Derk started his hotel management career in the late 60s, a career that lasted 16 years; Reinvented himself and took on an assignment with a Department of Defense (DOD) working for the U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center (USCFSC) agency for 25 years. He retired, reinvented himself, and joined the higher education arena at Prince George’s Community College as an Adjunct Professor where he taught business and economics courses for a decade. Again, Derk reinvented himself and started his own business, Turning Point Coaching, LLC where he earned certifications in Business, Executive, and Life Coaching providing executive and life coaching, training, and professional development serving the government, non-profits, and the private sector.

Derk’s education includes two postgraduate degrees (MBA & MSc. Mgt.) from the University of Maryland University College, College Park, MD.; Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Nyack College, Nyack, New York; and he is a graduate of the United States Army Military Base Leadership Management program from the U.S. Army Management Staff College, Fort Belvoir, VA

Derk credits his achievement to his ability to stay focused and performance-driven while being strong and pleasant, kind without letting his kindness be mistaken as weakness, and humble without being seen as timid and proud but never arrogant, all couched God’s blessings.