Name one event that has singlehandedly influenced you most
Derek: Interestingly, my short stint at MEDport had a huge influence on my life, for a couple of reasons. First, moving into a different consumer goods industry made me realized how much I loved the fast pace of the food industry. But the death of the company's founder and my resulting layoff put work and life into a drastic perspective, one that I have lost sight of and hope I never will. My ambition hasn't changed, just how I go about achieving it.
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What is your favorite book and why?
Derek: I'm not a big business book fan. I find that any significant book is quickly covered, analyzed and dissected by so many magazines and web sites that I'm usually bored with the book by the time I get around to reading it! A few favorites have included books by Seth Godin, Selling The Invisible, and Why We Shop. Otherwise, I'll be reading something that I find personally interesting, usually something far out and funny, like Terry Pratchett.
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If there was one person, alive or dead, that you could spend a day with, who would it be? Why?
Derek: I know the question is one person, but I am picking two: Thomas Jefferson for his renaissance man qualities, and Walt Disney for his creativity, influence on popular culture and resilience.
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If you had the opportunity to start your own company what would it be?
Derek: Probably something food related. There are some family recipes that I think could be a great success and I have a fascination with specialty foods that are unusual and interesting. Even if it is just a different part of the country, I love going into supermarkets and convenience stores just to see how it differs from my home area.
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What is your favorite hobby or past time?
Derek: I have a few. One of the most obvious is cooking, and more specifically barbecuing. I am a Certified Barbecue Judge and looking to start a team. I also enjoy playing tennis to work off the BBQ, and also like bowling and playing pool (not that I'm very good at either). I'm a sports fan (Go Sox! Go Patriots!) and enjoy reading. But the biggest is music: I've been to over 150 concerts, have over 1500 CDs from classical to heavy metal.
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Do you have a 'good luck' charm? What is it and why is it so special to you?
Derek: I have a cats eye ring set in sterling silver that my grandfather used to wear. I remember being fascinated with it as a child and I wear it everyday now. My grandfather wasn't famous or rich, but he had a great, long life, and what more could you ask for?
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In high school, what was your favorite subject and why?
Derek: I was always a fan of English, history and science. I have a love for the written and spoken word, enjoy learning about history and learning about how things work. I was never very good at math, unless it was applied: I was terrible at algebra, but a whiz at geometry, physics, chemistry, biology and accounting.
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What was your very first job experience and how did it affect you?
Derek: I grew up in a family business - a bakery - and it instilled a great work ethic and appreciation of food that has lasted to this day. However, my first marketing experience was in an ad agency. Not only did I learn many aspects of marketing, but it gave me an appreciation for what an ad agency does, how to be a good client, and the work environment there was a close-knit group that still gets together even though the company closed a while ago.
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Do you think that you are successful?
Derek: I have a good job that I enjoy, I'm financially stable, got plenty of great friends who are very close to me, a loving family and a fantastic fiancé. I'm not famous, wealthy, or a genius, but I'm happy and healthy, so yes, I consider myself successful.
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Name two aspects of your career that you are most passionate about
Derek: Consumer behavior and creativity. I still get a kick out of seeing how people react to products, services, and marketing. I know I'm a consumer as well and react in the same strange ways, but I never grow tired of observing human behavior. And I love doing something breakthrough or hearing about something truly breakthrough.
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When did you first realize what you wanted to do for a career?
Derek: For me, it started back in high school as I put together customer newsletters for my family's business. That led to an interest in graphic design and a VERY short stint at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). I found marketing/advertising as a balance of creativity without the "artsiness" and being able to do something interesting.
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What was the most important decision you have ever made in regards to your career?
Derek: A few years ago when I left the dairy industry and tried something new was important. Just as important was when I was laid off from that job, I took a few months off and tried doing the consulting thing. It was something I had toyed with doing and it was a low-risk opportunity to try it. I found it wasn't for me, but enjoyed doing it and it gave me a well-needed break from a daily grind.
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