Growing up with five brothers on a 100 acre homestead you can imagine there was enough to keep Derek and his family busy. He grew up in the woods - hunting, trapping, and riding four wheelers. In 2015 Derek became an NHLA Certified Lumber Grader and has since been hired to educate area sawyers and students in the art of maximizing and perfecting wood cuts on a sawmill.

Derek focuses on not just making a good cut, but the right cut for each log that runs through his mill. In 2017 he took the risk to start his own sawing business by purchasing his Wood Mizer LT40. He’s grateful every day as he travels around New York State sawing for various businesses, families, and individuals.