The Work
Excellence in action. Each project represents the pursuit of arete through building, creating, and solving meaningful problems. From transforming education to empowering communities, these ventures embody the philosophy that excellence is not a destination, but a way of being.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle
The Forge of Professional Excellence
Vixxo
Current Workplace
Leading AI transformation at a nationwide facilities solutions company. Building the future of facilities management by architecting an AI-powered marketplace that turns fragmented service delivery into intelligent orchestration. From self-serve onboarding to predictive analytics to instant payouts, creating systems where every job generates intelligence, every technician becomes a trusted partner, and "waiting for a fix" becomes obsolete. This is arete applied to the intersection of AI, marketplace dynamics, and enterprise operations at scale.
Laboratories of Excellence
Each venture is an experiment in excellence—testing ideas, building communities, and creating value through the disciplined pursuit of craft and continuous improvement.
Mastery Lab
The embodiment of arete in digital form. A platform dedicated to helping people pursue excellence through deliberate practice, continuous learning, and the disciplined development of their craft. Where ancient wisdom meets modern tools for transformation.
Derex Tools
Excellence in simplicity. Providing individual sockets and wrenches from Harbor Freight's ICON and Quinn tool lines. Sometimes the pursuit of excellence means having exactly the right tool for the job—no more, no less.
Agile Weekly
Pursuing excellence in team leadership and software craft. Weekly insights on agile methodologies, authentic leadership, and building high-performing teams that embody the principles of arete in their daily practice.
Flowtopic
Excellence in conversation and collaboration. An application for running lean coffee meetings that embodies the principle of "doing over saying", creating structured, meaningful discussions where ideas flow and decisions emerge naturally.
Ready to Pursue Excellence Together?
Excellence is not a solo journey. I'm always open to collaborating with others who are serious about pursuing arete in their work, building meaningful projects, and creating environments where people can flourish.
Connect with Derek