changing the shareholder composition in the employee-owned company. For Dave, it was simply the right thing to do, personally and for High Touch.

Though it’s rare today for people to spend an entire career at one company, Dave has come close. More than 30 years with High Touch and its precursor have been an exciting journey, one that he still relishes every day, with many successes on the horizon.

“We’ve succeeded in creating a company that benefits our customers, and provides a meaningful and rewarding experience for our employees.”