Attended the University of Maryland, where he captained the baseball team and graduated with honors. Selected by the Phillies in the '06 MLB Draft and spent 3+ seasons with the organization. Worked for the hedge fund Newland Capital Mgmt. as an analyst before transitioning to the Darden School. Following Darden, Ben spent two years working for Deutsche Bank as an Investment Banker. He left DB in the summer of 2014 to become GM of The Clifton Inn.

After graduating from UVa, Derek combined his love of lodging, style and writing by working as a travel writer for his family's publications La Belle France and Golf Odyssey, reviewing leading hotels and restaurants in France and around the world, while honing his appreciation for hospitality done right.

He went on to become an award-winning filmmaker before returning to Charlottesville with his wife and singleton.