A lot has changed since Derek joined Northeastern as a Business System Analyst twenty-five years ago. That was back when flip phones were all the rage. Read on to find out what accomplishment he’s most proud of, what he does to unplug when he’s not at work, and the best piece of career advice he ever received.
What was your first role at Northeastern?
I joined Northeastern as a Business Systems Analyst.
What did you do before you joined the university?
I worked for consulting companies in the D.C. area.
What was the project you worked on?
The first project I worked on was Y2K.
What was technology like back then?
Back then, flip phones were all the rage.
What accomplishment or contribution at Northeastern are you most proud of?
The Emergency Communication project is the accomplishment I’m most proud of. This initiative was launched following the Virginia Tech incident in 2006.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
Focus on what matters and try to sift out the noise.
Do you have any pets?
I have a dog named Artie.
What’s your preferred way to unplug?
I enjoy playing pick-up basketball.