All journeys begin somewhere…
Michael Merzke grew up in Toledo, Ohio and is the third of nine children. Full of energy, curiosity, and wielding an active imagination, it was not uncommon for Michael to be creating with Lego or taking apart one of his toys or old electronics to figure out how it was put together. He homeschooled most of his primary and all his secondary education, which allowed him to work multiple different jobs during high school. After graduating high school, he followed his childhood dream and enlisted in the U.S. Army.
A dream fulfilled…
During his over twenty-four year military career, he was assigned to Special Operations and Military Police units, leading security and law enforcement operations across the globe. He is a veteran of the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as participating in operational and training deployments to Germany, France, Poland, Australia, Turkey, Jordan, Kosovo, and Panama. For his military service, Michael was awarded the Legion of Merit, four Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, and multiple other awards and decorations.
Continuous growth…
Michael holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business and a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University Global in Liberal Studies with a concentration in leadership. He is a Certified Project Director, an Agile Practitioner, and a Professional Scrum Product Owner. Due to his insatiable appetite for learning and unending curiosity, Michael is always striving to expand his understanding of the world around him and ways for him to improve himself and create value for others.
Keep moving…
An adventurer by heart, Michael’s hobbies include running, cycling, shooting, hiking, kayaking, and rock climbing. Motivated by desire to take full advantage of life and reduce the residual effects of multiple combat deployments and other wear and tear from serving in the military, health and fitness remain a priority and a passion.
Create and build…
Merzke Custom Woodworking, which Michael established in 2014, is a home based business where he designs and builds furniture and home décor that is bespoke made for the customer. This venture is more than an just an outlet for his imagination and desire to create but also therapy for his soul.
It’s personal…
Michael is happily married to his wife Kelly and has three children. The two oldest, Madison and Michael Jr. are both grown and out living their own adventures. The youngest, Colin is an incredibly happy and well spirited toddler, who despite complications at birth that resulted in Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a continuous reminder to never give up and drives his future endeavors.
The journey continues…
