Derek graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2015 with dual degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Music Performance. Since graduation, he has gained a variety of valuable structural design and field experience, which includes working for a large commercial contractor, an energy storage start-up, and a structural design firm – all located in the Denver/Boulder area. His project experience ranges from residential/light commercial structural design to QC and project management of large commercial projects at Denver International Airport and the new VF Corp Headquarters in downtown Denver.

Derek was awarded his PE license in the Spring of 2022. Since joining RA+A in January 2021, Derek has performed inspections and created structural designs for a wide variety of new builds, high-end mountain lodges, and townhomes.