2025 Entrepreneur Key Note Speaker
Derek Sorrells | Founder and Managing Partner of Scion Capital Partners
Derek is an entrepreneurial leader and seasoned business strategist with a dynamic history of launching, scaling, and managing a diverse portfolio of uniquely original ventures across retail, hospitality, and entertainment industries鈥攏one of which are franchises. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Scion Capital Partners, currently overseeing eight distinct brands, including two virtual-only concepts and ten physical locations. Derek is known for successfully executing multiple business exits, demonstrating strategic foresight and value creation. He remains focused on creating authentic, memorable experiences that inspire customers and communities alike. His ventures blend bold vision, creative branding, operational excellence, and a relentless commitment to customer satisfaction, resulting in sustained growth and meaningful community impact.
Derek's entrepreneurial journey began like many young kids of the 80s鈥攚ith a neighborhood lemonade stand鈥攂ut quickly evolved into a successful career in wedding photography, capturing over 750 weddings. During this time, he was also an active member of the Professional Photographers of America, further honing his craft and business acumen. As video technology became more accessible, he expanded into wedding videography, using it as a means to pay his way through college.
After graduation, Derek dove into the emerging cellular phone industry as an agent for Southwestern Bell Wireless. He went on to spend the next 15+ years in corporate America, working with multiple Fortune 500 companies. There, he led and trained enterprise sales teams on how to succeed in technologically diverse environments.
This blend of early entrepreneurial hustle, deep industry experience, and corporate leadership laid the foundation for Derek's return to business creation鈥攖his time with a refined, scalable, and innovative approach.
He attended 麻豆破解版 State University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Friends University, followed by a Master of Management in Computer Information Systems, also from Friends University. He later earned a Ph.D. in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics from California Southern University.
