Biography

Derek L. Kitchen is a distinguished public servant and entrepreneur. He is joining the Export-Import Bank after serving as a State Senator in the Utah Legislature, where he advanced policy on a range of critical issues, including the development of the Utah Inland Port Authority, workforce support and housing, and good governance. Derek's legislative work also includes energy storage, criminal justice reform, and transportation.

Prior to his time in the Utah Senate, Derek was elected to the Salt Lake City Council, where he demonstrated leadership and a deep commitment to community development. As Councilmember, Derek oversaw and initiated unprecedented, creative realignments of public resources and policy changes that prioritized housing and economic opportunity. He concurrently served as Chair of the City's Redevelopment Agency during a watershed period that brought greater transparency and accountability to the department's finances and policies.

Before entering public service, Derek founded Laziz Kitchen, a restaurant with 3 locations in Salt Lake City that has been nominated for a James Beard Award and featured on the Food Network. Derek is passionate about supporting small business owners through mentorship and leadership development.

In addition to his entrepreneurial and public service achievements, Derek is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. In 2013, he prevailed in his landmark federal case against the State of Utah (Kitchen v. Herbert), which brought marriage equality to the 10th Circuit and helped to lay the legal groundwork for the freedom to marry nationwide. Derek is a graduate of the University of Utah.