Derek Cole

As the general manager of Apex, Derek has his hands in every project we take on. He works to ensure continuous improvement in each department by providing direction and leadership. Every day, he works with each team on ongoing projects, ensuring company and individual goals are being met. He also works with vendors and customers to guarantee that high-quality products and services are being delivered. 

Derek attended Georgetown College and the University of Cumberland, where he earned a Bachelor's in Business and Marketing and a Master's in Education and Organizational Leadership. During his early career, Derek worked in sales, casino marketing, and internal communications, along with some remarkable leaders; he credits this experience with finding his passion for leadership. He went on to teach business marketing, digital media, and other business courses at local public schools. While in education, he served as department chair, sat on several advisory councils, wrote and managed grant funds, participated at the state level in assessment creation for career pathway courses, and created training material at the district level for trauma-informed care. His career and educational history shaped him to become the great leader we know and appreciate today. 

Aside from work, Derek is married to “the love of his life” in his own words, and together they have three children. They love to travel as a family, particularly to the West Coast. Derek’s favorite trip to date happened in 2024, when they visited Vegas, Hoover Dam, Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Yosemite on a 2-week-long road trip. According to him, “Yosemite calls to me.” While Derek is very talented with design and production software and equipment, he also has some jock in him! He played football in college and is a dedicated Indianapolis Colts fan. He loves attending games with his friends and family. 

Derek is an important part of what we do here at Apex Design Group. He’s not only a fantastic manager, but also quite the inspiration. He knows how to motivate each of us to reach the next level of our potential, and through his commitment to continuous improvement, he keeps us from becoming stagnant or complacent. Under his guidance, we’ve begun our expansion journey, and we look forward to the continued progress we will make together!