Caren Merrick
Encyclopedia
Caren DeWitt Merrick is an American entrepreneur
and politician. co-founded webMethods
with her husband Phillip Merrick
in 1996. webMethods
is the most successful software IPO to date, with the fourth most successful debut on the NASDAQ
. Caren and Phillip also founded the webMethods Foundation in 2001, the year of their IPO, a private family foundation named after their successful company. The purpose of the foundation was to help lower income families, primarily in the area of education. One of the foundation's first grants was to Venture Philanthropy Partners
.
veteran, was a lineman for the local utility. She went to college at night through the GI Bill and eventually became a conservation engineer. Her mother was a secretary in the guidance and counseling office of their local high school. Merrick was the first woman in her family to graduate from college, earning her B.A. at University of California, Los Angeles
in 1988. After graduating, Merrick moved to Northern Virginia
where she started her career.
Beginning in 1991, Caren worked as a director of Marketing for Low + Associates Social Marketing Agency, where she led the development of the agency's direct response services, winning over $5 million in new business. She went on to work for America Online
as a Director of AOL
.com in 1996 and 1997. She led the content production team during AOL's transition from a corporate website to a search portal. She co-founded webMethods
with her husband Phillip Merrick
in 1996. webMethods
is the most successful software IPO to date, with the fourth most successful debut on the NASDAQ
. Caren and Phillip also founded the webMethods Foundation in 2001, the year of their IPO, a private family foundation named after their successful company. The purpose of the foundation was to help lower income families, primarily in the area of education. One of the foundation's first grants was to Venture Philanthropy Partners
.
bipartisan Economic Development and Jobs Creation Commission. She worked with a diverse group of business, education, workforce development and government leaders from across Virginia
. The Governor’s Jobs Commission was tasked with coming up with a common-sense, job growth agenda that will help businesses of all sizes create jobs, thrive and succeed in Virginia
.
Merrick is currently running as the Republican
candidate for state Senate in Virginia
's the 31st Senate District in the 2011 elections.
and has two sons. She currently lives in McLean, Virginia
.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and politician. co-founded webMethods
WebMethods
webMethods is an enterprise software company, acquired by Software AG, focused on application integration, business process integration and B2B partner integration. Founded in 1996, the company pioneered the use of web services to connect software applications together within a single organization...
with her husband Phillip Merrick
Phillip Merrick
Phillip Merrick was one of the original founders of webMethods, a high-flying company that went public during the Internet boom. Merrick attended Melbourne University in the early 1980s-References:...
in 1996. webMethods
WebMethods
webMethods is an enterprise software company, acquired by Software AG, focused on application integration, business process integration and B2B partner integration. Founded in 1996, the company pioneered the use of web services to connect software applications together within a single organization...
is the most successful software IPO to date, with the fourth most successful debut on the NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
. Caren and Phillip also founded the webMethods Foundation in 2001, the year of their IPO, a private family foundation named after their successful company. The purpose of the foundation was to help lower income families, primarily in the area of education. One of the foundation's first grants was to Venture Philanthropy Partners
Venture Philanthropy Partners
Venture Philanthropy Partners is a high-engagement philanthropic organization based in the DC metro area. It was founded in 2000 by Mario Morino, Raul Fernandez, and Mark Warner to invest in high-performing nonprofits in the National Capital Region...
.
Early life and business career
Merrick's father, a Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
veteran, was a lineman for the local utility. She went to college at night through the GI Bill and eventually became a conservation engineer. Her mother was a secretary in the guidance and counseling office of their local high school. Merrick was the first woman in her family to graduate from college, earning her B.A. at University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
in 1988. After graduating, Merrick moved to Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
where she started her career.
Beginning in 1991, Caren worked as a director of Marketing for Low + Associates Social Marketing Agency, where she led the development of the agency's direct response services, winning over $5 million in new business. She went on to work for America Online
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
as a Director of AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
.com in 1996 and 1997. She led the content production team during AOL's transition from a corporate website to a search portal. She co-founded webMethods
WebMethods
webMethods is an enterprise software company, acquired by Software AG, focused on application integration, business process integration and B2B partner integration. Founded in 1996, the company pioneered the use of web services to connect software applications together within a single organization...
with her husband Phillip Merrick
Phillip Merrick
Phillip Merrick was one of the original founders of webMethods, a high-flying company that went public during the Internet boom. Merrick attended Melbourne University in the early 1980s-References:...
in 1996. webMethods
WebMethods
webMethods is an enterprise software company, acquired by Software AG, focused on application integration, business process integration and B2B partner integration. Founded in 1996, the company pioneered the use of web services to connect software applications together within a single organization...
is the most successful software IPO to date, with the fourth most successful debut on the NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
. Caren and Phillip also founded the webMethods Foundation in 2001, the year of their IPO, a private family foundation named after their successful company. The purpose of the foundation was to help lower income families, primarily in the area of education. One of the foundation's first grants was to Venture Philanthropy Partners
Venture Philanthropy Partners
Venture Philanthropy Partners is a high-engagement philanthropic organization based in the DC metro area. It was founded in 2000 by Mario Morino, Raul Fernandez, and Mark Warner to invest in high-performing nonprofits in the National Capital Region...
.
Politics
In 2010, Merrick served as a member of Governor Bob McDonnell’sBob McDonnell
Robert Francis "Bob" McDonnell is an American politician who has been the 71st Governor of Virginia since January 2010. A former lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, McDonnell served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1993 to 2006 and served as Attorney General of Virginia from 2006...
bipartisan Economic Development and Jobs Creation Commission. She worked with a diverse group of business, education, workforce development and government leaders from across Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. The Governor’s Jobs Commission was tasked with coming up with a common-sense, job growth agenda that will help businesses of all sizes create jobs, thrive and succeed in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Merrick is currently running as the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for state Senate in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
's the 31st Senate District in the 2011 elections.
Personal life
Caren Merrick is married to Phillip MerrickPhillip Merrick
Phillip Merrick was one of the original founders of webMethods, a high-flying company that went public during the Internet boom. Merrick attended Melbourne University in the early 1980s-References:...
and has two sons. She currently lives in McLean, Virginia
McLean, Virginia
McLean is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. The community had a total population of 48,115 as of the 2010 census....
.