Derek Canty

Derek Canty is the founder and president of the Winning Edge. Derek is a graduate of Columbia University in New York City. Upon graduation he enjoyed a career with top fortune 500 companies Xerox, Procter & Gamble and the New York Life Financial Company, which harnessed his skills of marketing and business strategy implementation.

In 1991, Derek followed his true passion and switched careers to working with youth serving non-profit organizations. Bringing heart, passion and a thirst to heal youth, families and communities; Derek has worked with over 15,000 youth in over 3 countries internationally and 30 major cities across the United States. Through his company Winning Edge, Derek has trained and empowered thousands of probation officers, teachers, mentors and youth workers across the country, in giving them more tools to be more effective with today's youth.

He serves as a motivational speaker, facilitator and trainer for select non-profit organizations, corporations and schools, assisting them in teambuilding, organizational development, defining and strengthening their organizational culture. He was honored by his selection as one of the lead program facilitators for President Clintons' First Annual Young Adult Symposium at Georgetown University in 2003, and continues to motivate thousands of students, annually at high schools and universities across the United States. Derek now serves as the Co-Founder and VP of Alumni and Diversity for College Summit, Inc. a non-profit whose mission is to increase the college enrollment rates of low income communities across America.