Merrill J. Ward
Ashland,OR
Summary
Creative and results-driven professional with over 20+ years of experience in the entertainment, multimedia, personal transformation and spiritual coaching & counseling fields. Adept at project creation & management, client relationship building & development, creative content production and administrative coordination. Recognized for a proactive motivational approach, exceptional communication skills, and a strong ability to manage multiple projects from conception to completion. Seeking to leverage diverse experience in a challenging role as a team player across multiple industries. Results-oriented executive professional with history of delivering impactful organizational changes and strategic initiatives. Proven ability to lead and inspire teams, ensuring alignment with company goals and fostering culture of excellence. Renowned for adaptability and strong focus on achieving measurable results through effective collaboration and leadership.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/MINISTER
Awakening Divinity Ministries
Ashland, OR
01.2008 - Current
- Founded and developed this vibrant spiritual community & non-profit interfaith ministry.
- Handled all executive director and principle ministerial & counseling duties.
- Managed all day-to-day operational & financial duties for the organization.
- Facilitated regular spiritual services for individuals & groups.
- Created, developed & managed acolyte ministerial training program and taught various aspects of meditation and syncretic spiritual teachings for the last 5 years.
CREATIVE CONSULTANT/BRAND & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Niurka, Inc.
Ashland, OR
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Provided freelance creative consulting services, working directly with company founder in co-creating dynamic branding, coarse curriculum development and state-of-the-art multimedia presentations, trainings and exciting, inspirational event production with this world-renowned motivational thought leader with a focus on transformational business, personal and professional leadership development.
ACCOUNT SERVICES/ENTHUSIAST
Rogue Design Group
Ashland, OR
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Freelanced with this top Ashland design firm and advertising agency.
- Generated and landed new client leads & managed client services.
- Oversaw multiple creative branding and special projects including print, web, and multimedia.
CREATIVE PRODUCER/BUSINESS MANAGER/WRITER
LandMind Productions
Medford, OR
01.2001 - 01.2008
- Led marketing, sales, and company promotional efforts, securing new business relationships with agencies and direct clients.
- Responsible for client engagement, oversight of multiple film, commercial & multimedia productions & special projects.
- Managed & negotiated contracts, developed bid, budgets & sales of creative proposals.
- Recruited & managed production teams & negotiated vendor contracts.
- Worked in both an employee and contractor at different periods.
OPERATIONS MANAGER/COPYWRITER
Sequoia Records
Ashland, OR
01.2003 - 01.2007
- Managed digital and direct sales operations for this top-selling independent New Age record label.
- Handled all marketing, promotion and sales tracking specifically for web-based & direct sale retailers.
- Assisted with management of wholesale national & international distributors.
- Established direct business relationships within the emerging online digital music market including iTunes, eMusic.com, Napster, Pandora, Rhapsody, Rumblefish and many others, established and managed all digital music content and metadata assets for the entire label catalog.
- Developed and oversaw digital marketing, content creation, copywriting & reviews for on-line promotions, web content, sales catalogue & web-based monthly newsletter.
EXEC. ADMIN. ASSIST
The Walt Disney Company/Apple One
Burbank, CA
01.2000 - 01.2001
- Originally hired as a temp, transitioned into extended administrative & coordinator assignments and roles for various top executives throughout the Walt Disney suite of companies including: Walt Disney T.V. Animation, Buena Vista Television, Buena Vista Pictures, Disney Consumer Products & more.
- Handled complex scheduling and business administration in a multiple, fast-paced, high pressure, corporate entertainment environments.
- Arranged interviews for new employee hires including writers & visual artists.
- Screened all in-coming calls, heavy phones, detailed expense reporting, production & human resource data input, database processing and reporting.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
EXEC. PROD. /PRODUCER/PROD. MANAGER/ 1ST & 2ND ASST. DIR.
Hollywood, CA
01.1992 - 01.2000
- Served in multiple productions roles in both freelance and direct hire positions including commercials, music videos, major network promos, feature films, documentaries, trailers, multi-media and special projects with top artists & numerous productions companies & clients including: CommericalHead Films, Modivation Films, Propaganda Films, The A&R Group, Century City Artists, CBS Television, Fox Television, The WB Network, MGM-Trilogy Ent., Sony Pictures, WarnerVision Ent., Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel, Bravo Cable, DreamWorks SKG, Playboy Ent., Woodstock.com, Virgin America, Capitol Records, Ignite Ent., Epoch Pictures, Aspect Ratio, MusicNow.com, Red Hour Films & many more.
Skills
- MAC Proficient
- IOS Proficient
- PC Proficient
- Apple Pages
- Apple Numbers
- Apple Keynote
- Apple Mail
- MS Office Word
- MS Office Excel
- MS Office Powerpoint
- MS Office Outlook
- Google Drive
- Google Forms
- Google Sheets
- Google Teams
- Daylite (CRM)
- DirectMail
- Zoom Proficient
- ChatGPT Proficient
- Voice Over Artist
- Announcer
- Master of Ceremonies
- Bidding
- Budgeting
- Scheduling
- Production Streamlining
- Production Management
- Accounting
- Administration
- Pre Production Supervision
- Post Production Supervision
- Typing 40 wpm
- 10key Proficient
- Executive Services
- Client Services
- Communication Skills
- Writing Skills
- Phone Skills
- Internet Friendly
- Email Friendly
- Entrepreneurial Spirit
- Keen Intellect
- Sharp Wit
- Good Humored
- People Skills
- Quick Study
- Adaptable
- Agile
- Community engagement
- Program management
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- Budgeting and financial management
- Operations management
Education
- West High School, Torrance, CA. ~ Graduated June, 1980 - 3.95 GPA
- El Camino Jr. College, Los Angeles, CA.~ Adv. Placement, Theater, Psychology, Philosophy, Public Speaking, 1979 - 1980
- UCLA, Los Angeles, CA. ~ Theater Arts Program, Summer 1980
- Los Angeles Community College (LACC), Los Angeles, CA. ~ Cinematography, Art History, 1981
- California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA. ~ Acting/Directing for Stage & Screen, 1982
Licenses Certifications Trainings
- Valid Oregon Driver's License
- Certified Ketamine Assisted Therapist
- Gabor Mate: Compassionate Inquiry
- Ordained Priest & Bishop (E.G.C.)
- Thelemic Pastoral Counseling Training
- Hakomi Somatic Psychotherapy
Certification
- Certified Ketamine Assisted Therapist _ Polaris Insight Center
- Compassionate Inquiry Training with Gabor Mate
- Ordained Bishop & Priest - Eccelesia Gnostica Catholica
- Hakomi Somatic Psychotherapy Training
Timeline
CREATIVE CONSULTANT/BRAND & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Niurka, Inc.
01.2012 - 01.2014
ACCOUNT SERVICES/ENTHUSIAST
Rogue Design Group
01.2009 - 01.2011
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/MINISTER
Awakening Divinity Ministries
01.2008 - Current
OPERATIONS MANAGER/COPYWRITER
Sequoia Records
01.2003 - 01.2007
CREATIVE PRODUCER/BUSINESS MANAGER/WRITER
LandMind Productions
01.2001 - 01.2008
EXEC. ADMIN. ASSIST
The Walt Disney Company/Apple One
01.2000 - 01.2001
EXEC. PROD. /PRODUCER/PROD. MANAGER/ 1ST & 2ND ASST. DIR.
01.1992 - 01.2000