Leadership

Michele Merkel President - Leadership

Michele Merkel has devoted over 27 years to Junior Achievement, including 17 as President of Junior Achievement of Eastern Ohio. Previously serving a decade as Senior Program Manager, Michele has overseen significant growth, expanding the organization from a single after-school program to over 400 in-school and after-school programs annually, reaching more than 14,000 K-12 youth.

Under her leadership, Junior Achievement of Eastern Ohio has consistently earned the prestigious 5-star national recognition from Junior Achievement USA for the past decade, reflecting excellence in financial solvency, program impact, quality, and managerial effectiveness.
Michele is an active community leader, having served as President of the Youngstown Kiwanis Club and Treasurer for the Junior League of Youngstown. She is currently a member of the Youngstown Air Reserve Base Community Council.

In 2006, Michele was honored as one of the top five young professionals in the Mahoning Valley’s “40 Under 40” and was a 2007 Athena Award nominee.

She resides in Warren, Ohio, with her husband, Eric Merkel, Chief of Police for the City of Warren, and their two children, Erica and Ian.