Who Is This Guy Anyway?

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In the early 2000s, Derek hit the road as the official heartthrob of a touring boy band — complete with choreography, mall performances, and one unforgettable night opening for Ginuwine. (His wife, Victoria, confirms the title still holds.) It was loud, fast, and full of lessons about connection, performance, and staying grounded in chaos.

Derek’s camera presence landed him in front of big names early on — but when it came time to choose between auditions and other passions, he walked away from a few major movie roles and straight-up ignored calls from Paramount. It became one of those stories his mom loved to remind him about.

Driven by discipline, Derek earned three black belts in martial arts and competed in bodybuilding, too. He’s trained with some of the world’s best — and taught self-defense to women and teens — proving that true strength is just as much mental as physical.

After making it further than most on American Idol, he shifted toward service — enlisting in the U.S. Navy and later serving as a police officer. Music and mission may seem far apart, but both taught him how to lead under pressure.

Derek's quiet strength made him the go-to for protecting celebrities, politicians, and royals — including Jason Sudeikis and Linkin Park. Some names are classified, but his stories? Legendary.

He became a high school teacher and eventually Dean, combining structure, empathy, and a "call-it-like-it-is" approach that students still talk about. He didn’t just teach — he showed up.

With a lifetime of reinvention behind him, Derek launched Syncretism Strategies — a branding agency built for people who want to show up as their real selves, make noise for the right reasons, and turn their story into momentum.

A chapter that could have broken him became one that built him. Derek faced cancer with relentless grit and came out the other side with more clarity, humility, and purpose than ever.