Founder, Webmaster at The Offhand Band
Greater New York City Area
- Current
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- Founder, Webmaster at The Offhand Band
- Founder and Principal at Potluck Creative Arts (Self-employed)
- Founder, Editor and Webmaster at Potluck.com (Self-employed)
- Past
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- Co-Founder, Research and Development Advisor at Emergent Associates
- Marketing Analyst at Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
- Donor Services Assistant at Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
- Director of Marketing and Administration at PinPoint Radio
- Administrative Assistant, Information Technology at Scholastic
- Mechanical Licensing Agent at NMPA/Harry Fox Agency
- Full-Length Dramatic Writing Credits at (n/a)
- Online Producer at Poughkeepsie Journal
- Conservation Committee, Founder and Chairperson at Poughkeepsie Journal
- Editorial Assistant, at Poughkeepsie Journal
- Market Development Assistant at Poughkeepsie Journal
- Advertising Services Associate at Poughkeepsie Journal
- Education
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- City University of New York Graduate Center
- Cornell University
- Roy C Ketcham High School
- Recommended
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1 person has recommended Mark S. - Connections
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- Industry
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- Websites
Mark S. Meritt’s Summary
Whether starting with an inspiration or a need to be filled, I excel at inventing ideas to achieve desirable results. Combining a wide pool of knowledge across countless disciplines with research skills that empower new learning, I analyze a situation and make connections to generate novel possibilities for meeting the challenge.
Informed by an understanding of general systems principles, I identify the most compelling, highest leverage options and develop comprehensive plans for implementation. When an idea taps into my core competencies in music, writing or information analysis and synthesis, I can transform the blueprint into reality with high quality.
At present, I am focused on innovative artistic ventures, including original and custom-created musical, dramatic and written works, as well as workshops and coaching to facilitate collaborative creativity. To provide additional support as I pursue these goals, I am also seeking business consulting work, especially when it can use my high level of expertise creating tools, doing analysis and problem-solving with Microsoft Excel.
a.k.a. Mark Meritt, Mark Merit, Mark Merrit, Mark Merritt, Mark S. Meritt, Mark S. Merit, Mark S. Merrit, Mark S. Merritt, Mark Scott Meritt, Mark Scott Merit, Mark Scott Merrit, Mark Scott Merritt
Mark S. Meritt’s Specialties:
Musician: Songwriting; composing; piano/keyboard performance in many styles with a vast memorized repertoire, playing by ear and improvisation; singalongs; arrangements, recording and production; MIDI sequencing; instruction.
Writer: Lyrics, screenplays, stageplays, essays, research papers.
Thinker: Systems sciences, interdisciplinary studies, ecology, evolution, anthropology, psychology/development, education, economics.
Computers: Excel, word processing, databases, desktop publishing.
Mark S. Meritt’s Experience
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Founder, Webmaster
The Offhand Band
(Music industry)
January 2008 — Present (1 year 7 months)
-Founded this music act to create satisfying songs that are cool for kids, fun for families and great for the grown on their own.
-Songwriter, Producer, Instrumentalist, Arranger, Engineer; Everybody’s Invited. 43 minutes, stereo, CD and MP3. Debut album from The Offhand Band, released by Potluck Creative Arts.
-Webmaster for theoffhandband.com. -
Founder and Principal
Potluck Creative Arts (Self-employed)
(Self-Employed; Myself Only; Performing Arts industry)
July 2005 — Present (4 years 1 month)
-Created this business to forward my activities as a musician, songwriter, composer, lyricist, arranger, record producer, pianist/keyboardist, singalong leader, music instructor and writer/director for theatre and motion pictures.
-Developed innovative Songwriting Workshops, Singalong Workshops, custom songwriting/composition/writing services and Creativity Coaching service, most using Appreciative Inquiry (AI) to foster collaborative creativity.
-Experienced teacher of Bastien and Alfred piano methods.
-Appeared on ABC Television's Good Morning America three times, 1999-2000, including a special Christmas segment with Rosie O'Donnell.
-Performed at numerous venues including New York City's The Supper Club, The New 42nd Street Theatre, Gilda's Club, The Protestant Actors Guild, Restaurant Row and The Duplex.
-Webmaster for potluckcreativearts.com, utilizing WordPress and customized programming with PHP, HTML and plug-ins.
-Business consulting specializing in Microsoft Excel. -
Founder, Editor and Webmaster
Potluck.com (Self-employed)
(Self-Employed; Myself Only; Writing and Editing industry)
September 2001 — Present (7 years 11 months)
-Founded permaCulture: The Systems-Thinking Magazine of Arts & Sciences, an online magazine to explore familiar topics with a systems perspective, Sep 2001; became Sostenuto: The Systems-Thinking Magazine of Arts & Sciences, Feb 2002; became Mosaic: A Magazine of Arts, Sciences & Everything in Between, Apr 2003; became Potluck.com blog, May 2004; created entire site with HTML programming.
-Solely managed conversion to WordPress, including customized programming with PHP, HTML and plug-ins, Sep 2006-May 2007. -
Co-Founder, Research and Development Advisor
Emergent Associates
(Professional Training & Coaching industry)
November 2004 — April 2008 (3 years 6 months)
-Co-founded this coaching, consulting and training company which uses Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and positive psychology as a framework for integrating best practices and knowledge from organizational development, developmental/evolutionary psychology and systems-related disciplines to create practical tools which mutually foster empowerment and community for individuals and groups.
-Co-created proprietary rapid coaching techniques, integrating AI and developmental psychology and able to produce “eureka” results in as little as 10 minutes.
-Co-developer of a set of proprietary communication tools to foster positive change, informed by AI along with several established effective communication techniques, relationship models and personality typologies.
-Co-created a dynamic model of psychological development informed by complexity science, positive psychology, personality typologies and several universal models of human development. -
Marketing Analyst
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
(Health, Wellness and Fitness industry)
July 1998 — June 2007 (9 years)
-Created numerous inventive and dynamic tools in MS Excel, MS Access and propriety systems to support the Development department in planning, implementing, analyzing and growing its fundraising program.
-Managed departmental budgeting. Innovated effective methods for forecasting fundraising performance up to $138 million and expenses up to $15 million across diverse efforts and multiple budget iterations.
-Managed acquisition and renewal efforts in mail, telemarketing, web, toll-free number and other media, including acquisitions up to 17 million contacts annually and renewals up to 9 million contacts annually. Achieved strong performance in all marketing efforts, including an average profit of about 65% for acquisition mail, growing the database from 178,000 to over 1 million donors.
-Produced in-depth, insightful narrative and numerical analyses with actionable results that repeatedly improved results as well as efficiencies in cost and operations. -
Donor Services Assistant
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
(Non-Profit; 51-200 employees; Health, Wellness and Fitness industry)
January 1998 — June 1998 (6 months)
-Administered Oaktree Systems' DB Cultivator donor database and monthly electronic funds transfer program through Chase banking.
-Developed and documented systems for coding, data entry and production of all donor service mailings, expanding departmental manual from 12 to 105 pages.
-Resolved donor inquiries via phone, mail and E-mail.
-Supervised two Donor Services Assistants. -
Director of Marketing and Administration
PinPoint Radio
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Broadcast Media industry)
June 1997 — December 1997 (7 months)
-Wrote and designed promotional materials, including www.ppradio.com Web site. Designed sales and marketing databases in MS Access and systems to organize inventory and creative materials.
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Administrative Assistant, Information Technology
Scholastic
(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Publishing industry)
December 1996 — May 1997 (6 months)
-Created research library database in MS Access. Created extensive IT Business Plan in MS Word and related presentation in MS PowerPoint. Developed MS Excel tools for personnel, expenses and budgeting.
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Mechanical Licensing Agent
NMPA/Harry Fox Agency
(Music industry)
September 1996 — December 1996 (4 months)
-Issued licenses for mechanical sound reproduction on proprietary AS/400 system.
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Full-Length Dramatic Writing Credits
(n/a)
(Performing Arts industry)
May 1988 — December 1996 (8 years 8 months)
-Co-screenwriter, Deadline, 1996; Represented by Susan Smith & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, 1996-1997.
-Co-screenwriter, Citizen Arcane, a.k.a The Lion's Share, 1995; Represented by Susan Smith & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, 1996-1997.
-Composer, co-lyricist and co-librettist, The Right Circles, an original musical, 1994; Represented by the Farber Literary Agency, New York, NY, 1994-1996.
-Composer, co-lyricist, co-librettist, orchestrator, director and musical director, Cupid's Arrow, an original musical, produced by the Masque and Mime Society of Roy C. Ketcham High School, 1988. -
Online Producer
Poughkeepsie Journal
(Public Company; 201-500 employees; Newspapers industry)
May 1996 — September 1996 (5 months)
-Designed content, user interface and file structure for www.pojonews.com Web site.
-Created draft site with HTML programming and MS Access database for organizing content.
-Collaborated in development of marketing strategy, and supervised two Online production staff members. -
Conservation Committee, Founder and Chairperson
Poughkeepsie Journal
(Public Company; 201-500 employees; Newspapers industry)
January 1995 — September 1996 (1 year 9 months)
-Led company-wide representatives in instituting material conservation practices.
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Editorial Assistant,
Poughkeepsie Journal
(Public Company; 201-500 employees; Newspapers industry)
July 1995 — January 1996 (7 months)
-Proofread and edited daily Opinion Page. Wrote “3 Cheers” column and other articles.
-Handled filing, mailings and reader calls, and entered data at 95 WPM.
-Maintained electronic news library on proprietary AS/400 system.
-Received Editorial Po Jo Award, 1995. -
Market Development Assistant
Poughkeepsie Journal
(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Newspapers industry)
August 1995 — January 1996 (6 months)
-Conceived of and wrote copy for print, radio and television promotions.
-Researched and analyzed demographics to prepare sales presentations with Ad Director on Macintosh. -
Advertising Services Associate
Poughkeepsie Journal
(Public Company; 201-500 employees; Newspapers industry)
July 1992 — August 1995 (3 years 2 months)
-Desktop-published ads with AdSpeed, Freehand and Quark Express on Macintosh.
-Proofread ads to ensure accuracy, and served on Quality Committee.
-Scanned art with Adobe Photoshop and Autokon camera.
-Received Advertising Services MVP Awards, 1993 and 1994.
Mark S. Meritt’s Education
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City University of New York Graduate Center
MA , Liberal Studies, concentrating in Bioethics, Science and Society , 1998 — 2001
-GPA 3.95.
-Awarded the Liberal Studies' department's first Annual Thesis Prize for best thesis, The Unsustainability and Origins of Socioeconomic Increase, January 2001.- Activities and Societies:
- -Member, American Anthropology Association, 2000-2001.
-Delivered paper, World Bank 2000 and the Unsustainability of Economic Growth, as part of a panel discussion at the 99th American Anthropology Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, Nov 2000.
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Cornell University
BA , Theatre Arts, minor in Communication , 1988 — 1992
-GPA 3.80.
-Graduated with Distinction in All Subjects, May 1992.
-Dean’s List all semesters, 1988-1992.
-Phi Beta Kappa Society, 1992.
-Mortar Board Senior Honor Society, 1991.
-Golden Key National Honor Society, 1990.
-Ho-Nun-De-Kah College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Honor Society, 1990.- Activities and Societies:
- Department of Theatre Arts
-Composer, Musical Director, Music Consultant, Actor, Assistant Stage Manager, Assistant Sound Designer, Screenwriter, Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor.
Independent Filmmakers at Cornell
-Co-president, 1991-1992.
-Member, 1990-1991.
Cornell Orientation Program
-Supervisory Orientation Counselor, 1990.
-Orientation Counselor, 1989.
Public Relations Student Society of America
-Member, 1988-1989.
Symphonic Band
-Percussion, 1988-1989.
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Roy C Ketcham High School
Additional Information
Mark S. Meritt’s Websites:
Mark S. Meritt’s Interests:
Animism, Anthropology, Appreciative Inquiry, AI, Art, Attachment Parenting, AP, Biology, Business, Chaos Theory, Coevolution, Community Building, Complexity Science, Cooperation Theory, Coopetition, Creativity, Cultural Creative, Cultural Evolution, Ecological Economics, Ecology, Economics, Education, Emergent Properties, Emotional Intelligence, EI, Evolution, Flow, Fractal, Gaia, Game Theory, History, Holon, Human Ecology, Imago, Indigenous, Industrial Ecology, Internal Family Systems, Learning Organization, Memes, Memetics, Movies, Film, Television, Video, Music, Musical Theatre, Mythology, Network Science, Organizational Development, Paradigm Shift, Permaculture, Playwriting, Positive Psychology, Science, Screenwriting, Self-Expression, Self-Organization, Socially Responsible, Songwriting, Sustainability, Strength, System, Systems Dynamics, SD, Systems Theory, Systems Thinking, ST, Taoism, Theatre, Tipping Point, Tribal, Unconditional Parenting, UP, Unschooling, Voluntary Simplicity
Mark S. Meritt’s Honors:
Billboard Magazine’s 11th Annual Songwriting Contest, 2003
-Composer/lyricist, Someone Duplicated the Key to My Heart, Honorable Mention and Top 500.
-Composer/lyricist, The Fall of the Roxy Usher, Honorable Mention and Top 500.
-Composer/co-lyricist, Falling into the Sun, Honorable Mention.
Screenwriting
-Finalist, New Millennium Pictures screenwriter search, 1996.
-Co-screenwriter, Citizen Arcane, a.k.a The Lion's Share, 1995; Review selection, Zoetrope Virtual Studio screenwriting contest, 1999.
-Screenwriter, Bait and Switch; Winner, Cornell Department of Theatre Arts Screenwriting Competition, Jun 1991.
Cornell University Symphonic Band
-Performed at Carnegie Hall, 1989.
Cornell University Chapter, Public Relations Student Society of America
-NutraSweet PR Competition; Winning Entry; Co-editor, Situation Analysis; Co-editor, Strategies; Co-chair, Media Relations; Received PRSSA Award, 1989.
-Carrier Corporation competition; Winning Entry, 1989.
Mark S. Meritt’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
