Derrick is a program builder, partnership strategist, and revenue architect with a track record of turning organizational potential into measurable growth. He founded Forge Optimized Growth Solutions to bring that same hands-on, results-driven approach to small and mid-sized boarding schools, nonprofits, and chambers of commerce — organizations with a strong mission that deserve equally strong infrastructure to sustain it.

His career spans sectors and scales. As Executive Director of the Hartland Chamber of Commerce, Derrick revitalized community engagement from the inside out — launching new programs that deepened membership, strengthened local business relationships, and positioned the chamber as a genuine driver of regional growth. That experience sits at the heart of what Forge does: building programs that don't just generate revenue, but reinforce what an organization already stands for.

Before that, Derrick led the revival of an international sales organization at Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations, built strategic partnerships as part of ActionCoach of Wisconsin, and launched a successful media production business — all experiences that sharpened his instincts for identifying opportunity, structuring systems, and moving from concept to execution without losing momentum.

Today, he serves as Director of Auxiliary Programs at Wayland Academy, where he develops revenue-generating initiatives that align with the school's institutional mission. He also founded The Dogs Basketball Co. — an AAU club he scaled from zero to 7 teams, 70+ athletes, and over $100,000 in revenue in under eight months. That story isn't just about basketball. It's proof of what focused program development, community investment, and the right systems can build — fast.

Derrick brings to every engagement a rare combination: the community instincts of a chamber director, the operational discipline of a startup founder, and the partnership experience of someone who has sat across the table from large corporations and won the relationship. If your organization is ready to grow — sustainably, strategically, and without losing its soul — Forge is built for exactly that.