Derek grew up in the small town of Mill City located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. As a young boy he used to draw floor plans for houses on the way to family camping trips.  Deciding that Architecture would be too art intensive, he chose to apply his creativity and love of designing buildings to Architectural Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University.

Derek is currently a 5th year student pursuing a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree with an emphasis on Construction Management.  During the past 4 summers, Derek has interned with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) as an Engineering, Science and Technical Intern (ESTI) working in the Systematical and Technical Assessment of Pennsylvania's Pavement (STAMPP) program.  This program has given Derek insightful information on how PennDot's Roadway Management System (RMS) works.  While working there Derek has become a great asset to the program helping train all new interns as well as being the quality assurance team that checks the work of the other teams for accuracy and correctness. Derek's knowledge of the survey system and his great work ethic are attributes which all the people in his office admire.

Derek is highly interested in green design and LEED rated construction. He finds this new generation of alternate material use fascinating, from the use of green materials in residential construction such as wheatcore doors and bamboo flooring to industrial construction such as solar panels, wind generation and recycled materials.

Upon graduation, Derek would like to return to northeastern Pennsylvania to secure a position either with PennDOT or with another construction company located in the area. Derek's late uncle worked for Sordoni Construction and wouldn't mind becoming part of thier company.