Merrick & Company

Could renewable diesel fuel help power plants cut emissions without expensive retrofits? Merrick teamed up with the Tennessee Valley Authority and EPRI at TVA’s Johnsonville Generating Station to test exactly that, and the results speak for themselves. Swipe through to see how renewable diesel performed in real-world testing and how this could affect the future of the power industry. #wearemerrick

In food and personal care manufacturing, precision matters—from ingredient handling to final packaging. With the need for accurate budgets and efficient schedules, the Front End Loading (FEL) process helps optimize the process, identify risks early, streamline costs, and protect both products and brands. Our food and personal care team applies proven strategies to streamline every step, from removing impurities to scaling production—because when every step is intentional, success follows. #wearemerrick

Meet Gavin Fink! He thrives on solving complex engineering challenges. With over 26 years of experience in nuclear, aerospace, and commercial industries, he has led projects that push the boundaries of design and fabrication. One of his most rewarding moments was seeing a client’s first successful launch and knowing his team’s specialized test apparatus played a pivotal role. Beyond engineering, Gavin is passionate about mentoring the next generation by helping them grow their skills and careers. As we continue to expand into aerospace, he’s excited to take on new challenges and work toward building an exciting future!

Globally, we waste about 1.4 billion tons of food every year (yes, you read that right). Much of that excess food gets put in landfills and decomposes, creating methane and contributing to rising greenhouse gas emissions. One way to combat these emissions is by using food waste to create renewable natural gas (RNG). We asked Chase Duckworth, PE, a process engineer with our bioprocessing team, to walk us through the unique challenges associated with food waste compared to other RNG projects. #wearemerrick

Meet Nick! As a project manager in our energy sector, he thrives on leading teams and delivering impactful projects. With 15 years of experience in operations management, he brings a deep understanding of leadership, problem-solving, and client collaboration. One of his most exciting projects has been supporting the replacement of the regenerator head and cyclones in the FCCU at the Sinclair refinery. From the intricate fluidized bed process to the impressive crane lift required, he loves tackling complex challenges that make a real difference. Passionate about helping others grow, Nick is working toward his PMP certification while continuing to take on exciting projects with our team. We’re excited to see what he accomplishes next!

Merrick’s aerospace team just got even stronger. Meet Mark Lester, our new Head of Aerospace Strategy! Mark brings 30 years of strong aerospace leadership—from running satellite missions in the Air Force to heading commercial spaceports and guiding launch infrastructure strategy. (He’s also a licensed pilot and certified Zamboni driver, but that's a story for another day.) Mark is here to help grow Merrick’s aerospace impact, especially in spaceport and launch infrastructure, and to connect our engineering and technical expertise to the rapidly evolving aerospace sector. If you’re at the Space Symposium, come say stop by Merrick’s booth and say hi to Mark! #wearemerrick

We are springing into April with a full slate of industry-leading conferences, and we’re excited to connect with partners, clients, and innovators across the country! Whether you’re focused on sustainability, public health, space tech, or small business growth—we’re ready to collaborate and share what’s new. Here’s where you’ll find us this month! #wearemerrick

Congratulations to Blaine Horner, Merrick’s new geomatics business unit leader! Blaine joined Merrick in 2020 as the market director for geomatics and has been immersed in business development and project work ever since. Blaine succeeds Torin Haskell, GISP Haskell, who has been a driving force in our geomatics team for 24 years. A project that stands out to Blaine in his career?  He once led an expedition for the USGS to resurvey the summit of Denali/Mt. McKinley—also where he once worked as a mountain guide. Congrats, Blaine! #wearemerrick

Food-grade facilities have uniquely high stakes: every surface, sensor, and cleaning method directly affects the safety and quality of products people consume every day. Merrick’s food and personal care team commissions these facilities with a specialized approach, carefully validating things most never think about—like whether automated cleaning systems consistently sanitize equipment, or how tiny changes in humidity can quietly compromise food safety. Swipe through for a deeper look into why commissioning food-grade spaces takes deeper expertise and a sharper eye. #wearemerrick

We’re excited to announce Tammy Johnson, EMBA, PMP as Merrick’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO)! If you know Tammy, you know this isn’t just a title—it’s the next chapter in a lifelong journey with Merrick. Tammy became an employee owner in 1991 when she started her career as a structural engineer. Since then, she has moved through many different roles, founded our San Antonio office, and been instrumental in growing our high performance facilities team. In 2023, she became our sixth president. She’s worn many hats—engineer, business unit leader, mentor, president—always acting with the same passion and commitment to excellence that define Merrick’s culture. Tammy has spent her career shaping Merrick and will now lead us into the future as our next CEO. Congratulations, Tammy!