Derrick Kostiner
Director of Business Processes and Technology
Accent was pleased to welcome Derrick in September of 2021 as Director of Business Processes and Technology. Derrick brings 30 years of experience in such areas as Systems Implementation, Infrastructure Planning, Business Integration, Strategic Planning, Process Management, Retail Supply Chain Management and more. Derrick says that his first impression of Accent was that of a calm and professional environment that made it easy for him to do his job well. “My role involves talking to everyone about their jobs, the processes they use and the problems they encounter, so I can figure out ways to do things more efficiently. This process has been facilitated by the fact that everyone is so kind and welcoming.” Although his tenure with Accent is short thus far, Derrick is proud to have created a graphic design approval solution, that will soon be deployed, that will allow internal and external stakeholders to efficiently move through the design approval process.
Derrick studied Physiology and Math & Computer Science at McGill University.
What’s your favourite book and/or movie and why?
I read 2 or 3 books a month, typically in the murder mystery genre. One author I enjoy is Malcolm Gladwell. I like to select an author with a large catalogue and read their novels in order. I find it interesting to read their earlier novels that are set in a time without all the technology we have available today.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I wrote a song for my wife and performed it on our wedding day. It’s copyrighted so I can say that legally, I’m a songwriter. I also really enjoy going to karaoke bars.
If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in something, what would it be and why?
I’d like to be able to write novels like the ones I enjoy reading.
What was the single-most influential event of your lifetime?
I was diagnosed with a learning disability in my 30’s. It was a pivotal moment for me as I had struggled with a couple of things like spelling and organizational skills for years but never understood why. The analysis also highlighted many areas of strength so moving forward, I was able to focus on these areas while better understanding how to handle the ones that were more challenging for me.
What was the most interesting or unusual job you’ve ever had?
I worked for Beyond the Rack at a time when they were experiencing explosive growth. I helped them with logistics and organizing their warehouse during a busy holiday period. It was interesting since things were changing rapidly and I had to help them continue to adapt as they grew.
Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere in the world?
There is a long list of places I’d love to visit but I’ve been trying to go to Hawaii for about 30 years now, so I’d say that is at the top of my list.
What’s your go-to Karaoke song?
As I mentioned earlier, I love karaoke. When I travelled for work, I used to go to karaoke bars at night and it was a fun way to meet people and feel less alone in a new city. At the moment, my go to song is All of Me by John Legend.