Derek joined the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) in 2017 and became Director in 2022. For 35 years, MAMC has focused on applied workforce and economic development in manufacturing, serving more than 300 companies and training over 1,000 individuals each year.
Before joining MAMC, Derek served in several state government agencies, including the Governor’s Office, State Treasurer’s Office, and Development Office, and also led statewide nonprofit organizations. During his time in the Governor’s Office, he served as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and was the Governor’s appointee to the Interagency Workforce Development Taskforce.
Derek lives in Huntington with his wife, Sara Payne, and their daughter, Willa. He serves on the boards of the Regional Contracting Assistance Center, Marshall University’s Council for Research and Commercialization, TechConnect, and the United Way.
