She currently serves as CEO & Artistic Director of the Coronado Island Film Festival, where she has led the organization’s strategic growth and expanded its industry partnerships, elevating its national profile as a destination for cinematic excellence and meaningful cultural dialogue.

Throughout her career, Merridee has worked across live event production, programming, publishing, brand storytelling, and fundraising, building collaborative partnerships across the arts, entertainment, business, and nonprofit sectors. She launched the festival’s U.S. Screenwriters Competition, creating a national platform of recognition and support for emerging storytellers.

“Where the art and science of cinematic storytelling converge” — this is the ethos Merridee has brought to her personal programming. She believes film is a singular art form worth celebrating in its own right, uniting the work of composers, cinematographers, designers, and countless other artists into a single collaborative achievement. Under her leadership, the festival has become a gathering place where filmmakers, scientists, innovators, environmental leaders, and global changemakers explore ideas that shape our collective future, honoring storytelling as a catalyst for cultural understanding and connection.