Derek is a naturally gifted horseman who has learned more about horses in a year and a half than most people learn in their entire lifetimes! Horses are drawn to his calm presence and compassionate energy, and he has many times been a crucial part of doctoring a horse wound, helping a horse through a stressful situation, and de-escalating scared horses. He has in-depth understanding of how to communicate with horses and establish trust with them, and also has extensive knowledge of holistic horse care, nutrition, and other daily needs of horses. After working on an organic farm in Wisconsin which had multiple types of livestock in addition to organic vegetables (chickens, pigs, and dairy cows), he also has first-hand knowledge of pasture management techniques, rotational grazing, integrated and regenerative farming models, and hay cultivation, cutting and baling.

Derek’s previous career as a Journeyman Electrician for 15 years gave him on-the-ground knowledge of all stages of construction and building projects, from looking at a blueprint to putting the finishing touches on a completed site. He worked as an electrician in both New Mexico and Minnesota/Wisconsin on a variety of projects including large commercial and industrial sites, apartment complexes, individual residences, farms/barns, and many other types of facilities.

His electrical knowledge and ability to quickly assess a situation and determine the steps to repair a problem or complete a plan was also utilized during his time in the U.S. Army, when as an infantryman in Iraq he was asked by his squad leader to install the lights in the tents at the FOB (Forward Operating Base) where he lived for 9 months in 2008-2009. After completing one tour in Iraq, he was stationed in Germany, where he completed sniper school and joined a sniper section before being honorably discharged from the army in 2012. As an Infantryman he served as a member of a fire team, where his duties included land navigation, movement techniques, and battle drills. As a Sniper Team Leader he was charged with overseeing every aspect of the team including planning, reconnaissance, weapons accountability, communication with higher leadership, security, training scheduling, physical fitness, morale, welfare, and overall combat readiness.

Derek’s formal education was completed in the U.S. Army from 2008-2012, including graduation from Sniper School. He also completed 5 years of intensive schooling to become an electrician including 8,000 hours of on-the-job apprenticeship to obtain his Journeyman’s License. His informal education is vast and includes reading and research in many topics, including philosophy, politics, and U.S. history. Derek is also a lifelong skateboarder and a talented poet!