Derek Mogar

As Director of Business Development, Derek Mogar ensures Tempest’s clients leverage and capitalize on what makes them unique. For six years, he has led sales at Tempest through meaningful, productive connections, building relationships with the community stakeholders that distinguish each destination, and introducing locales to travelers through targeted online placements. Today, he is proud to helm a team whose sales outperform his own.

Mogar has presented on amplifying destination marketing through targeted branding, innovative technology, insightful research, high-level storytelling, and relationship building to such travel trade organizations as Destinations International, Southeast Tourism Society, Texas Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, Destination Marketing Association of the West, Tourism Academy, and eTourism Summit. He values the economic impact Tempest’s work has on residents of destinations across North America — and the indelible imprint each unique location leaves on visitors themselves.

Derek grew up in San Diego, California, in a family of hospitality professionals. His first job in the industry was working for a student travel organization while in high school. At Arizona State University, he studied tourism development and management and marketing, while also playing baseball. (He now plays slowpitch softball on a nationally ranked team.) Prior to joining Tempest, he was senior product marketing manager for an interactive software agency. He, his wife, and their three young children live in Phoenix and shamelessly consider themselves “Zonies.” He’s not in the Tempest band, but he always brings a crowd to see them.

Derek’s travel tip: When visiting Tulum, Mexico, you’ll obviously want to unplug at the beach, with its ultra soft sand and crystal clear water. But, be sure to carve out time to explore and possibly even scuba dive in the Yucatán cenotes — natural limestone cave-like formations with freshwater pools.