It’s All About Merrill! (No…Not THAT Merrill…THIS Merrill!)
Based on the title of this posting you might have thought this was about me. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Last week I was in San Francisco for the MRA National board meeting and 50th anniversary conference. During that time I was fortunate to be around so many people who truly love this industry and profession.
I was fortunate to watch poetry in motion. I was fortunate to be around someone who never ceases to amaze me. I was honored to be in the presence of true greatness in running a board meeting. It is a privilege to have the same name as someone who has so much class, intelligence and heart as this lady has. The person I am speaking about and describing is Merrill Shugoll.
For the last year she was the president of the MRA. Here are a few of Merrill’s accomplishments.
Under her leadership the MRA:
- Launched the new value-added membership structure
- Exceeded the Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) goal and now has almost 1,000 people certified
- Launched a virtual international chapter to better serve and learn from our colleagues abroad
- Designed On-Demand Education to make learning more convenient for members
- Launched the Exchange Evaluation Program (EEP) so that members can learn more about the business practices of clients and suppliers before working together
- Launched new Affinity Programs for Members
- Had over 1,000 people at the Annual conference – the highest attendance in years!
Wow!
Please know that everything she did was for one reason and one reason only – MRA members. Every decision and strategy was based on the membership and the industry.
For those of you who don’t know Merrill that well – in her spare time she is a wife, Mother, daughter-in-law, business executive and moderator. Merrill is very family-oriented, loves the arts and the research industry.
Every speech she has delivered is filled with passion, energy and meaningful words. Her comments Friday morning were so powerful that I actually got a little misty. At the end of her speech she thanked the members and the board. In reality, we should be thanking her for everything she has done and continues to do. We should be thanking Mark, Lianne, Cara, Joan and the rest of the Shugoll staff and family for supporting Merrill during her presidency and allowing her the opportunity to make a difference! Thanks for sharing her for the past few years and allowing us to see how special she is and admire what each of you sees everyday.
Thanks Merrill! This industry is so much better with your leadership and involvement.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:18 am
I couldn’t agree with you more Merrill Dubrow. Merrill S. is one of the finest woman I have ever met. She is a true inspiration to us all.
Merrill - It has been a real pleasure to serve under your leadership, your dedication to MRA and our industry is remarkable. I want to thank you for all that you have done this past year not only for me but for our entire association. You are one special lady!!
June 13th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Couldn’t agree more. Merrill is one solid individual. She has put her heart and soul into this organization. Dubrow, you will now forever be known as Merrill #2.
June 13th, 2007 at 10:01 am
A great posting and I could not have said it better. Merrill’s dedication and spirit are amazing and I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience it close up. Thanks for devoting your time and energy to our profession - we all appreciate it!!! Oh, and by the way, you are not off the hook yet.
June 13th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Both Merrill’s are wonderful people! I must say that Merrill S. is indeed a VSP (very special person/professional)! She has always been so wonderful to me personally and a huge supporter of the industry. She must get this from her mother, Joan who is also an amazing woman. Merrill, thank you for all have you done for me and for our industry. I am sure you do not hear this enough! You are very special and the world is a better place as marketing reserach is better by your living with us.
June 13th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
My voice isn’t very loud, so you probably couldn’t hear the “YES!, YES!” that came from the depths of my lungs and my heart upon reading this blog and prior responses. Merill - thank you for being you.
June 13th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
the fact that you, Merrill D would write this about Merrill S confirms you are truly special too. Merrill Shugoll is a treasure to this industry. I am grateful she is only leaving the Presidency of the MRA and not leaving the industry. Thank you for all you do and all you are!
June 16th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Thank you Merrill for writing this blog about Merrill Shugoll. I have heard many good things about her, but your story, and all the comments gave me a better understanding about her and her family. From all the comments I conclude she truly is a “special lady” that everyone loves.
I enjoyed this blog very much. I also enjoyed meeting you Merrill Dubrow in San Francisco, you too are a “special person”
June 18th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
All the best to Merrill Shugoll for a great year of President of MRA, I must say one of the best years for The MRA. As well Merrill D you are a class act!!
June 18th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
One of the toughest jobs in the profession, mastered by one of the most personable and professional people I know….Congratulations on a very successful year as MRA President!!
June 18th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Wow! I just got back from a whirlwind trip moderating groups after conference and checked in on Merrill D’s blog to see his tribute to me. To Merrill D. and those who replied, thank you for your kind words. I am so grateful to the Board, staff, chapter leaders, volunteers, and members at large for helping to make my volunteer experience with MRA so very rewarding. Many people make the MRA a special organization and I was proud to serve along side each and every one of them.
June 19th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Merrill is one of those people for whom you would like to break the rules of limiting ‘length of leadership’. I had the priviledge of serving on the MRA Board with her right when she was first elected. She was awesome then and she has just continued to get better and better. Besides her contributions and committment to MRA and the profession, she is one of those people who can make everyone around her feel like they are a special friend and colleague. I truly admire that she has allowed us to know her personnally as well as professionally. It is no wonder that her daughters are wonderful and talented women, with a role model like Merrill as their mother. She is warm and open, and on top of that, she looks marvelous in a boa and tiara.
June 19th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Merrill,
I must say the outpouring of love for you and who you are has been incredible! I am not sure if it is possible to read Jane Rosen’s comments without getting all choked up.
Jane they are beautifully put! Every single word is perfect!
Merrill Dubrow
June 19th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Thanks for your comments, Merrill D. Even more, thanks for giving us the opportunity to share our feelings about the other Merrill. Your generosity of time in keeping this blog going is certainly recognized because we all know that with family, work, friends, etc., time is is probably your most valuable resource. I am sure there are many of us who read your blog on a regular basis, even if we don’t post responses very often. I hope you realize how worthwhile and appreciated it is.
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:35 am
In case anyone missed Merrill Shugoll’s last column in MRA Alert I thought I would post it:
The Dream Catcher
It’s hard to believe a year has passed since being sworn in as your President. As the saying goes, “time flies when you are having fun.” Every President has dreams for the MRA. I’m fortunate that many of my dreams came true.
When their year of service is over, each President is ready to pass the gavel on to the President-Elect. I have mixed feelings about my term ending, however, because one dream I had for MRA has yet to become a reality. Thankfully, I’ll have a year as your Past President to try and make this dream come to pass.
Before highlighting my dreams come true for the Association, I’d like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your President. It has been a privilege working along- side a talented and committed group of volunteer leaders at both the national and chapter levels, as well as our extremely dedicated and supportive headquarters staff. I step down knowing that the MRA will be in excellent hands with Colleen Moore Mezler at the helm.
Hopefully, the President’s column has entertained you, allowed me to share some of my dreams for MRA, and provided you with some useful information and my perspective on a wide variety of industry topics including:
I also revealed something personal about myself each month so that members who I haven’t met could get to know me. Some of the things you learned about me are that I’m:
Thanks to the significant efforts of many volunteers and staff, my realized dreams for MRA include:
My one unrealized dream is that despite the good intentions of all association leaders, we did not make much headway working together, side-by side to find a solution to some of our industry’s greatest problems. You can call me a dreamer, but I have recently purchased a dream catcher to hang above my bed. This American Indian hoop frame surrounds string tied together to look like a spider web. According to a Lakota legend, “good dreams will pass through the center hole to a sleeping person. The bad dreams will get trapped in the web, where they will perish at the light of dawn.” With the dream catcher above my bed, I hope to spend this next year as MRA’s Past President working with AAPOR, AMA, ARF, CASRO, CMOR, ESOMAR, IMRO, MRIA, MRII, QRCA, PMRG and others to make my heretofore-unrealized dream of a better tomorrow for the marketing research industry come true.
Warmest regards and adieu,
Merrill S. Shugoll