Federation Welcomes Shari Merrill as New Chief Impact Officer

Shari Merrill

WASHINGTON, DC (October 15, 2018)—The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is proud to announce that Shari Merrill will become its first Chief Impact Officer. Merrill will officially begin her new role on October 29.

Gil Preuss, CEO of The Jewish Federation, noted, “We are very pleased to welcome Shari Merrill as the newest member of our executive leadership team. Shari’s unique combination of professional experience, talent for strategic visioning, commitment to the Jewish community and proven leadership style will enable her to elevate the work of Federation and strengthen our Greater Washington Jewish community. I know that she will be a tremendous asset to our staff as a leader, mentor and thought partner, and I’m looking forward to all that we will accomplish together.”

In her new role, Merrill will help shape and guide the direction for Federation’s Department of Strategy and Planning. She will also develop operating models to achieve organizational goals, including those set out by Federation’s new strategic plan framework. Merrill will lead all areas of Federation programmatic strategy, including human services, Jewish learning, Israel and Overseas, and community engagement.

Merrill comes to Federation with vast experience in strategic management and a personal passion for the Jewish communal world. With a background in leading high performing teams and successfully addressing business challenges, Merrill is a skilled communicator and accustomed to collaborating across functions to break down complex issues and develop solutions. She has been lauded as a highly-motivated, results-oriented leader, with an analytical approach to problem solving and strong people and project management skills.

“As a member of the Greater Washington Jewish community, it is an honor to be able translate my passion for Jewish life into a meaningful contribution to my community. I am excited to apply the skills that I have acquired in the corporate world in a non-profit setting,” shared Merrill. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues, the dedicated lay leadership, and the wider community to help shape the direction of Federation.”

Merrill most recently served as the Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at Management Concepts Inc., where she led a team of product management directors and professional experts to identify, design, and deliver solutions to improve individual, team, and organizational effectiveness. Prior to joining Management Concepts, Merrill worked as Product Manager at the Society for Human Resource Management, where she designed and launched a professional development suite of competency diagnostic tools. She also worked as an Associate Director at CEB in Rosslyn, VA and London, England. Merrill holds a BA from The George Washington University and a graduate degree from the London School of Economics. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and volunteer work.