A leader in digital problem solving.

Product management is not an exact science - it's an art.

Driving digital transformation primarily through a results-focus supported by teamwork, intellectual curiosity and planning.
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So, why do I have a website?

Early in my career I realized that becoming a true professional in a given field, one such as digital marketing or product management, is much like becoming a professional athlete - practice makes perfect. On top of that practice, having a portal to easily showcase your skills can accelerate playing opportunities, and in my case, it was accessing a career path that was in harmony with my goals.

I saw developing a website such as this a necessity in today’s job market to showcase my skills, and not solely my technical capabilities.

Throughout my career I have demonstrated an ability to gel traditional strategies with truly “outside the box” ideas that have provided the desired results. As an extension of my professional resume, I wanted to give possible employers, contractors and/or clients the ability to have a glimpse at something that I can accomplish.

Thank you for visiting.
Where I've Been

About Me

I am originally from Grand Island, New York, a community located on the Niagara River, just outside of Buffalo. I grew up playing many team-based sports and was elected team captain of my high school soccer and lacrosse teams.

I left home to attend the State University of New York College at Brockport where I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. I joined the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity and was peer-elected to several executive-level positions, most notably President during my final year.

During college, using my love for adventure, I acquired a job in a small beach town in North Carolina to spend my summers, and once I had graduated I relocated there.

During my transitional years, I continued the adventure and had relocated to Australia during our North American winter, and the following year joined the snow-making team at Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont.

In 2007, I relocated to San Diego and was offered the Marketing Manager role with the C.H.E.K Institute, a health and wellness educational firm. It was in this role that I created my greatest adventure and most proud moment to date, the Through the Roof documentary.

After almost 2 years of organizing, in January of 2010, I assisted the world’s first female paraplegic to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.

From this experience and my prior experience with digital marketing management, I relocated to Santa Barbara to join lynda.com as an Online Marketing Manager. This was an incredible opportunity to experience a growing dot com with millions of daily visitors and to directly manage a $5 million advertising budget.

After lynda.com, I relocated back to San Diego to manage the Digital Programs for Carling Communications, a marketing agency concentrating in the pharmaceutical industry. While at Carling, I managed various client digital programs including website production, iPad application development and registration-based campaigns.

With an interest to continue my career on the client-side, I transitioned to be the Online Marketing Manager at Modern Postcard. Through the management of a small team, I was responsible for all online and digital operations for the company and directly report to the executive team.

Throughout my earlier career, based mostly in digital marketing, I thrived building customer experiences that not only met customer needs, but also converted to exceed business objectives. Since the advancement of search and social algorithms coinciding with an increasingly knowledgeable digital customer, this mindset has helped me become a successful Digital Product Manager today.

Currently, I am leading a product team of cross-functional resources at Capital One that are disrupting how consumers interact with car dealerships throughout a historically painful experience. We are building financial products based on an agile test and learn strategy driven by consumer empathy and insights through conceptual and prototype research that will ensure we are solving the right problems, with the right solutions, at the right time.

In 2019, Capital One asked me to be a keynote speaker at SXSW based on my experience creating the Through the Roof documentary and how it correlates to Product Management.

Personally, I thrive on experience - whether it's live music, a sporting event or travel . I have visited over 35 countries across 6 continents and have experienced an assortment of different cultures. I believe this has helped me truly connect to those I partner with and it is something I take a lot of pride in.

Most recently, I have taken up triathlons and will be competing in my first Ironman event in 2023.

About

The adventure starts.

Go Bills!

I am originally from Grand Island, New York, a community located on the Niagara River, just outside of Buffalo. I grew up playing many team-based sports and was elected team captain of my high school soccer and lacrosse teams.

I left home to attend the State University of New York College at Brockport where I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. I joined the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity and was again peer-elected to several executive-level positions, most notably the Presidency during my final year.

During college, using my love for adventure, I acquired a job in a small beach town in North Carolina to spend my summers, and once I had graduated I relocated there.

During my transitional years, I continued the adventure and had relocated to Australia for approximately 7 months during our winter, and the following year joined the snow-making team at Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont.
Figuring things out.

Let's get out of dodge.

In 2007, I relocated to San Diego and was offered the Marketing Manager role with the C.H.E.K Institute, a health and wellness educational firm. It was in this role that I created my greatest adventure to date, the Through the Roof documentary. After almost 2 years of organizing, in January of 2010, I assisted the world’s first female paraplegic to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.

From this experience and my prior experience with digital marketing management, I relocated to Santa Barbara to join lynda.com as an Online Marketing Coordinator. This was an incredible opportunity for me to experience a growing dot com with millions of visitors daily and to directly manage a $5 million advertising budget.

After lynda.com, I relocated back to San Diego to manage the Digital Programs for Carling Communications, a marketing agency concentrating in the pharmaceutical and industry. While at Carling, I managed cross-client digital programs including website production, iPad application development and registration-based campaigns.

With an interest to continue my career on the client-side of the business relationship, I transitioned to the Online Marketing Manager at Modern Postcard, the role I am currently in. Through the management of a small team, I am responsible for all online and digital operations for the company and directly report to the executive team.
Feet on solid ground.

Product Management as a focus.

Content about Capital One - SXSW - volunteering - family

I have been very fortunate to have experienced many great adventures.

6
continents visited.
2
furry best friends.
12%+
growth in revenue
1
completed Olympic triathlon.
2
furry best friends.
12%+
growth in revenue

I have been very fortunate to have experienced many great adventures.

1
completed Olympic triathlon.
2
furry best friends.
12%+
growth in revenue
What I've Done

Work Experience

Sr. Manager, Product

Capital One
2015 - Present

Manager, Product
Principal Associate, Brand
Senior Associate, Brand


Online Marketing Manager

Modern Postcard
2012 - 2015

Senior Account Executive - Web

Carling Communications
2011 - 2012

Online Marketing Manager

lynda.com
2010 - 2011

Marketing Manager

C.H.E.K Institute
2008 - 2010
Framework

Product Mindset

At Capital One, we follow the H-B-T-L framework to easily discover, discuss and develop into the very best Product Managers. By categorizing our strengths or opportunities for growth into these buckets, I have found it easier to set real plans to improve.
Human
Know your customer.
Technology
Know your tools.
Business
Know your opportunity.
Leadership
Know how to connect.

Today, I actively think about these buckets and where I can flex. Sometimes it's best to improve an opportunity, and sometimes it's best to rely on a wheelhouse skill - but understanding how each of these intersects with the others is paramount to being a successful Product Manager.
2010 Hoboken Film Festival
Award Winner

Through the Roof  is a documentary film created in 2010 about the first female paraplegic to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.

Through the Roof is one of my most proudest achievements to date.

It is a feature-length documentary that follows the story of Erica Davis as she attempts to be the first female paraplegic to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.

I created this project from scratch in 2008, and took  2+ years to plan, raise capital, execute the climb, and produce the movie.

Since then I have shared my experience building this project at schools, businesses and most recently was a keynote speaker for Capital One at SXSW in Austin, TX.

Go to IMDB

Chris Ryan

Head of Design Architecture

Capital One
"Derek is someone who's incredibly passionate about his customers, striving to create experiences that put his customer in the center, while also being viable for the business and feasible from a technical standpoint. I'm also constantly inspired by Derek's ability to build a rapport with anyone, from his team to the most senior of stakeholders. Without hesitation, I recommend Derek for any type of product development role."

Let's Connect.

Get in touch with me directly by filling out the form on the right and I'll get back to you soon.

Thank you.

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