Derek is an entrepreneurial leader and business strategist known for launching and scaling original ventures in retail, hospitality, and entertainment, currently managing eight brands and ten locations through Scion Capital Partners. He has a proven track record of successful business exits, with a focus on creating impactful customer experiences and community-driven brands. His entrepreneurial journey began with a lemonade stand and grew into a thriving career in wedding photography and videography, which helped him fund his education. Derek also spent over 15 years in corporate America, leading enterprise sales teams at Fortune 500 companies. He holds a B.S. and M.M. in Computer Information Systems from Friends University and a Ph.D. in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics from California Southern University.