Aside from owners Lliam and Jennifer, Derek has been with MIS the longest. He joined the team in 2007 and has served in a number of roles within the company. As part of his job as a client account manager, Derek bends over backward to make sure his clients are happy and get exactly what they need out of their technology – he’s a true superhero. His unflappable demeanor serves him well in his role. Still, you wouldn’t want to cross him…
Where were you born? Conyers, GA
Where do you live now? Buford City, Gwinnett County
Tell me about your family…wife, kids, pets. Sofia and I have been married since 2004. We have three wonderful kids, Jazmin, Fernando and Matthew. Our fur baby Harvey Dent is a 140-lb 6-year-old Great Dane, loves people and is the biggest couch potato ever. He loves snuggling up with his humans and eventually hogging the bed every night.
What is your favorite food? My guilty pleasure is a nice home-cooked 16 oz. NY strip steak, medium-rare, seasoned with salt & pepper, with a nice fully loaded baked potato. Wash it down with a beer and I’m in heaven.
Name something on your bucket list. Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane at 12,000 feet (skydiving)
What is something most people don’t know about you? I’m a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
What is one thing you avoid like the plague? Tree-based nuts (allergies)
What would you tell your 17-year-old self? Enjoy the little things in life, don’t stress over things you cannot control, happiness is a mindset and try things out of your comfort zone.
Favorite book? George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series
Favorite vacation spot? White sandy beaches along the Gulf coast
Favorite movie? National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation “Why’s the carpet all wet, Todd?”… “I don’t KNOW, Margo!”
Favorite quote? “There is no spoon”
Tell us a little bit about what you do each day. Helping my awesome clients get exactly what they need, speaking to the right resources at MIS, and making sure they are happy! Whether it be finding the best internet provider deals, PC’s, hardware, or helping them solve a nagging problem, I’m here to help in any way I can.
What’s the most fun thing about your job and why? Visiting with the customers and uncovering better ways to help their business, then involving my team of rockstars to get the job done!
What do you like to do for fun outside of work? Walking/running at the park with the family. Rooting on the Atlanta United, Falcons, Braves, Hawks and UGA football. Visiting new places. Binge-watching shows/series. Reading fantasy or sci-fi novels. PC games. Playing Magic: The Gathering collectible card game. Yes, I’m a nerd at heart.
