Before joining the team at Georgia Tech, Derek spent five years as a IT deployment team lead for Kraft Foods , before moving onto the staff of DePaul University where he worked three years as the Technology Buyer. Most recently Derek completed two years of working abroad in Cape Verde where he served as a technology consultant for Language Link Lda.

He holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the University of Maryland, as well as Master's Degree in Business Information Technology from DePaul University.