Chef Morgan graduated with honors from the Art Institute of Atlanta in 1995 and first worked at Villa Christina in Dunwoody, Ga. He was promoted to Sous Chef while working at Villa Christina and soon moved out west to Los Angeles. It was in L.A., where Derek met Chef Dean James Max at Woodside restaurant in Brentwood. Derek worked at Woodside with Chef Max for one year. He left the hustle and bustle in the "City of Angels" for Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Chef Morgan then began working as Executive Sous Chef at The Ranch on Camelback Mountain (now known as The Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain). Derek soon moved to the Royal Palms Resort & Spa as Executive Sous Chef. Within six months Derek was promoted to Executive Chef..