Lessons from the Trenches – What I have learned over Three…OK, Make that Four Decades

Bryant University's World Trade Day, May 22, 2024

Luncheon Keynote: “Lessons from the Trenches – What I have learned over Three…OK, Make that Four Decades”

Cheryl Merchant has 40 years of leadership and management experience in manufacturing. She has held leadership positions with industry giants like GM, Mazda, Ford, and Lear Corporation and led teams in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and throughout Europe and Asia. Ms. Merchant spent 19 years as the President and CEO of Hope Global, a manufacturing company with over 2,000 employees and operations in the U.S., Mexico, Czech Republic, China, and Brazil. During that period, Hope Global grew five times in revenue and became a Tier II leader in the Automotive Industry. In 2019, Ms. Merchant joined Taco as President of Taco Family of Companies, North America. In March of 2020, shewas promoted to CEO of Taco Family of Companies Global operations. Since taking the helm, Taco has doubled in revenue, expanded the workforce by 350 team members, acquired a new business unit in England, and has planned global operational facility expansions of over 243,000 square feet in the next three years.

Ms. Merchant has received several prestigious awards over her career including the Empowering Women Leadership in Manufacturing Award (2023), Scouts of America, Distinguished Citizen Award (2023), Providence Business News Rhode Island Business Women’s Career Achievement Award (2022), and Leadership Award (2001, 2014), Rhode Island Manufacturers Association, Al Lubrano Leadership Award (2022) New England Business Woman of the Year (2014), Mentor of the Year PBN RI (2016), Crain’s Women in Manufacturing of the Year (2018), Trailblazer in Business / Cheryl Watkins Snead Award (2018). She holds two Honorary Doctorates from the New England Institute of Technology for Humane Letters and Bryant University for Business.

Her community work includes being a member of the Board of Governors for the Rhode Island Commodores, an Advisory Board Member for the University of Rhode Island, a member of the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association Advisory Board, and a Board member of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Merchant has also served as a Trustee (Secretary and Chair of Student Affairs) for Bryant University, Board of Governors, and a Trustee of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council. She has also served on the boards of Rhode Island Economic Development, the Governor’s Workforce Board, the Rhode Island Hospital Foundation, and the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce.

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