SOREDI Announces New Community Liaison Position and New Hire, Rob Merriman

Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI) is pleased to announce the hiring of Rob Merriman in the new position of Community Development Manager.

Merriman has served as District Director for the Crater Lake Council, Boy Scouts of America, headquartered in Central Point for the last 12 1/2 years. As the director of the largest of five districts in the council, Merriman was responsible for coordinating over 1,600 youth and 750 adult volunteers. His program development, budgeting and communications experience make him a perfect fit as SOREDI’s new Community Development Manager. In this new capacity at SOREDI, Merriman will be engaging with SOREDI’s municipal and community partner agencies, along with the development community, to coordinate efforts in the economic development arena. Further, his experience working with volunteers and members will be utilized as he co
mmunicates with SOREDI’s membership.

Merriman is a native of the Rogue Valley, with previous experience in sales, with the Ashland Daily Tidings, and real estate, with Coldwell Banker Pro West. In these capacities, he was able to exercise high ethical standards, an ability to listen to client needs and problem-solving abilities that exceeded his goals. These are qualities valued highly at SOREDI.

Executive Director Colleen Padilla says, “The staff is thrilled to welcome Rob to the SOREDI Team. It provides me great pleasure to be able to find such a highly endorsed, well-rounded candidate to fill this gap in our capabilities.”
Merriman says, “I look forward to utilizing my background and skills for the opportunities facing SOREDI. My unique history has afforded me many fulfilling relationships with volunteers and community partners. I am excited at the prospect of continuing to strengthen community partnerships and to help business grow in Southern Oregon.”

Born and raised in Ashland Rob graduated from Ashland High and has a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Lewis & Clark College. Rob lives in Medford with his wife Sherry and their two children. They have two children, Andy, a sophomore at Lane College and Scott, an Airman First Class in the Air Force.

About SOREDI: SOREDI is a private, membership-based, non-profit organization, governed by a board of directors. Its six-person staff is charged with local business expansion and new business recruitment efforts, financial assistance to start-up companies through its business loan fund, and management of Enterprise Zones in Jackson and Josephine Counties. The agency was formed as a regional economic development agency in 1987. Learn more at https://soredi.org.