Derek is the founder at The Underswell and The Underswell School of Understanding, crafting sustainability talks and online courses to help students and professionals better understand sustainability and social responsibility so they can integrate both into business and life.
Additionally, he developed the Apparel Industry Sustainability Certificate at Orange Coast College and is a co-founder of the brand KOZM; a sustainability-driven, mindfulness-focused, Certified B Corp, lifestyle brand.
Derek’s helped multiple companies, brands, and individuals with their sustainability journey and was the former VP of Sustainability at Volcom. An engineering student turned art student, mid-career Derek went back to school and received his MBA from the Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine.
In addition to teaching and consulting, Derek serves on the boards of the UCI Alumni Association, the Orange Coast College Foundation, and PangeaSeed Foundation.