Darren W. DeVore | Co-Founder, Managing Partner

Darren W. DeVore acts as Origin’s Managing Partner.  In this role, he is responsible for Origin corporate strategy and direction.

In addition to his role at Origin Development Group, Darren is also the Managing Partner of Broad Pine Investments, a holding company for various private equity and venture capital activities.  Broad Pine maintains investments in several businesses including The Carroll Organization, Terra Partners, Puzzle Social, Aruna Biomedical and the Battle Investment Group. 

Prior to the formation of Broad Pine Investments, Darren spent 14 years as a Managing Director of Artisan Partners LP, a leading global investment management firm. There he designed and implemented marketing and client service strategies that grew the firm from $800 million to $65 billion in assets under management.  He started his career at Pacific Financial Asset Management Corporation (presently known as PIMCO Advisors) where his responsibilities included launching the Scottish investment firm, Blairlogie Capitol Management.

Darren is the founding board chairman of Mt. Bethel Christian Academy.  A graduate of University of Georgia, Darren is a member of the Terry College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council, and a trustee with the University of Georgia Foundation.

Lauren Fernandez | Co-Founder, President

Lauren Fernandez is a co-founder of Origin Development Group and serves as President.  As Origin's Operating Partner, she oversees all daily operations, including business development.

In addition to running Origin Development Group, Lauren heads The Fernandez Company, a consulting practice and law firm focused on food and hospitality industries.  Her company helps generate new revenue streams for companies through strategic advice in the areas of organic expansion, franchising, product development and licensing. 

During her career, Lauren has worked in over 140 countries establishing franchise partnerships, licensing, distribution and supply chain for both food and drug companies.  Before forming The Fernandez Company, Lauren served as the General Counsel for FOCUS Brands, where she served as the head of both the legal and franchise administration departments.   Prior to joining FOCUS Brands, she was the Associate General Counsel & Global Trademark Counsel for the Novartis division CIBA VISION (now known as Alcon) and helped successfully launched the company’s first new product in over a decade.  She began her career in one of Atlanta's most respected Intellectual Property boutiques, Gardner Groff.  

Lauren is an active leader both for her profession and for her causes.  She is the Immediate Past Chair of the Intellectual Property Section of the State Bar of Georgia, she is an alumna of Emory University where she also taught Trademark Law as an Adjunct Professor.  A passionate advocate for the fight against hunger, she serves on the Advisory Board for the Atlanta Community Food Bank.  She was also named the 2015 Woman of the Year by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.