As the younger brother of Trevor by only two short years, the story of growing up in the shadow of the Shaw family was no different for Derek.

Born in May of 1969 in Valdosta, Georgia, Derek grew to love Valdosta in each stage of his life. As a graduate of Valdosta High School and Valdosta State University, Derek chose to continue his professional career in Valdosta in order to better serve the community he so loved.

During his 20 years with Roadway Trucking Company and 10 years as the owner of his own local landscaping business, Derek knew that while his work was fruitful, it still wasn’t full. Drawn toward the idea of creating something out of nothing while seeking to serve new and old friends alike, Derek began to learn from Trevor just what it meant to manage construction projects.

As an avid athlete that studied and played baseball during his years of primary and secondary education, Derek always had a visibly apparent drive and toughness. Unshaken by adversity and always willing to work diligently to meet goals, Derek’s background translated well to construction, and in 2003, he and Trevor made it official by creating Firm Foundation Custom Construction, LLC.

Derek’s approach towards being a contractor is simple: listen, learn, then contribute. By developing one-on-relationships with clients, Derek can vividly envision and describe what can happen before it is ever done, and have his judgment be trusted. As further evidence of his aptitude, he now sits on the Board of Directors for Home Builders Association of South Georgia.

But beyond business, Derek is a loving father to his two daughters, Ashley and Amber. As an active member of Northside Baptist Church and Valdosta High School, Derek is very visible within the local community. Whether it’s spending a weekend on the golf course, a Friday night on the sidelines with the Valdosta Wildcats, or his time at church, it is always the same Derek.