August 30, 2011
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Merit Network, Inc. announces today the transition to a new regional Member Relations model. The new model increases staff and expands Merit’s presence throughout Michigan, placing Member Relations Managers in six different geographic regions across the state. “I am excited to announce the new regional Member Relations structure,” says Elwood Downing, vice president of Member Relations, Communications and Services. “The geographic focus will bring Merit’s engagement and outreach closer to Merit Members and their communities everywhere in Michigan.”
Whereas Member Relations Managers previously focused their attention on Merit’s Membership by segment (K12, Library, Public University, Private College, Community College, Health Care, Non-profit, Government and Research), under the new model, Regional Member Relations Managers will act as point of contact and facilitator for all Member types located in geographic regions.
“I believe will provide uswith a very strong opportunity to grow our community. By having staff based within every region of Michigan, they will be more closely involved with the community and the relationships, partnerships, and concerns of organizations in a geographic area. By having staff closer to their organization’s location, we can build a stronger relationship with them. Also, by having staff responsible for a region rather than a market segment, Member Relations Managers can build synergies between various types of organizations in a community more effectively,” stated Jason Russell, Director of Member Relations for Merit.
The new Member Relations Regions are: Upper Peninsula, Northwest Lower Peninsula, Northeast Lower Peninsula, Central Lower Peninsula, Southern Lower Peninsula, Southeast Lower Peninsula, and Governing Members (Public Universities) and National Members.
The Southeast Michigan Member Relations Manager is Terry Carew. Carew will be responsible for Genessee, Huron, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola and Wayne counties.
Carew is a lifelong resident of Southeast Michigan and has a diverse career background working with and for Nonprofits, academia, as well as automotive OEM’s and Suppliers. She has more than two and a half years of experience as Merit’s Higher Education Member Relations Manager, during which she worked with Michigan’s community colleges, private universities, and four-year universities. Over the past two years Carew has also been actively involved with the implementation of the REACH-3MC project for Merit by presenting and facilitating community meetings around the state in order to share the benefits the project will bring to the state of Michigan.
“My goal in this Regional position is simple: to provide Southeast Michigan Merit Members with excellent service. The opportunity to work together and share in the knowledge and experience of our existing Merit Members in Southeast Michigan is an outstanding opportunity for me,” said Carew.
About Merit Network
Merit Network Inc., is a nonprofit corporation owned and governed by Michigan’s public universities. Merit owns and operates America’s longest-running regional research and education network. In 1966, Michigan’s public universities created Merit as a shared resource to help meet their common need for networking assistance. Since its formation, Merit Network has remained on the forefront of research and education networking expertise and services. Merit provides high-performance networking and IT solutions to Michigan’s public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations.
For more information: www.merit.edu
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