After 16 years of leadership, mentorship, and steady guidance, Derek Shelton, Parts Manager at Sonny Merryman, is officially hanging up his hat and heading into a well-earned retirement.
A native of Gretna, Virginia, Derek’s career path began long before his time in the bus industry. He proudly served in the United States Air Force, an experience that shaped many of the leadership qualities and sense of discipline that would later define his career. “I’m very proud of my tour of duty,” Derek shares. Shelton describes it as a chapter that remains one of his proudest accomplishments. After his military service, he entered the truck industry before ultimately finding his home at Sonny Merryman.
Derek joined the company in May 2010, beginning as a Parts Analyst and Assistant Parts Manager. Over time, his dedication and work ethic led him into the manager role he’s held for many years.
From the start, Derek stood out for his leadership style and respect for his team. Managing as many as seventeen employees over the years, he’s always led others by one rule of thumb: “I wouldn’t ask them to do anything I wouldn’t do myself,” says Shelton. Leading by example, he earned the respect of his team through genuine care and fairness. “I’ve always tried to put myself in their place and understand their needs,” Shelton shares.
During his time at Sonny Merryman, Derek helped implement new processes and achieve major milestones that shaped the department’s success. One of his early initiatives was introducing parts scanners into the company’s inventory system, a tool that continues to make cycle counts and physical inventories more accurate and efficient.
He has also witnessed firsthand how much the parts industry has evolved over the years, from the days when every order was placed manually over the phone to today’s modern, online system through Excelerator, the company’s web-based parts ordering platform. The shift from traditional call-in orders to streamlined digital ordering marks one of the biggest changes Derek has seen in his career and reflects the tremendous progress within the industry and the company alike.
More recently, he helped coordinate one of the largest single parts orders in the country for Onspot automatic tire chains, working alongside a Virginia school district on 700 of their school buses. The project, which included electric, special needs, and C2 models, required Derek to determine kit configurations for each type of vehicle and coordinate delivery logistics. It set a national record for Onspot orders and became a proud career highlight.
Looking back, Derek says what made his time at Sonny Merryman truly special was the people.
– Derek Shelton, Parts Manager
His years here also gave him opportunities to travel, experience new places, and create lasting memories alongside coworkers he now calls friends. From his perspective, the culture of teamwork at Sonny Merryman has always been what sets it apart. “Even before Platinum Support, everyone here cared about doing their job the right way,” he recalls. “It wasn’t about looking over someone’s shoulder; it just worked because people cared.”
Outside of work, Derek has always found peace and enjoyment in the simple things, especially working in his yard, landscaping, planting trees, and tending to flowers and shrubbery. He also loves music, particularly bluegrass, blues, and beach music, and sings in his church choir.
As Derek prepares for retirement, he admits he’s not entirely sure what he’ll miss most, but he knows the daily interactions and relationships built over the years will be hard to replace. His advice to current and future team members? “Keep an open mind,” he said. “If you stay focused on your long-term goals, you’ll get where you want to be.”
For now, Derek is looking forward to slowing down, relaxing, and maybe revisiting an old hobby: trout fishing. “I haven’t had much time for it over the last few years,” he said with a smile. “We’ll see where it goes.”
Throughout his career, Derek embodied the true spirit of leadership by leading with empathy, cultivating teamwork, and driving continuous improvement. From serving in the Air Force to implementing new inventory systems and coordinating record-setting parts orders, his impact reaches far beyond the parts counter. His legacy of integrity and collaboration will continue to inspire the team for years to come.
– Caley Edgerly, President & CEO of Sonny Merryman
After years of dedication, leadership, and friendship, Derek leaves behind a legacy of teamwork and respect that will continue to shape the Parts Department for years to come. The entire Sonny Merryman family wishes him calm waters, tight lines, and a retirement every bit as rewarding as his career.