Merilee currently is the Executive Director of two nonprofit agencies MATFORCE and Community Counts. Under her leadership, MATFORCE was awarded the 2013 Coalition of the Year for the nation from Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA). In 2015 MATFORCE was awarded the National Exemplary Award for Innovative Substance Abuse Prevention Programs, Practices and Policies from NASADAD.

Merilee is credentialed as a level 4 prevention specialist in Arizona. She was selected to be the Kris Bell Recipient from Arizonans for Prevention for her work in prevention in the State of Arizona.

Merilee has a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Dakota. Merilee has over 20 years of administrative experience working in community collaboration in multiple states.

Merilee has been married for 32 years and has three children and two granddaughters.