25+ Years of golf industry experience including Representation, playing profesionally, caddying, Business Development and plan activation.
15+ Years in the Sports Management industry as an active Player Manager and Agent of top golf talent. He’s negotiated over $100 Million dollars in deals with top companies, agencies and brands over the years. He has a solid track record and niche for cultivating new companies into the golf space. Also was co-founder of TRUE linkswear in 2010 and was acting president for 5 years thru 2014. He lead the Sales efforts for the company and grew the brand to the 6th position in Market share in the competitive golf footwear space surrounded by billion dollar competitors.
He was a college baseball player with big league dreams. He was drafted to play for the Twins out of high school but chose to go the college route with a scholarship to Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA. There he fell in love with the idea of a sports business career. He initially got his start in the sports management business out of college in baseball working with MLB players and coaches. A couple years into that, he was given the opportunity to jump head first into the golf business and it was the best decision he ever made.
He has a true background of entrepreneurship and has been part of the start up of 10+ businesses in his short career thus far. He has started multiple golf business in the young and emerging golf markets in Asia, including Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia.
He is married to his high school sweetheart Kate and they have 2 boys, Aiden (18) and Trey (16). They live in Scottsdale, AZ.
Derek started his career in the software business. He has managed many successful programs and sales teams throughout his career which started at Epicor, Aerotek and most recently Trelevate.
After playing collegiate golf at the University of Northern Iowa, he undertook a successful professional golf career; playing on tours and tournaments across the country. His success in golfing, led him to caddy on the PGA Tour for world class players. From that experience he moved into a Director of Business Development role at Trelevate in which he enabled 150+ sales people across the country on a daily basis, with strategy, activation and key implementation of programs.
His strengths are in communicating with people and starting programs from the ground floor. As a strong entrepreneur at heart, and with a strong communications and marketing background, we lean on him for strategies, player development and new partner management.
He is also married to his high school sweetheart Jamee (it's a Makers thing) and they have 2 kids, Brooks (7) and Ella (4), and a four legged pup named Ace.
They reside in Fountain Hills, AZ.
Derek comes to Makers after a long and successful NFL playing career.. He played 14 seasons in the NFL. . A 2007 Pro Bowler and veteran presence in the locker room.
He has always been passionate about golf and played every chance he could, especially in his now hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona. As a leader of the team and being around professional sports his entire life , "DA" knows how to put the interest of players first and foremost.
Derek and his wife Mallory live in Scottsdale, AZ and have 3 kids Ameilia, Hank and Jacqueline.
Tyler started his career spending 14 years on operations side of the golf business. He has worked at many prestigious golf clubs in the valley including Troon North Golf Club and Pine Canyon Golf Club.
After a collegiate golf career at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, he spent the next two years trying his hand at playing professionally. His experience through playing professional golf then led him to starting The GolfWright Academy, where he teaches students the importance of the totality of the game versus the importance of just swinging the club well. From this experience, he gained certification as a Master FlowCode Instructor, increasing his ability to help players improve their mental toughness.
He biggest strength is the ability to bring high energy into every room that he steps foot into and is extremely passionate about bringing that attribute to all of the programs offered under the Makers Sports Management umbrella.
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