From Warehouse to Co-Owner: Derick Heitkamp’s Journey at Corporate Environments
“Our goal is to inspire our team and attract new diverse talent to our dealership. Having these diverse schools of thought allows us to be creative for our customers and great innovative places for being to work in every vertical. We want to be the place that people want to work at.”
Corporate Environments has recently achieved a major milestone as a newly certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), further solidifying our impact in the commercial furniture industry. This achievement brings new energy to their mission, especially through the dedicated work of our co-owners, each bringing a unique journey and perspective. Today, Derick Heitkamp walks us through his journey from warehouse beginnings to co-ownership.
Unexpected Path to Success
For Derick, breaking into the industry came at an early age. "I got into this field at 18, just looking for a summer job," he recalls. "A family friend mentioned an office furniture dealership needed help in the warehouse, so I jumped in, off-loading trucks, cutting down boxes, and putting them into a baler." That hands-on experience laid the foundation for his career, but his true breakthrough was still ahead. As a minority co-owner, Derick sees opportunity as central to serving the community. “People just want a chance—to shine, to prove to themselves and others that they’re worthy. Opportunity is what drove my grandmother to move from Mexico to the USA, and what brought my family to Georgia from Texas. It’s about creating a better life, if you’re willing to take that leap.”
Moving from warehouse work into customer service marked a turning point in his career, where he met Senior Account Executive and mentor, Mike Timmerman. “Mike taught me what it took to succeed, and even though he’s been retired for years, we still talk to this day.” These early years, shaped by mentorship and friendship, would set him on a path to lasting success.
While Derick didn’t originally pursue a career in the commercial furniture industry, staying proved rewarding. "The relationships and ever-evolving nature of this industry make it exciting," he says. "Every new challenge brings the chance to grow, and that’s something I truly value."
A Defining Career Moment
An unexpected opportunity arose when companies Herman Miller and Knoll merged to form a true powerhouse of modern furniture design, MillerKnoll. This positioned Derick to succeed with a unique knowledge set, having spent 12 years living and breathing Herman Miller at a previous furniture dealer, while building a new set of skills with Knoll product at Corporate Environments. "CE gave me a fresh start in sales. Over four years, I moved from senior sales to a management role and finally co-owner." Mentorship from Karen Hughes, CEO, played a pivotal role in this growth. “Learning from Karen has been like a master class in leadership. Marcus and I share her responsibilities now, and while we can never fully fill her shoes, we’re carrying forward her legacy.”
Being a minority co-owner is both an honor and a responsibility, especially in representing and uplifting the community they serve. "It’s crucial to inspire others from diverse backgrounds, showing them they can achieve their goals."
One of Corporate Environments' core goals is to attract and inspire diverse talent. "Diversity of thought makes us more innovative and adaptable for our customers," he explains. "We want Corporate Environments to be a place people are excited to work at—a hub of creativity across all sectors."
Derick hopes to inspire future minority leaders. “I want to show that, regardless of ethnic background, economic status, or upbringing, anyone can achieve great things with focus, hard work, and ambition.”
Handling High-Pressure Situations
High-pressure situations are part of the job, but he takes them in stride. "I approach challenges with a positive outlook. We don’t find excuses or point fingers; we focus on understanding what happened, learning from it, and moving forward stronger as a team and as individuals."
When it’s time to recharge, the golf course is his escape. “Like Arnold Palmer said, ‘What others find in poetry or art museums, I find in the flight of a good drive.’ Whether or not it’s my drive, well—that’s a different story!”
