I have been doing this creative stuff for a long time. I was a compulsive creative growing up. Markers on walls and fingers in wet cement graduated to graffiti in public spaces and oil paintings on canvas. The first business I started was called the 'Don't Try This At Home Company". I manufactured and wholesaled juggling products to head shops with a couple of buddies of mine.I returned to college that fall and took a job doing custom framing at Michael's Arts & Crafts. Getting fired for blirting obscenities over the store intercom was the best thing that ever happened to me. It was a kickstart to my entrepreneurial spirit. It was affirmation that working a corporate job was just not the route for me at that time in my life.I started painting more and more. I found myself cranking out art like a madman and making enough money to live on. Then, I found a fascination with web development. The idea of having user interaction with design intrigued me. I studied the basics of flash, html, css, asp and php. I learned just enough to start creating simple websites for small companies and civic organizations. This was the start of my freelance design company; merriamdesign.com. The small jobs turned into big jobs. Word of mouth and shaking hands went a long way. I partnered with other companies and networked. This was the key to my success. Oh, and I stopped building websites.I got so busy that I started dropping the ball left and right. I realized that it was time to grow. I met my business partner, Dustin Bryson, at the art gallery I owned at the time (Gallery Above). We formed FRSHNK and operated out of several different spaces over the course of 4 years.In 2011, I joined the Lemi Shine team in Texas as Creative Director. In April of 2020, I transitioned to the Wondercide team where I am currently Creative Director on their growth team.What I am great at: brand + identity, package design, data visualization & illustration.