Derek Boss, president and founder of Advantage Boss Marketing Inc., is a native of Wichita, Kan.,
and graduate of Kansas State University.

He earned dual degrees in print journalism and electronic journalism with an outside concentration in business marketing. College activities included Kappa Sigma fraternity president and sports editor for the Kansas State Collegian , the school's award-winning student newspaper. Derek found his early niche as a sports writer, writing full-time for the Topeka Capital-Journal and Kansas City Star and freelancing for high-profile papers such as the Dallas Morning News and Boston Globe . Highlighting his resume is coverage of the 2001 Cotton Bowl, 2001 Insight.com Bowl, 2004 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, several Big 12 Conference football and basketball championships and events ranging from the NFL, NASCAR and the Kentucky Derby to all facets of high school athletics.

Seeking a more lucrative and merit-based career, Derek entered the advertising business in March 2005 as an entry-level field representative for Destiny Advertising, a Kansas City, Mo.-based firm whose client portfolio includes the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Brigade, Cinemark Theatres and many others. Three months later, amidst a time of record growth for the company, Derek helped key an expansion. Ryan Kiedrowski opened a cause marketing division in Kansas City, and after just more than six months of training through each phase of the program, Derek was promoted to management.

Alongside partner Dan MacDonald, Derek plans to open offices in Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, Texas, over the next year before moving into both West Coast and international markets. Derek is 27 years old and the son of Henry and Kathy Boss, of Wichita, Kan. He has two brothers. Kevan, 22, is a senior at Kansas State University. Daren, 20, plays baseball for Butler County (Kan.) Community College.