Councilor Derek Cooper

Personal Life

Derek was born in Buffalo, N.Y. and moved down to Florida in the late 1980’s.  He is married to his amazing wife Ashley Youngs (who grew up in Atlantis) and has a 9 year daughter named Sage.  Together they enjoy sports, golfing, and escaping to the smokey mountains in the summer when time permits.  Interestingly, Derek attributes his forever kid-at-heart spirit to his birthplace of East Aurora, NY - the home of Fisher-Price toys, where he grew up testing the latest and greatest new toys.     

 Education

Derek received his law degree with Honors from the University of Florida.  Derek attended Florida State University for his undergraduate studies and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Social Science, and a second bachelor’s degree in Communications.  While at Florida State, Derek was elected to Hall of Fame, was President of his Fraternity (Alpha Tau Omega), President of the Student Union, Homecoming Court, and a student Senator, among other activities.   Derek graduated from Jupiter High School.  
Professional Career: 
Derek Cooper serves as Comcast’s Regional Vice President of External Affairs, for the Florida Region, which includes the State of Florida, Southern Georgia and Southern Alabama.  In this role, Derek leads all government and regulatory affairs, and community impact initiatives for the Region, including Comcast Cares Day (the nation’s largest corporate service event), Comcast Foundation Grants, the airing of Public Service Announcements, and Comcast’s Internet Essentials program – the national’s largest and most comprehensive internet adoption program for low-income families in America.   

Derek has over 20+ years of experience in his position. He began his career as a Legislative Aide for Florida State Senator and former Senate President, Jim Scott.  Before joining Comcast, Derek served as Senior Counsel and Director of Government Relations for Office Depot in Boca Raton, Florida, where he led Office Depot’s government affairs efforts across the country.  Prior to that position, Derek was an associate with the law firm of Greenberg Traurig.  

 Community:
 Derek serves as immediate past Chairman of the Volunteer Florida Foundation (which raises money and oversees Florida’s Disaster Fund), past President of SunFest, Chairman of the Florida Internet & Television, and is an active member of the Orange Bowl Committee, the Economic Council of Palm Beach County and the Florida Bar Association to name a few.