Jennifer Merrell Email & Phone Number

Much of my professional career stems from fields intertwined with economic development and talent pipelines. As a natural problem solver, I’ve sat in the seat bridging the gap between academia & industry for several years and continually seek to better understand the challenges from both business perspectives. I bring that curious mindset to all aspects of my life through connecting the dots for people, organizations, and ideas that can help guide you or your organization to the next step.>> Keynote speaker: I leverage my own stories to launch an audience into action. Typically, I discuss themes of resiliency, failure, and leadership, with special care for students and women. I love to emcee and moderate panels for high-stakes events bringing just the right amount of energy, humor, and attention to serious and not so serious moments.>> Higher Education Consultant: As an executive leader, I understand how to develop and execute strategy, work closely with leadership, lead ideation, identify and influence key players, and follow-up. I work best with executive leadership and boards in higher ed in the areas of strategic partnerships, talent pipeline and tech/digital readiness.

Franklin, In, Us

Digital Fluency is the ability to effectively and ethically interpret information, discover meaning, design content, construct knowledge, and communicate ideas in a digitally connected world. Our active and engaged council is working to bridge the gap between industry and academia working with faculty, staff, and students to prepare the next generation of digital talent that will drive America's future.

Indianapolis, In, Us

TechPoint is the growth accelerator for Indiana’s tech ecosystem bringing together Indiana’s tech companies, philanthropies, government, universities, and talent to create opportunity. • Member of Leadership Team guiding overall organizational strategy.• Responsible for 100% of C6 revenue for organization.• Leadership, management and accountability for the engagement team from strategy development to goal-achievement resulting in an over 20% yoy increase in C6 revenue for the organization.• Led historic all-time high revenue in 2022. • Strategic leadership and management of member, sponsor and partner relationships of 24 members individually and 100+ team-wide, including universities, tech-companies, and tech-enabled companies from start-up to Fortune 100. • Consulting and complex problem solving for highest-value clients in highly matrixed organizations as it relates to the growth and gaps in the tech ecosystem. • Expert advisor to the Company Hunting Initiative for business expansion and relocation in Indiana.• Leadership, management & accountability for Higher Ed consulting including various partnerships related to talent development, digital fluency, and large-scale community impact.• Leader in expansion of TechPoint talent programs, including stakeholder engagement in multiple communities across Indiana.Select Accomplishments:• 2023 Q1 >> Team achievement of 84% goal achievement to full-year revenue goal by the close of Q1• 2023 Q1 >> Individual achievement of 120% to full-year revenue goal• 2022 >> Team achievement of 104% to goal • 2022 >> Individual achievement of 108% to goal• 2021 >> 142% talent program sales individually / 130% to goal for overall team• 2020- 2021 >> 108% to goal for membership revenue - individual contributor• 2020-2023 >> 88%+ annual member renewal rate - individual contributor

Indianapolis, In, Us

• Leadership, management and accountability of the relationship management team from strategy to goal-achievement of member, sponsor and partner revenue. • Strategic leadership and management of member, sponsor and partner relationships of 37 members individually and 103 team-wide, including universities, tech-companies, and tech-enabled companies from start-up to Fortune 100. • Consulting and complex problem solving for large highly matrixed organizations as it relates to the growth and gaps in the tech ecosystem. • Expert advisor to the Company Hunting Initiative for the attraction of business expansion and relocation in Indiana.• Inception, leadership and management of an entirely new strategy for Xtern Employer Recruitment. Responsible for execution and accountable for results of Xtern Employer Recruiting that finished at 129% of 2021 goal.• Leadership and management of Higher Ed members including various consulting partnerships aimed at talent development, digital fluency, and large scale community impact.• Leadership in strategy and expansion of TechPoint talent programs, including stakeholder engagement in multiple communities across Indiana.Select Accomplishments:• 2021 >> 142% talent program sales individually / 130% to goal for overall team• 2020- 2021 >> 108% to goal for membership revenue • 2020-2022 >> 88%+ annual member renewal rate

Indianapolis, In, Us

Selected Accomplishments:• Inception & project management of the expansion of Xtern into Muncie, IN for Summer 2021, giving multiple tech and tech-enabled organizations in the city access to some of the top college talent in tech in the U.S. • Represented TechPoint on the Smart Restart team to develop & edit content in manuals to guide the restart Indiana's economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic & mass industry shut-down.• Project management & partnership with Ball State University in placing non-tech faculty members into tech companies for a summer program: Faculty Externship. Results include additions & supplements to courses for non-tech majors that will better prepare them for jobs in the tech industry. The grant supporting this program has been renewed based on these results and we are expanding it to include the manufacturing industry in 2021 and offer positions to 8 faculty members.• Inception, development & management of a student experience for the most promising future entrepreneurs & investors at TechPoint's VC Speed Dating event.• Developed & managed larger scale projects with universities that bring industry partners & academia together to share research & develop curriculum to best prepare the talent for Indiana’s future. Work with a number of universities on large scale digital transformation initiatives.• Developed the Core Processes Manual to guide the RM team in standard processes & best practices resulting in higher efficiency & up-leveled member relationships.• Developed the prospecting, renewal & new member strategy detailing the sales cycles for prospect identification, fit evaluation, renewal & new member acquisition strategies. This includes the contributing sales & sales team management of 2020-2021 exceeding 100% yoy.

Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher with underlying certifications and certificates from Peak Pilates, PHI Pilates, Stott Pilates, Balanced Body, and BASI. 2011 to PRESENT, I substitute teach at Pilates Indy Inc. in the Broad Ripple area of Indianapolis and at Reforming Indy in Fishers/Geist and Carmel. 2005-2011 Owned and Operated reynoldsPILATES. Roles included class curriculum, client relationship building, marketing, and sales.As owner of reynoldsPILATES, our small studio of 40 clients raised over 1% of nationwide funds in SHAPE Magazine’s Pilates for Pink breast cancer fundraising event. This included marketing, soliciting donations from local businesses, negotiating a large facility to use free of charge for the event, selling raffle tickets, and researching matching programs through the identification of advocates already associated with the studio.

Fishers, In, Us

Location Modeling-Site Selection-Economic Development Incentives-Compliance ManagementHelping companies create jobs and make investments that grow the world economy.Selected Accomplishments:• Develop and execute strategic marketing & business development plans for North America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Leverage relationships with corporate contacts and clients in business development strategies.• Client facing roles include direct sales, project management, press conferences with C-Suite clients, top government officials & press.• Project Management for multi-state companies, including driving corporate revenue through the negotiation of state and local government incentives that offset capital investment and job creation expenses associated with a new facility, relocation, or expansion.• Conduct research and develop digital and print content for positioning the value proposition in presentations, pitches, and local, regional and national platforms/publications with regards to target industry organizations, public policy and legislative issues impacting economic development and incentive procurement.• Operational responsibilities include budgeting, back-office operations, and real estate.• Led new corporate HQ build out and orchestrated HQ relocation.• Leadership role in launch of new partnership brand; marketing and business development.

Fishers, In, Us

• Developed 5-year strategic business development plan.• Led influence resulting in new hardware replacement program and corporate wide upgrade to O365 and Dynamics CRM online; responsible for various day to day IT activities and accountability including the implementation of Dynamics CRM.• Led refresh of brand; new website, digital & print collateral.

Toronto, Ontario, Ca

Developed, executed and oversaw successful operational plans for marketing and communications, business development, technology, finance and human resources,and client project management. Selected Accomplishments:• Leadership position in of all aspects of day to day business operations and long-term growth strategies, as well as sales generation, development of corporate-wide branding, key participation in client presentations, client servicing, and management of transactions nearing a total of $300 million annually.• Client facing roles included the preparation and pitch of opportunity presentations as part of a team, business development roles, showing industrial space, participating in client meetings, and preparing contracts for acquisitions and dispositions of commercial and industrial property.• Propelled Summit as the first commercial real estate firm in the area to design, embrace and utilize digital marketing strategies in prospecting and servicing, including the concept and design of an online management system called Project Pathway® that was the first of its kind in the area.

Toronto, Ontario, Ca

• Management of the installation and administration of the first fully integrated IT network and CRM.

Milwaukee, Wi, Us

1996-1997 Technology TrainerContractor at Eli Lilly training employees at all levels on Microsoft software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Project) beginning through advanced skills. Role included developing relationships with participants to influence additional course participation and advocacy. Out of classroom time included help desk support.1995 Service Representative Interviewing and placing candidates in temporary and temporary to permanent jobs for Manpower clients. Having a trusting relationship with the client was imperative to moving less than ideal circumstances into positive outcomes.

IHL and farm team serving the Chicago Blackhawks. I started in a game night role with the Ice until I was hired on FT. My role included relationship management of season ticket holders and sponsors, ensuring a smooth transition from sales to billing and renewals for the next season. Difficult conversations had to be handled, most often with regards to overdue accounts. Understanding the situation and quickly building rapport through listening and appropriate questions led to positive outcomes with the final objective of renewal.

Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Us

Business Management Intern. Graduated from Disney University with coursework in business management, operations, public relations, and marketing. Summers only. Cast member role was a tour guide at the Disney-MGM Studios leading tours of up to 100 people through the production and live filming areas of the studio.

Leadership Coaching Strategies

Bachelor’S Degree, Corporate Communications