Derek Nier
Founder & CEO, Real Estate Investor
Whale Roofing & Contruction
A South Florida entrepreneur with more than a decade of experience building businesses across real estate and construction, Derek earned his degree from the University of Florida in 2012 and began his entrepreneurial journey in 2014 with Whale Estate, where he focused on acquiring distressed properties, managing full-scale renovations, and developing and reselling residential properties. Over the years, Derek and his team successfully completed more than 50 residential projects across Florida, giving him a valuable, hands-on understanding of real estate investment, development, construction, and project management.
In 2020, Derek founded Whale Roofing & Construction, transforming his extensive construction experience into a growing company serving residential and commercial clients throughout South Florida. As Owner & CEO, he has built the company around quality workmanship, operational discipline, transparency, customer service, and hands-on leadership.
Whale Roofing & Construction is a Florida-licensed certified roofing contractor, reflecting the company’s commitment to professional standards and quality within the construction industry.
Today, Derek brings a unique perspective to business and leadership—one shaped by the experience of not only investing in and developing properties, but also building the teams, systems, and operations required to bring complex projects to life.
He is also the host of Contractor Confidential, where he shares conversations and insights on leadership, sales, operations, mindset, team building, and business growth within the construction industry.
We are excited to have Derek join a distinguished group of leaders who are helping advance greater collaboration, meaningful connections, and leadership excellence through EWLC.