We are excited with a bit of melancholy as we acknowledge our Creative Director, Kent Merrell’s decision to retire from his successful 40+ years career at the end of this year! His creativity, wit, story-telling, and charm have touched many lives, including ours. We salute him as he journeys off into his next life adventures. Here are just a few of the people he has affected with his enthusiastic personality:
“I have always enjoyed you leading our meetings and listening to your wonderful stories about your very own tales of adventure in life. I wish you the best brother!” — Jamie Crouch
“I felt I owed it to you to let you know what an incredible person I think you are. Your humor, kindness, and dedication to family make you a truly enviable person. On top of that, you are extremely talented and come up with some amazing creative ideas! I can easily edit but the creative from scratch is something that eludes me. I have a lot of respect for the professional, creative designs you do. Your talent, humor, and genuine nature will leave a hole here and will be truly missed. I’ve never been good at speaking up and saying those things on the daily, or even monthly. So, I wanted you to know… you will be sorely missed.” — Michelle Bardin
“Kent is such a wonderful person, and I’ve truly enjoyed working with him over the last few years. My first time meeting the Target Leads team, I remember being disappointed that Kent wasn’t in the TX office. His warm personality just makes you want to be around him. Not only does he have the kindest heart, but he also has the gift of creativity. He made the best Creative Director for the team, and I really enjoyed seeing all the super fun stuff he could imagine. I will miss his lighthearted antics during our weekly meetings. But I’m also excited for him and this exciting new chapter in his well-lived life.” — Rachel Alvarez
“The first time I met Kent I remember that I just wanted to give him a hug – he’s that type of guy! Kent radiates warmth and genuine care for those around him and the work he’s doing, he’s truly one of the nicest people I have ever met. While our office is going to have an empty spot waiting for a joke or a kind word, I am excited for you to spend your well-deserved retirement with the family you love and adore. I’ll be on the lookout for your next book and have my 5 stars ready to go!” — Mandy Carswell
“YOU FINISHED SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!” — Ashley Moffitt
“I worked for Kent for 11 years, and I was always so proud to work for someone with so much integrity and excitement for each day. I learned so much from him not just about advertising and how to create a better product for our clients but also about life and the power of having a positive outlook even when things don’t go as planned. I’m where I am today in my career and life much as a result of what I learned from him.” — Stephen Rust
“Kent, you are always a joy to work with. Your creativity and upbeat attitude has been a blessing to me and a great addition to our TL Family. I am so happy for you and pray for a wonderful time of retirement and enjoying the greatest gifts in life, your family!” — Jessica Roberts
“Kent, it’s been a pleasure working with you. Your knowledge, humor, and positive attitude have been a wonderful addition to our small group. Congratulations on your retirement! I pray your time is blessed by time spent with God, loved ones, friends, and new adventures.” — Marva Shannon
“Kent, I have loved working for and with you through the years. You have taught me so much about creative marketing and the power of positivity. I admire and respect you as a professional but mostly as an honorable man. Three characteristics I really value are your optimistic viewpoints, your tremendous amount of patience, and your talent for telling stories. I am grateful I had the opportunity to enrich each workday with you and all that you had to teach me.” — Kathleen Mays
