Derek Payton

Derek has been a technology enthusiast his entire life, teaching himself to code as a young teenager. He has a background in web and software development, and in more recent years, electronics and microcontrollers. He is a proponent of Open Source software and has been an active participant in growing the technology community and economy in Fresno for over a decade. 

In his role as Director of SJVAir, Derek manages the technology team and is responsible for developing and delivering both software and hardware projects. 

Derek is the founder and Executive Director of Root Access, a community hackerspace and makerspace, which has partnered with CCAC since 2019 to develop technology projects that further CCAC’s mission.