Rob Merritt

About Rob Merritt

Rob Merritt is an experienced, strategic, creative and award-winning communications professional who has successfully created and implemented marketing, crisis, content, social media, branding, external and internal communications programs for national and international companies. Merritt has extensive crisis communications experience including crisis strategy, developing crisis communications plans, and managing on-site situations for manufacturing, chemical, agriculture, non-profit and service industries, as well as professional sports. Additional experience includes managing corporate communications programs, including functioning as in-house counsel, for companies including the Coleman Company, Vulcan Chemicals, Coastal Refining, Air Products, CITGO, Sealy and others. Those responsibilities included crisis communications, managing employee communications and publications, community relations and events, executive media and presentation training, speech writing and Corporate Social Responsibility program development and management. Merritt has also led the public relations operations, and new business programs for agencies BIG YAM, Rhea + Kaiser, Cramer-Krasselt, Brunner and MARC USA. Those responsibilities included management of prospecting strategy and implementation, preparation of new business materials, leading presentations and client contract negotiations. In addition, over the years Rob developed a passion for wine and decided to make it his second career. Merritt took his expertise in retail, restaurant and beverage marketing, branding, communications and relationship building and married it with his passion for wines, dining and entertainment. Merritt Wines was a successful wine distributorship from 2010 to 2016, serving some of the best wines shops and restaurants in Chicago.

Experience

1. Strategic Communications Director

   Red Banyan

   Oct 2022 — Present

   Red Banyan is a strategic communications firm with offices in Florida, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. specializing in public relations, crisis management/ crisis communications, social media, and marketing. Red Banyan combines creative thinking, steady judgment shaped by experience and a relentless commitment to achieving results for its clients.