Paul Cherney – Managing Director
Paul Cherney founded MÉR Holdings in 2010 with a singular vision to help other businesses get to market. Paul’s intrigue with consumers and their behavior is at the center of MÉR’s mission. Prior to founding MÉR, Paul was charged with bringing a new brand of yachts to market. He led a cross-functional team and successfully built the business by relentlessly observing – and serving – consumer needs; resulting in the achievement of 5-year business objectives in the third year of operations. By 2006 the new brand achieved a global footprint and quickly grew to the #1 market share position in North America. Paul believes in open engagement with the marketplace thereby eliminating unnecessary barriers. He continues to employ a few simple business principals every day at MÉR International. These principles are based on internal drivers and tendencies while accommodating external, market forces with intuitiveness, ingenuity and agility.
Anne Cherney – Business Director
Anne has a long career in general management & entrepreneurship and is responsible for all accounting services and personnel management. The organization’s commitment to be a strategic partner with our clients is achieved through our people and the infrastructure responsible for bottom line development and productivity. Anne’s background in Human Resource Management has provided a strong foundation for the continued development and management of our most valuable asset – people. Anne has built and successfully implemented programs and policies that impact many areas of our company, including our clients. Anne is responsible for all of our client relationships and focuses on establishing value-added, ongoing, mutually profitable partnerships.
Ashley Smith – Program Executive
Ashley is a valued and trusted marketing professional with over 15 years experience. She began her career by collecting and analyzing market research for voice of the customer initiatives. She continued with field work gaining experience in delivering marketing services aimed at multiple channels within the luxury, marine and environmental space. Her career focus has been delivering influence aimed at consumers, dealers, partners, suppliers and internal stakeholders. A champion at delivering on promises, Ashley is attentive to our clients’ needs and is able to conceptualize ideas, develop action plans and execute the plans. Her service mindset and thorough communication skills keeps her nimble enabling her to quickly get teams aligned for success, no matter the time table or unexpected roadblocks. Her passion is customer satisfaction and event management through creating and managing unforgettable business events and getaways continuously executed to the last detail. It is this meticulous work that has earned her clients unilateral trust.
Olivia Perry – Client Business Manager
Olivia is an accomplished and seasoned business professional, renowned for her expertise in successfully managing over 300 projects in a global setting. With an extensive background spanning over a decade, she brings a diverse skill set that encompasses marketing, business development, client relations, and program/project management. Olivia’s pursuit of excellence underpins her commitment to ensuring that all client goals and objectives are delivered on time and within budget. Her ability to communicate effectively, build strong relationships, and provide each client with a personalized and meaningful experience makes her a great addition to the MER team.
Emily Gore – Program Specialist
Emily graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a degree in Marketing, concentrating in Management and Leadership. Prior to joining MÉR Companies, Emily worked in the retail and service industries for eight years, learning the intricacies of building and maintaining customer relationships. Her passion for helping people is what makes being a Program Specialist at MÉR such a good fit Emily is recently married and her and her husband enjoys hiking, sports and cooking in their free time. Emily has a caring personality and has good understanding of customer satisfaction through building partnerships.
Tiana Driscoll – Program Specialist
Tiana Driscoll joins MER with over 10 years of experience in Marketing, having worked with countless clients, big and small, to provide marketing solutions that meet the mark and help achieve their goals. As a graduate of the University of Florida, she got her start in an Advertising Agency, where she learned firsthand the importance of strategic planning and attention to detail.
Craig Smith – Creative Design
Craig brings nearly 30 years of strategic and creative direction experience to the team at MÉR. He started his career as a copywriter and account executive, giving him a combination of strategic and creative thinking that is rare among creatives today. Craig’s category experience is quite varied including marine products, healthcare, homebuilding/development, retail, financial, automotive, hospitality, tourism, sports management, and many others. He has been involved in planning dozens of large-scale business meetings, trade and retail shows, and other branded events. Understanding how to dovetail these into a brand’s overall marketing efforts, he has successfully themed, written, and produced all aspects of them.
Dan Prince – Operations Manager
Dan Prince is a results-driven Operations Manager with over 30 years of professional experience. His expertise lies in warehouse organization, planning, and procurement. Dan’s dedication to operational excellence and strong work ethic have been pivotal in his successful career. With a sharp focus on detail and a drive for efficiency, he consistently introduces innovative methods to enhance processes and boost productivity. His emphasis on operating efficiencies and inventory control has led to substantial savings establishing him as a respected leader in the field. Accuracy is paramount in his role, and he eagerly anticipates showcasing his skills to our clients. Dan believes that a blend of hard work and strategic planning is crucial for both business and personal advancement
Eric Moss – Site Lead Manager
Eric has been an active partner serving on MER’s board of advisors since 2018. He specializes in channel development strategies and sales & distribution. His more than 30 years of sales & distribution management has prepared him to successfully adopt varied distribution strategies to changing market conditions without disrupting your business. Distribution channels – direct to market, 2 tier and 3 tier – and product management are a common focal point for most businesses. Eric’s knowledge and experiences help guide our clients to optimize their channel and build long lasting, profitable partnerships.
Dale Roesel – Site Lead Manager
Dale began his career in the marine business through technical writing and staff captain. With an engineering background, Dale manages technical writing, documentation and layout for collateral material ensuring accuracy and on time information sharing. Dale supports the development of the materials services business and drives site execution throughout the world. Dale is often seen on location managing projects and executing through many unique roles – both passive and in a more managerial role. He has been around customers for more than three decades and continuously employs the customer perspective daily.
Sydney Cherney – Brand Concierge Specialist
Sydney graduated in 2023 from East Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a minor in management. Sydney is a four-year team member of the University’s volleyball program. Sydney is outstanding with clients and excels at marketing campaigns across multiple channels. Sydney possesses exceptional people skills and is dedicated to client satisfaction. Her career goals align with MÉR which include social media marketing, brand analytics and website planning.
Lundyn Coffman – Brand Concierge Specialist
Lundyn graduated in 2023 from East Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in media and communication and a minor in marketing. Lundyn is currently pursuing a Graduate Degree from the same University in Digital Marketing. Lundyn is a four-year team member of the University’s volleyball program. Lundyn is outstanding with clients and her ability to translate strategic direction into a tactical work plan is exceptional. She possesses a great worth ethic and interpersonal skills. Her career goals align with MÉR which include social media marketing, brand analytics and website planning.
Madelyn Tilley – Brand Concierge Specialist
Madelyn is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in health science at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. With 2 years of experience in the service industry, she excels in forging genuine connections with customers, prioritizing customer experience. Madelyn has a passion for helping others and intends to enter the medical field following graduation. She enjoys crafting delicious coffee, loving on her fur babies, and going on outdoor adventures with her loved ones.
