Location: Dallas, TX
Role: Implementations

This week on On the Spot, we’re catching up with Derek Wills—tech enthusiast and wine connoisseur. Based in Dallas, Derek is on the front lines of Vend’s implementation efforts, making sure each new location goes live without a hitch. From manufacturing floors to smart parking systems, his journey is anything but ordinary. Let’s dive in.

What brought you to Vend?

I’ve always loved technology—I’m a bit of a nerd that way. What Vend is doing in the parking industry is truly amazing. It’s not just about hardware or software—it’s about changing the entire experience. That really spoke to me.

What were you doing before you joined Vend?

Before Vend, I worked as an Industrial Maintenance Manager for manufacturing facilities. I was deep in the world of heavy equipment, automation, and systems troubleshooting—so transitioning into tech-forward parking infrastructure felt like a natural evolution.

What’s your favorite part of working at Vend?

Hands down: the people and the tech. It’s rare to find a place where both are top-notch, and Vend nails it. Everyone here is smart, driven, and genuinely collaborative—and we’re building some seriously cool stuff.

What do you like most about the work we do?

It’s the innovation for me. There’s a mindset here that no system is ever “done”—we’re always evolving, iterating, improving. That’s inspiring. Especially coming from industries where change moves slowly, Vend is a breath of fresh air.

What’s one thing people don’t know about you that they’d be surprised to learn?

I was on the cover of Time Magazine in November 2018—part of a feature called Guns in America with 244 other people from all sides of the political spectrum. Also, I’m big into wine. I love exploring how a bottle of Cabernet from one year can taste totally different from the next, even if it’s from the same vineyard. Wine is like tech—nuanced, regional, and always evolving.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

The ability to absorb knowledge instantly, with perfect accuracy and recall. Imagine being able to learn any language, any skill, or any system instantly. That would be game-changing.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self?

Buy Bitcoin in 2009. Also, learn Linux earlier—it’s the key to understanding so much of the tech world.

What are you binge-watching or reading these days?

I just reread Project Hail Mary for the fourth time. It’s one of my favorite books—sci-fi with heart, humor, and real science. I’m cautiously optimistic about the movie adaptation with Ryan Gosling. Fingers crossed they get it right.

What’s one thing on your bucket list?

Touring the old-world wine regions—Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne in France, Tuscany, and Piedmont in Italy. I’d love to spend time tasting and learning firsthand how the region, soil, and climate influence every bottle.

‍

Want to work with smart people solving real-world problems (with maybe a little wine knowledge on the side)? Check out open roles at Vend: www.vendpark.io/careers 

‍