Born a dual citizen of the United States and Britain in Boston, Derek first moved from New England to study at the American College of Switzerland, allowing for visits to his father living in Germany. He studied Architecture at the University of California at Berkeley and received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design with honors in 1977. He then began his apprenticeship with FFKR in Salt Lake City. He later worked in Chambery in the French Alps and Val Louron in the Pyrenees of France for architecture and planning firms specializing in ski area design.

His return to the States brought him to the internationally recognized Seattle firm NBBJ, where during his 20 year tenure primarily as a technical architect on complex medical facilities, he also provided specialized construction cost control and estimating services. He moved to Ketchum in the fall of 1999 to work with Jeff Williams and also enjoy his love for skiing and the beauty of the Idaho natural environment.

A member of The American Institute of Architects and a certificate holder from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, Derek is licensed to practice architecture in Idaho and the State of Washington. A past President of the Mountain Section of the Idaho Chapter of the A.I.A., Derek is a past Commissioner on the Blaine/Ketchum Housing Authority.