In June, Alex Merritt joined Twin Cities R!SE as our new Vice President of Program Operations. Alex has had an award winning career as a Supply Chain Professional with General Mills. During her 18 years with General Mills she has held roles of increasing responsibility in manufacturing, quality and regulatory operations, continuous improvement, & sourcing.
We spoke with Alex about her career change and what brought her to make the move from a corporate to non-profit career. “Twin Cities R!SE, through its mission and vision aligns with my personal passion, purpose, and talents. When I heard about this organization, I could see the connection instantly,” shares Alex.
While achieving a notable corporate career as an engineer, Alex is able to identify and relate with the some of the barriers that many people who come to Twin Cities R!SE looking for meaningful employment are facing.
What do you think are some of the biggest barriers that people with low incomes face regarding employment and financial stability?
I think that one barrier is knowing that it is possible to have something different. I grew up in, in the hood. I grew up on food stamps. I grew up where getting a Section Eight housing voucher was the goal. And so, I think that one of the barriers is just not knowing that there is something else that could be possible. When where you are, is all that you know, and all that you have ever done, you tend to think that that is all that you can do. You do not necessarily have a vision for what else is possible for your life. I think that this is probably one of the biggest barriers. It is not having a vision for what else is possible, and no clarity or path for how you get there. This is where Twin Cities R!SE comes in.
How do you feel about Twin Cities R!SE’s core belief that everyone is lovable, important, and valuable?
“I love it. It goes back to one of my personal motto’s, which is to treat everyone right. I believe that everyone has humanity, and that everyone has divinity. It doesn’t matter if they are in a C suite executive position or sleeping on the streets. Their humanity and divinity makes them worthy, period.”
Describe your role and vision for Twin Cities R!SE
\”In my role as VP of Program Operations my vision is to ensure that we work together as a team, operate in excellence and ensure that the \”secret sauce\” of TCR is captured effectively through a combination of repeatable processes and clear metrics that allow us to trend, track and deliver outstanding results for participants and all who invest in TCR.\”
Alex is a dynamic leader who will bring many strengths and incredible experience to her new role in overseeing the participant lifecycle at TCR. Alex can be reached at [email protected] or 612-279-5861
