Welcome to our story
Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy our journey. Think back to your humble beginnings and now look at where we are today, it's been quite a ride. Give yourself a pat on the back for taking the time to learn about us. We're here to make a difference, and you're part of that journey. Stay tuned for more adventures!
From a barista and a seasonal sales associate to owner and COO, we’ve seen every single part of of the customer service industry. We’re perfectly positioned to set your team apart.
Remember, it's not just a story. It's a heartfelt mission to create a meaningful impact. So let's sip our coffee and dive deep into the world of Future Proof Solutions together.
Derek Henry - Founder
Born just outside Detroit, raised in the kitchen, with a degree in Psychology, (the perfect mix of human understanding and hospitality,) a drive to the experience memorable is at his core. Derek has led teams of just a few to teams of a few hundred, always with the focus of making the employee’s life easier by removing barriers and allowing them to do what they’re best at - serving your customers
After a brief stint working in a research lab, Derek found himself looking for something with a little more human interaction. He stepped back into the customer service world to put his education to work; in a totally different way. Wether it’s building and developing teams, driving operating profits, or creating business development strategies, a data driven (yet humanistic) approach is the foundation for all of Derek’s work.
Years of creative, visual and operational roles with Levi’s and Urban Outfitters, gave way to an opportunity to start something new. Derek uprooted his life in North Carolina to make the cross country journey to San Francisco to open two locations for Shinola Detroit - a budding watch and leather goods company. From there, he switched gears to specialty coffee, opening the Washington DC market with Blue Bottle Coffee. Leading the expansion from one to six cafes in just over a year, the time opening Blue Bottle’s fourth US market solidified a passion - growth, with malicious attention to excellence. From there, Derek took a leap into early stage start up life - opening three business; an all day cafe, a coffee roastery, and a shared co-working space under the Goosecup umbrella. Most recently, Derek joined Blank Street Coffee just before their US expansion kicked into high gear. Being a part of the exponential growth across New York, Boston, and Washington DC, Blank Street pushed the limits of how quickly a company could go from inception to profitability - with franchise proof standard operating procedures and innovation to push industry trends.
But don’t just take our word for it…
Zaara Raza - Founder Goosecup Coffee & Bar
“Derek built our café with solid experience in hospitality, ensuring smooth operations and good customer service. His leadership and dedication helped improve both the customer and employee experience.”
Laura Simpson - VP Operations Blank Street Coffee
“Derek collaborated well with our NY HQ team to ensure permitting and health department process went smoothly. He led from the front and by example in the final preparation of the space for operation, working with the team on the ground to ensure they felt confident in their new store.”
