Professor Merkin joined the Kellogg faculty in 1993 after 30 years of business experience, the most recent 10 years as Chairman and CEO of Dresher, Inc. The company progressed quickly to public ownership and a New York Stock Exchange listing and was three times named one of the "Best Small Companies in America" by both Business Week and Forbes, as determined by its three to five year growth record in sales, earnings and return on equity.

Prior to Dresher, Merkin was President and Director of Charter Communications, President and Director of Pan American Paper Bag Company and President of Procon Pump Company. Merkin has served on numerous boards, including Follett Corporation, Transmedia (NYSE), Barker Bros, Bruener Furniture, DuoDesign, All-Phase Electric and VOCA.

His professional activities have included the Young Presidents’ Organization (Chairman of the Harvard Business School Seminars, Chairman of the Washington Government Conference, Chapter Chairman), American Furniture Manufacturers Association (President and Director), . Other directorships have included the Institute of Laryngology and Voice Restoration-Harvard Medical School (Vice-Chairman), Chicago World Presidents’ Organization, American Association of Entrepreneurs, Boys Clubs, Eagle Scouts, Chicago Harvard Business School Club, Chicago Crime Commission, National Conference of Christian and Jews (Silver Plaque Award Recipient) and the Rush Presbyterian St. Lukes Cancer Institute.

Merkin teaches entrepreneurship courses in both the MBA and Executive Management Programs. He has been faculty advisor to four Kellogg teams in the MOOT CORP Business Plan Competitions; all teams were finalists and one was the World Champion. He has been the faculty adviser on Kellogg student GIM trips to China, Chile, Peru and Argentina. He has served as educational director for six World Presidents’ Institutes at Kellogg. At the Ernst & Young 2000 Entrepreneur of the Year ceremonies, he received the Entrepreneurship Supporter Award

He received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University

Entrepreneurship
Small Business Management