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Shon grew up on a small family farm in South-Central Kansas.  After running track and field while attending Hutchinson Community College, he graduated from Kansas State University in Architectural Engineering in 1992. He began his employment as a design engineer for Brack & Associates in Topeka, KS, receiving his professional Certification as a Professional Engineer (PE) in 1996.

In 1997 he started working for Mercer-Zimmerman, Inc. as a Lighting Sales Representative in Topeka, Kansas.  During this period he served as President for the local IES chapter for two years and, in 2001, earned his LC (Lighting Certified) certification from the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP).  In 1999 Shon became an owner in Mercer-Zimmerman and subsequently moved his family to Spring Hill, KS just outside of Kansas City in 2002 to take on the role of Vice President of Mercer-Zimmerman.

After the retirement of his partner in 2005, Shon became sole owner in Mercer-Zimmerman, Inc. with four offices and approximately 40 employees. Since then, the company has grown to over 100 employees across four market territories including Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa.

Shon is also the primary owner and managing partner in Yust Farms, located in Sylvia, KS.  There are many weekends where you will find him working long hours on a tractor or combine in the central plains of Kansas.

Shon feel’s his most important accomplishments are those tied to raising his family of four kids and his marriage of 30+ years to his wife Jenny.  Shon loves to cook, hunt, coach basketball, snow ski, water ski and spearfish.  Shon is most at home surrounded by family, friends and customers enjoying events such as farming, Jambalaya and BBQ cookouts, fishing, hunting and skiing.

Trevor Kramer is the Vice President, Operations of Mercer Zimmerman. He oversees strategic operations throughout the company where he is able to accentuate his strengths and passion for teamwork and company growth while creating lasting relationships and friendships. Trevor always demonstrates a genuine commitment to the well-being of our people and their families.

Prior to this role, Trevor obtained his CPA license and served as a Senior Audit Assistant with Deloitte & Touche, LLP. He was first introduced into the lighting industry in his role as Accountant at Structura, a lighting manufacturing company. He joined Mercer Zimmerman in 2016 in the Professional Development Program, later joining the quotations team.

Trevor grew up in a small town outside of Wichita, Kansas and attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. He graduated from K-State with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Masters of Accountancy. Trevor met his wife while at K-State, Ariele, and they now live in Lenexa, Kansas with their son, Callan, and their dog, Lucy. When Trevor isn’t working, he enjoys playing and watching sports with Callan, attending K-State and Chiefs football games, going on dates with his wife, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Kate Wimer joined Mercer-Zimmerman, Inc. in 2002 as a specification salesperson. After she graduated from the University of Kansas in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Wimer began her career with Eveready/Energizer. There she dealt with electrical distributors and industrial accounts within the region. After joining Regent Lighting in 1996, she realized her passion for lighting. From that time, Wimer became a manufacturer’s representative in the lighting industry where she has worked closely with area architects, engineers and lighting designers for numerous years. One of the most rewarding aspects of her career is seeing a person’s design become a reality. In her free time, Wimer enjoys gardening, yoga, creating jewelry, and spending time with husband Bob and dogs Simi, Frodo and little Pixie.

Steve graduated from Purdue University with an English Education degree and taught high school English before getting into sales. He and his wife Lara enjoy spending time with their three grown children and their friends. Steve is an avid fisherman and enjoys riding mountain bike trails, playing cards, and watching Boilermaker Basketball & Football, pro hockey, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Indianapolis Colts. He and Lara are both avid “foodies” and are looking forward to exploring all that Omaha has to offer in the restaurant scene.

Chad Fagg has spent more than 25 years with Mercer Zimmerman since graduating from Missouri State University. While he was in school he also spent three summers working with H.E. Williams. Chad enjoys working at Mercer Zimmerman because of their dedication to excellence and their knowledgeability of their products. In his free time, Chad likes to go golfing, spend time at the lake, and just be outdoors. He also can be found spending time with his wife and son.

Darrell Huffman graduated from Mid-America Nazarene University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management and a minor in Business. Darrell has been apart of the Mercer Zimmerman team since 2011 and loves being a part of a large family at MZ. In his free time, Darrell can be found spending time with his wife Kadie and his three children Bryant, Myla and Mia. His other hobbies are running around watching and coaching his kids sports teams and occasionally playing golf.

Chris joined the Mercer Zimmerman team in 2021 and brings with him a wealth of industry experience. Though originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Chris moved with his family to Lawrence, KS when he was 3 years-old and has been a “townie” ever since. He enjoys hiking and traveling. While in Banff National Park in Canada, he stayed at the Fairmont Hotel.  He got to walk out on the frozen lake Louise in -10 degree weather – cold but amazing! As a big local sports fan, he supports the Royals, the Chiefs, the Jayhawks and Sporting KC – attending games in person or watching on TV. One of his favorite things has been getting to ride on the streetcar or hopping on a Bird scooter in downtown KC. In addition, he enjoys traveling around trying new restaurants and just hanging out in the city with his son Dean.

Brady Yust joined the Mercer Zimmerman team in 2011 after working 14 years with Utility Contractors, Inc. as a project manager and estimator. Before that, he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Science/ Architectural Engineering from Kansas State University. In his free time Brady enjoys spending time with his wife Tricia and his son Noah. His hobbies include water skiing, snow skiing, and working on the farm.

Samira Kiger joined Mercer Zimmerman in 2008 with a healthcare background.  She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Kansas with a degree in Behavioral Science with and emphasis in Community Health and Pre-Med, and spend much of her time at school on the Kansas river because of her involvement in the University of Kansas rowing team. Kiger loves working for Mercer Zimmerman and enjoys the close knit family environment she has come to be a part of since joining the team. When Samira is not with her work family, she enjoys spending time with her daughters, Ryah and Ava, husband Brent, and dog Libby. She also enjoys living a healthy and fit lifestyle, loves a good hairdo, good style, comedy, and good company.

Will grew up in the small rural community of Gothenburg, Nebraska. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed in Korea, Guam, and Italy. Will went on to graduate from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a degree in Business Administration. His two sons, Elijah and Keller are both are very active in baseball, so his summers are pretty much spent at the ballpark. He enjoys boating, traveling, and of course baseball. Go Red Sox! Prior to his current role, he was Principal at Lighting Specialists, and quotations specialists at Central Sales Lighting.

Autumn Nieland joined Mercer Zimmerman in 2013. She graduated from KU with a degree in Architectural Engineering, and began working in the lighting industry as a lighting designer at Schuler Shook in Chicago. She stayed in Chicago to work for io Lighting and Morr Sharp as a specification sales agent. A Kansas Citian at heart, she was glad to be back in 2009 working at LightWild/Flextronics until 2013. Autumn enjoys working at Mercer Zimmerman because of the team oriented atmosphere. In her free time, Autumn can be found being active and outside with her two young boys.

Laura was born in Des Moines, Iowa and attended Iowa State University. She was married for 24 years to her late husband, Rob and has two amazing sons.  Zach is Army Intelligence and currently serving a tour in Iraq. Ethan wrestles at ISU and is getting his masters in industrial design. Laura’s two year-old (spoiled) grandson, Will, has a brother due in April. Laura loves to garden, plant flowers and be outdoors. She also enjoys watching wrestling and spending time with family and close friends.

Jacqueline is a K-State grad with a dual major in Marketing and Supply Chain Management, a certificate in Professional Strategic Selling and a minor in Hospitality Management. She was very active with her sorority, Kappa Delta as well as the Pi Sigma Epsilon sales and marketing campus organization.  While in school, she also completed summer internships with the KC Marriott Downtown, the Indian Hills Country Club and Huhtamaki (consumer goods packaging). Jacqueline is originally from Kansas City, MO and has lived in the same house her entire life with her parents and sister. She is very much into fitness and nutrition, so during her free time, she is usually lifting at the gym or meal prepping, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Chilli joined our team in February of 2017 as a specification sales person. Prior to MZ, Chilli, a graduate of the University of Nebraska Architectural Engineering program, worked as an Engineer in AE firms in Texas, California, Wisconsin and Nebraska which has offered her some keen insight into some of our specifiers and the work that they do. Her passion for Architectural Engineering and her appreciation for the time and energy and dedication that goes into lighting and lighting design motivates her to advocate for designers and find solutions that preserve the integrity of their work. Outside of work Chilli enjoys spending time with her very large, very loud and always loving family. She enjoys travelling, is quite the foodie and loves power lifting, that is when she’s not getting injured.

Carrie studied business, marketing, and speech communication at Minnesota State University in Mankato, MN. After graduation, she launched her career in advertising at a major firm based in Minneapolis. After four years in advertising, she moved to LA, Carrie produced high end visual effects, music videos, and eventually post producing Digital Intermediate film finishes for blockbuster feature films. She now lives in her hometown of Marion, Iowa and enjoys being close to family and friends. Among her many hobbies are design, bike riding, cooking & entertaining, gardening, and all things outdoors. Her constant companion is her rescue kitty named Tazie. Carrie enjoys taking ranch vacations to hit the open trail and has been to some fabulous places in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.

Scott McMurray is a lighting designer who formerly worked for Derek Porter Studio. McMurray graduated the University of Kansas with a Bachelors of Film and Theatre, and a Masters of Architecture. In addition to working for an architect and an architectural lighting designer, Scott has continued to work on small independent design-build projects, and brings to Mercer Zimmerman a balanced experience of design and construction experience. Outside of work, Scott enjoys traveling with his wife Beverly, and is always pursuing the opportunity to direct an Oscar-worthy film.

Bev McMurray graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture, and has taken Masters-level courses in Architecture as well. After finishing college, Bev has spent 12 years working in design on both commercial and high-end residential projects. She has enjoyed her experience so far at Mercer Zimmerman, and attributes this to the family environment, as well as the company integrity she sees throughout. When not working, Bev enjoys spending time with her best friend, who happens to be her husband, travelling both nationally and internationally. Her other hobbies include working with her hands, building, creating, designing, and renovating, especially within their newly purchased 1958 home.

Max graduated in 2020 from KU with a degree in Political Science. On his way to Mercer Zimmerman, Max worked in medical device sales and staffing for hospitals and other medical facilities during the onset of COVID. 

Max was born in Overland Park, but grew up in De Soto, Kansas. He lived in Lawrence, KS for 7 years (Rock Chalk!) near his parents and sister. After welcoming their son, Brooks in 2022, Max and his girlfriend Katy, along with their two dogs Ruger and Camo, moved to Omaha, NE.

During his free time, Max enjoys hanging out with Brooks and trying new restaurants. While he still cheers on the Royals and Chiefs, he is learning to become a Huskers fan. He also enjoys cooking and trying new recipes (seafood pasta being a favorite). When he’s not cooking, Max is watching old episodes of The Office and anything on HGTV.

On his bucket list…traveling to all 50 states. He has currently checked off 26!

Mary graduated from the University of Kansas with a Business degree in Marketing and a Minor in Psychology. She’s proud to have been part of the Women’s Rowing Team while at KU and proud to be part of the MZ team now. In her free time, Mary loves to hang out with friends and family, spend time at the lake, and go on as many adventures as possible.

Originally from Bosnia, Ena moved to the United States when she was 5 years old and grew up in Buffalo, New York (go Bills!). She has a rat terrier/heeler mix named Buddy and they love to travel together. If she is not planning travels, Ena is typically busy modding her Jeep, creating intricate pen drawings, or doing anything competitively. She loves going to the gym and partaking in outdoor activities like hiking, biking, snowboarding, and playing tennis. Aside from being active, Ena enjoys watching Iowa Hawkeye football, KU basketball, and the Buffalo Bills.

Charity grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska and has four kids with her husband, Justin. She enjoys watching Hallmark movies, soccer, and Husker football. In her spare time, Charity likes to drive to Lincoln, eat at Honest Abe’s, and pick up some delicious desserts at Goldenrod Pastries. 

Noelle joined Mercer Zimmerman as an intern the summer of 2019. Born and raised in Kansas, Noelle studied Biblical and Theological Studies at Boyce College in Louisville, KY and received her degree in Business Administration from Johnson County Community College. Noelle thrives in our relationship-based business and continuously pushes herself to learn all aspects of the industry. Outside of work, you can find Noelle spending time with family and friends (especially her two nephews!), trying out new restaurants, hanging out at a local coffee shop, and keeping active outside.

Before Adrianne Salyer found Mercer Zimmerman, she spent 19 years in the world of retail as a Store Sales Leader for New York & Company stores throughout Kansas City. She’s put those many skills to work in her role as Sales Administrator at MZ. Since joining the MZ family, she was quick to recognize the culture was unlike anything she had experienced before – and she loves it! Besides work, Adrianne feels fortunate to be married to her very best friend for many, many years. Together, they enjoy watching their daughter Hailey tear it upon on her high school and club softball teams.

Paul was born in Scottsbluff, NE and move to Omaha at 4 years old where’s he’s lived ever since. After graduating from South High School, Paul studied Accounting at Metro Technical Community College. He and his lovely wife Lisa have been married for more than 30 years and have two wonderful daughters, Katie and Linsey. They also have a dog named Bella who allows them to live in their house. Paul enjoys traveling, attending live music venues, and movies. He is a big fan of all Husker sports (especially football), the NY Mets, and the San Antonio Spurs. You can typically find Paul gardening and going on walks with the dog.    

Jason was born and raised in Lincoln, NE and graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science. He and his wife Kim have two kids, Camden and Jordyn, and two dogs Charger (German Shepard) and Griffin (Maltese). Jason enjoys coaching his son’s AAU basketball team, The Lincoln Flash and watching his daughter play basketball, volleyball, and make TikToks! His playlist is mostly rock and hip hop with Linkin Park and Nelly always in the rotation. In addition to cheering on his kids sports teams, Jason enjoys watching the Atlanta Braves, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Miami Heat. He is a huge shoe collector with over 200 pairs in his closet (and yes, he has more shoes than his wife). Jason collects anything Jordan, Nike, Yeezy, Off-White, Travis Scott or anything that is hype. He started collecting sports cards as a kid and within the past 2 years has starting collecting again.

Mitch joined the MZ team in 2018, following eight years in the outdoor Industry. New to lighting, but not new to product development and sales, Mitch also has a Bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in business administration from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS. Mitch enjoys the small-company feel that Mercer Zimmerman offers, as well as the closely-knit family atmosphere. He’s an avid outdoorsman, and when not at work will either be found in a deer stand or on a golf course – depending on the time of year. His other interests include watching sports and spending time with his friends and family.

Michael Doyle joined the Mercer Zimmerman team already equipped with extensive experience in sales. He worked both as a Senior Estimator for a contractor, and as a lighting quotes estimator for a distributer, both which gave him unique skills perfect for working in Contractor and Distributer sales. He enjoys working at Mercer Zimmerman because the teams fun attitude makes it a great place to work. In his free time, Michael enjoys going to concerts and spending time with his wife, going fishing with his father, and spending time with his son.

Not born but raised in KC since 1985. Tony has been in the electrical industry since 1997 after taking a construction core class in high school. Over the length of his career, he has performed residential electrical wiring, been an Electrical Foreman for medium to large commercial projects, acquired his Master’s License, successfully grew the business of a local low voltage and security department as Director of Sales and Operations, and served as a Commercial Electrical Estimator/Project Manager. He enjoys working at Mercer because of the people and the culture they provide (everyone works as a team with the same goals in mind). When not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids, camping, working around the yard, BBQing, and watching Kansas City Sports.

Aaron Korsching joined the MZ team in 2021 with 15 years of experience in the lighting and controls business.  He graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in MGMT INFO SYS.  Although a proud ISU grad, he is a big Hawkeye fan.  Aaron has been married to his wife Tesha for more than 20 years.  Their son Colin is a Junior at the University of Iowa, and their daughter Avery will be attending Minnesota State University in the fall of 2022.  When the four of them can get their schedules to work they enjoy going on family trips to anywhere. 

Aaron grew up in Loomis, NE (population 286) and went on to graduate from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He has one nephew, one niece, and one dog – Jake, a German Shorthair Pointer. He enjoys hunting, but as Jake has grown older and after Aaron’s busted Achilles heel, the sun is setting on their hunting days. Instead, Aaron enjoys golf, sand volleyball, working out, and going to concerts. He is a die-hard fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Cardinals. Carpentry is a hobby he enjoys and has made everything from custom cabinets, built ins, dressers, shelving and more.

A few random, fun facts about Aaron:

• He’s won three t-shirt design and one restaurant logo redesign contests in my life.
• He is a two time Nebraska State punt, pass, and kick champion (ages 8 & 12).
• He can snap with every finger.
• He is the undisputed staring-contest champ amongst friends/ classmates/ coworkers.
• He can ride a bike without using the handle bars.
• He’s an amazing shot with a rubber band.
• He’s shared a cab in Nashville with Eric Church. 
• Things he wishes he were better at: solving Rubik’s cubes, line dancing, and singing karaoke. 

Tom grew up on a dairy farm near the small Iowa town of Bellevue. He graduated from Northeast Iowa Community College and started in the lighting business over 30 years ago with an Allen Bradley Distributor.  Tom and his wonderful wife Sarah have 4 great kids – Katelyn, Madison / Mitchell (twins, but have different birthdates!), and Samantha. Their 1^st grandson AJ is their everything and so much fun. He enjoys spending time with the family on their little 60 acre “hobby farm” along with their dogs, cats, goats. You can usually find them riding around the farm on ATV’s and UTV’s or hanging out on a small campground down by the Little Platte River that runs thru the middle of our farm. The Knockel family is all about Wisconsin sports teams including the Badgers, Packers, Brewers, and Bucks. In his free time, Tom does a little hunting and fishing, likes to repair old things, build new things, and spend time outside on our farm.

Tom has always loved the good people of Kansas and shares that as he was moving to Arizona right out of high School, and while driving thru Kansas, he hit a big 16 point buck and totaled his car. It was 11:30 at night and just outside Emporia. Needless to say, he needed some help in a town / state he had never been in before, and according to Tom, ALL the people in Kansas were very good to him.

Verle started a very successful career in the electrical field working for a power company and then for a distributor advancing to a District Manager for a number of years.

Through dedication, hard work, and a competitive drive, success followed. In 2003 he joined Mercer Zimmerman as a account rep and has continued to help provide success, leadership, and growth for the company.

He is married to a wonderful and supportive wife Jeanne and they have 3 children – Andrew, Jenna (and husband Anthony) and John. They also love spending time with their two grandsons, Willard and Duncan.

He enjoys playing golf, basketball, and watching football and playing with his grandchildren. Verle supports the Huskers and the Chiefs. He also likes to visit new places with history.

Chris was born and raised in Grand Island, NE and now resides in Lincoln with his wife Katie and their two kids. He enjoys coaching his son and daughter’s football and basketball teams, watching sports, and playing basketball. Chris is a shoe fanatic and has several unworn pairs in the closet still in their boxes.

Chad was born in Sioux City, IA, but spent most of his childhood in Texas and New Mexico. He and his wife Sarah enjoy watching their two daughters play soccer and softball. Chad loves golfing and getting the boat out on the water most weekends. He grew up racing motorcycles and raced professionally in Iowa until a crash forced him to hang it up. He still watches professional motocross and supercross races and cheers on the Kansas City Chiefs and Iowa Hawkeyes. Chad brings extensive corporate management and leadership experience to the Mercer Zimmerman team.

Kam graduated from Missouri State University and brings logistics experience to the Mercer Zimmerman team. He and his wife Sarah love to live an active lifestyle and enjoy hiking, golfing, skiing, traveling, and taking their wonderful dog, Ellie, to the park. Kam is an avid sports fan, but his loyalties reside in St. Louis (Blues, Cardinals and, yes, he is still a Rams fan).

Justin was born and raised in Le Mars, Iowa and graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in advertising and public relations, along with a minor in communication studies. He and his wife Kayla have two sons and enjoy being outdoors, spending time with family & friends, and swimming in the pool. When he has free time, Justin can usually be found in a field, a tree stand, or out working with the dogs. He enjoys a round of golf and taking the family to the lake.

Taylor is a lifelong Kansan. He grew up in Goodland, graduated from Buhler High School, and Kansas State University. He has lived in Wichita since 2013. Taylor and his wife Anne have two children, Brooks and Lola. He enjoys playing basketball and golf, doing anything outdoors, and spending time with friends & family. His favorite foods tend to be Mediterranean and his favorite dish is sea scallops at Wine Dive in Wichita.

Brandis is originally from Southern Iowa and now lives in Ankeny with her two boys, Kobe and Roman, and their dog Rizzo. During the summer she can be found at the baseball field cheering on her boys or poolside with family and friends. Brandis enjoys thrifting and repurposing someone’s junk into her treasure. Her favorite food is cheese and she loves an evening of Mexican cuisine that includes margaritas and good conversation. 

Dave grew up in Ankeny, IA and now lives in Huxley, IA. He and his wife Chrissy have three kids and a 70-lb lap dog who waits for Dave to get home every night so he can curl up on his lap and go to sleep. Dave and family enjoy trips to KC for Royals and Chiefs games and heading to Ames to cheer on the Cyclones.

Christina grew up in Evansdale, Iowa, and went to the University of Northern Iowa for Interior Design. After graduating, she and her husband Will spent 8 years in Overland Park, Kansas. They moved back to Iowa in 2020 to be closer to family. They have three children and a cat. Christina likes to read, make things with her kids, drink coffee, and go to thrift stores and garage sales. They have a cabin in Guttenberg, Iowa on the Mississippi River, and love to spend time there in the warmer months.

Nicole and her husband, Joe, are both from Omaha, although they met at University of Lincoln-Nebraska. Yes, they are Cornhuskers that live among the Cyclones and Hawkeyes…it’s been a rough couple of “rebuilding” years. They have been in Des Moines for several years and love the city. They have a son, Arlo, and a golden retriever, Romeo. They adopted Romeo after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and he needed a new home. It was soon realized that he didn’t understand English commands, only Spanish. Christina loves road trips, exploring new cities (especially the National Parks), and trying new restaurants.

Brandon joined Mercer Zimmerman in 2018 with over 10 years of experience in the lighting and controls rep industry. Originally from Texas, he enjoys watching his favorite football team – America’s Team – the Dallas Cowboys. Most of the time, you can find Brandon hanging out with his wife and kids outdoors and catching a few fish on the water.

Brad Hull joined the Mercer Zimmerman team in 2001 after graduating from the University of Kansas in 1999 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre Design. As a lighting designer, he has designed numerous productions for Music Theatre Kansas City, Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Civic Opera Theatre, and University Dance Company at KU. This practical design experience keeps him current with new technologies and trends in the entertainment lighting and controls industry.  It also provides a great springboard into the world of code-based lighting controls and makes Hull a valuable controls resource to the specification and construction community. In his free time, Brad enjoys landscape/architectural photography, skiing, and hiking thru our National Parks with his family.

After spending many years in the entertainment lighting industry on both coasts, Brian is happy to have landed back at home in Kansas City.  Twice a University of Kansas grad, Brian received an MA in Architectural Management and BFA in Theatre Lighting Design and has since spent many years designing and integrating lighting systems.  Brian’s free time is spent chasing around his endlessly energetic son, hammering away on house projects, dreaming of his next travel destination, and seeking out the next spot to find the perfectly baked cookie and a great cup of coffee.

Adam Monahan joined the Mercer Zimmerman team in October of 2021. He joined from the transition of Mercer Zimmerman acquiring AES Lighting Group of Nebraska/Iowa. He is a controls specialist in the Iowa market with a long history in the industry. He was an electrician for approximately 15 years and then moved into distribution for about 4 years before moving onto the AES Lighting Group as a control’s specialist. He grew up in a small farm town in Galena Illinois and later graduated from high school in the same area. After graduation he moved directly into the electrical business. In his spare time, he loves to hunt, ride utv’s and spend time with his wife and two children. He also loves to watch football when he gets a free moment. Also, in his spare time he likes to help his brother in laws on their farm during crop seasons. For family vacations him and his family like to go to the Cape Coral area in Florida to soak up the sun during the cold Midwest winters. He loves to listen to music, pretty much any music but especially country music sang by his favorite singer Luke Bryan.

Tim McCray has been working in the lighting business for almost thirty years, and is very experienced in working as a lighting designer, as he was the Artistic and Lighting Director for Theater at Vis for many years. Tim received his Bachelor’s degree in theater and math from Central Missouri State University (now University of Central Missouri). In his free time, Tim loves to spend time with all eighteen of his grandchildren at their large family get-togethers. His hobbies include running, golf, and working on hands-on projects. He is also very involved in his church theater group.

Michael Yoch joined the Mercer Zimmerman team during the October 2021 acquisition of AES Lighting Group (Omaha, NE).  Michael spent almost 9 years as Controls Department Manager while at AES.  His duties included outside control sales, controls quotations, applications engineering, project management, startup coordination as well as field technician.  Previous to Michael working at AES, he spent 14 years as an electrical designer with HDR Architecture also located in Omaha, NE. 

Michael has been married for over 20 years (Bethany), has two sons (Asher and Westin), two cats (Jack and Cora) and a dog (Max).  Michael is an avid DIY home improvement enthusiast, enjoys everything about the fall including Husker football, fire pits, Halloween, and camping with his family.  Michael has been known to cook a fair amount of BBQ in his life…spending some time on a competitive BBQ with highlights of competing at the Kansas City American Royal multiple times as well as the Jack Daniel’s Invitational in Lynchburg, TN.  Him and his wife are both active with their boys’ various sports schedules and can typically be found at a baseball or football game, or near a wrestling mat in the winter.

Originally from Des Moines, Ryan and his wife Megan have two wonderful kids: Deacon and Julia. Ryan is a huge Chicago Cubs and Bears fan and has flown to both coasts for the day to watch the Cubs play the Red Sox and the Dodgers. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family and hanging out by the pool in the summer. Ryan brings a wealth of industry experience including nine years as an electrician and eight years working in controls for two Des Moines lighting agencies.

Abby joined the Mercer Zimmerman team in 2020, finding the family atmosphere and constantly changing industry she was looking for. She graduated from Missouri S&T, in Rolla, MO with a BS in Engineering Management. Born and raised in KC, she loves to cheer for the Royals, go to local musical productions, and do some thrifting with her husband in their free time.

Cullen graduated from Southeast Community College with an Associates Degree in Non-Destructive Testing. He was born and raised in Lincoln, NE and is now married with 3 children, a son and a set of boy/girl twins. His wife is a pediatrics ICU Nurse at Children’s Hospital in Omaha. Last but not least is their three-legged dog Jack who loves to play fetch. Cullen and his family love to camp and go boating whenever they can. Visiting the zoo and Vala’s pumpkin patch is my son’s favorite outside activities. When time allows, you can find the Cleaver family at Jeep Jamboree in Moab, UT or Ouray, CO. They are Husker fans through and through, whether it’s Football, Volleyball, Basketball – any UNL sports. GO BIG RED!! In his spare time Cullen enjoys wood working and making furniture. He just recently got into leather crafting to help him to relax and de-stress. 

Tyler is a 2020 graduate of Missouri University of Science & Technology (Missouri S&T) with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is Minnesota-born, but has lived in O’Fallon, Missouri since the age of seven. He is a huge sports fan, playing baseball, tennis and football in high school, and a variety of intramural sports in college. Despite his unfornate affection for the Green Bay Packers (and Brewers and Badgers), he has big respect for Patrick Mahomes and Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals. In his free time, Tyler reconnects with his college friends through video games.

He lives in Kansas City with his girlfriend, Samantha, and their four-legged family: Luna (Husky/Rottweiler/Lab mix), Milo (Australian Shepherd) and Ollie (orange tabby cat).  Ironically, he is allergic to dogs and cats. 

Jack grew up in Olathe, KS as the oldest of three boys and holds dual citizenship in the US and the UK. His dad is from England and his mom is from Nebraska. He is a 2021 Graduate from the University of Arkansas with a BA degree in Agriculture – Major in Environmental Science and Minor in Natural Resource Conservation and studies included agricultural law, oceanography, pedology & hydrology, pest management, plant pathology and geospatial mapping to name a few. His favorite pastime is learning about new things like environmental issues, clean energy, cryptocurrency, physics, and cosmology. Jack enjoys a healthy diet of fresh produce and meat over flour and sugars.

Jeff has extensive experience in lighting controls design and project management. He is a proud University of Iowa graduate with a degree in Sociology. Jeff enjoys bike riding, photography, taking care of his many plants, and eating at Cactus Bob’s in Des Moines.

Devin was born and raised in Fort Worth, TX. He started working with lighting in his high school theatre and continued to do so when he moved to central Texas where he attended Texas State University, graduating with a BFA in Theatre Design and Technology. Devin enjoys the great outdoors, hiking, camping, kayaking, and biking. He also enjoys spending time playing board games and video games with his close friends. He also likes trying new and delicious food – his favorite food being South East Asian.

Logan graduated in 2021 from Kansas State with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He enjoys reading, eating, and ultimate frisbee. Much of his time outside of work is spent serving at his church in the middle school group. He has hopes to begin traveling more in the future with his friends.

Ray Robins trained at Baker University in Stage Design and Technology, but has spent most of his career as an installer and designer of theatrical lighting, rigging, and curtain systems.  Following ten years as technical director for Indian Creek Community Church in Olathe, Ray joined Mercer Zimmerman as a full-time controls field technician to provide programming services for MZ’s many controls brands, while also providing general troubleshooting for all things lighting control.  Ray and his wife Terry reside in rural Miami County in a continuously-under-remodel farmhouse with two very large dogs and a small herd of cats.

Tyler lives in Altoona, IA with his wife Jenni, two daughters and son. Their daughter Kaelyn attends the University of Iowa (go Hawks!) and other daughter, Kaylee attends Simpson University and plays Volleyball for them. Tyler loves spending time with family and cheering on their son, Mac, in just about every sport. He enjoys golfing, traveling, and getting to explore new places.

Jason is a Master Electrician and brings over 17 years of experience to the Mercer Zimmerman team. He enjoys all Kansas City sports including the Chiefs and the Royals. When Jason is not at work, you can find him going on outside adventures with his kids, Wyatt and Reagan.

Justin was born in Colorado Springs and lived in many states in the Pacific Northwest before settling in Omaha in 1985. He and wife, Charity, have four wonderful children: Ian, Spencer, Kailie, and Maddie. The family has two dogs, Sawyer and Daisy.

When not at work, you can find Justin on the sidelines or in the stands at one of his kids’ sporting events.  He also enjoys working on various home remodeling projects. Justin has a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Industrial Technology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  He taught high school briefly, before moving on to work in the construction industry, retail management and, most recently, broadband installation, maintenance and repair. 

Ruben was born in Los Angeles, CA and moved to middle-of-nowhere Gothenburg, NE at a very young age. He grew up and graduated high school in Gothenburg before moving to Lincoln for college at Nebraska Wesleyan University and has lived in Lincoln ever since. He is married to his VERY patient wife, Angie, and they have two incredible kids, Austen and Sadie. Ruben enjoys riding his motorcycle, spending time with family and friends, and learning new things. You can usually find him cheering on the Huskers (…are there other teams??), making stainless steel wallet chains and creating vinyl graphics projects. In addition, Ruben is a proud dance/cheer dad, has a degree in K-12 Instrumental Music Ed, once rode his motorcycle just over 1,000 miles in 18 hours to complete a riding challenge, and also owns a very small vinyl graphics company called Integrity Vinyl Graphics.

Danielle grew up in the very small farm town of Bellwood, Nebraska. She graduated with an Associates degree in Commercials Arts although she’s never had the chance to use it. Danielle has one daughter, two dogs, and one cat. She enjoys spending time with her kiddo, indoor and sand volleyball, traveling, hiking, and really anything outdoors. When she’s not cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide – Roll Tide! – you can find her trying to find the best hot wings ever made,  reading, or playing board games. 

Ryan is originally from Phenix, Alabama and is a loyal fan of the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!), Manchester United soccer club and the Atlanta Braves. He shares his home and takes regular hikes with his two dogs: Jackson (a Chiweenie) and Rango (a GSD/Blue Heeler). When not at work, Ryan enjoys going to the gym, playing volleyball and golf, going to concerts and comedy clubs, riding motorcycles and working on his car. Ryan was an aerospace ground equipment mechanic in the Air Force for seven years and has traveled all over the world.

Mario joined the Mercer Zimmerman family in 2021 as a Controls Technician.  Originally from New Iberia, Louisiana, he has his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performing Arts from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and his Masters of Fine Arts in Lighting Design from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI.  Mario comes from a large family with three brothers and four sisters – most of whom live in Louisiana.  Mario is very involved with his church – helping lead the production as well as volunteering with the outreach ministry, House of Hope. In his free time, Mario enjoys watching and playing sports (flag football, volleyball, softball & basketball), playing sports video games, and hanging out with his wife, Jess. 

Brian Eads has worked in the electrical industry for 18 years at the distributor and representative level. He enjoys working at Mercer Zimmerman because they are one big family. He feels well taken care of, and like he is more than just an employee.

James joined Mercer Zimmerman in 2020 with many years of experience in the service and lighting industries. His incomparable work ethic, ingenuity, and client-focused attitude make James an invaluable asset to our team. When he’s not at work, you can find him spending time with friends and family, working on projects, and enjoying the outdoors.

Kevin Hooey graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in Arts and Technology. He enjoys working at Mercer Zimmerman because of the relaxed family like atmosphere, and because he feels motivated to push himself to do his best work. In his free time, Kevin can be found spending time with his wife and their three daughters.

Chad grew up in Omaha, NE and graduated from Millard South High School. He and his wife Sydni have two yellow labs, Champ and Judge. Chad enjoys golfing, hunting, boating, and camping. He likes watching sports and cheers on the Huskers, Cowboys, and Lakers. In his free time, you can usually find Chad on a bourbon hunt with friends, checking his fantasy team, or wiggling both ears independently.

Clint Elliott joined the ranks of Mercer Zimmerman in January 2003.  He is responsible for bidding and negotiating lighting packages for commercial construction and design/build projects and enjoys what he does at Mercer Zimmerman. His ability to work well with distributors makes him a valuable addition to the team. Elliott has a B.S. in Mass Communications from Central Missouri State University, with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. He enjoys spending his free time with wife Andrea and their 5 boys.

E.J. Hiss is a member of the project quotations department, coming from a lighting agency in Texas. E.J. has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, with a minor in Business from Kansas State University. He was reared in Great Bend, Kansas and grew up in a dairy farming family. He enjoys spending his free time attending sporting events, volunteering, and spending time with friends and family. E.J. values working in the quotes department because he enjoys the process of project negotiation, and appreciates working at Mercer-Zimmerman because of the high-quality group of people at the company.

Beau Gibbons grew up in Washburn, IA and graduated from Upper Iowa University with a BS in Business Administration. He loves traveling, camping, photography, golf, disc golf, going to concerts, football games, baseball games, riding bikes, bitcoin, playing music, and hanging out with his dog, Abby. Beau has spent most of his professional career in sales and considers himself a people person.

Mitch grew up in Overland Park, KS and went to K-State for Construction Science and Management. His is third generation in the electrical industry in the Kansas City market. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports and movies, working on renovation projects, and building things.  He is a huge Chiefs and K-State fan. He also enjoys playing golf, whether it’s Top Golf, hitting the driving range, or playing a round. Mitch grew up camping and being on the lake and still tries to when he can.

Steve grew up in Chicago and moved to Iowa when he was 7. After attending St. Ambrose College in Davenport, IA, he and his wife Julie moved to Omaha, NE. In 1980, he went to work for his father in his lighting agency (AES Lighting Group). He has been with the company ever since and truly enjoys what he does. Steve and Julie have two children which are now fully grown and out on their own. He enjoys camping, boating, and is an avid hunter with yearly trips to Canada. (Fun Fact: Steve is a dual Canadian citizen!) As a big Dallas Cowboy’s fan, he tries to make a couple games in person every year.

Kevin Irby joined the Mercer Zimmerman team in 2010 after working in electric, quotations, and sales for 12 years prior. He currently resides in Springfield, Missouri, where he moved to from Virginia. In Springfield he worked at Lloyd’s Electric Supply for several years as counter sales and lighting quotations. Kevin enjoys his job at Mercer Zimmerman, and likes being a part of such a friendly and knowledgeable team. In his free time Kevin enjoys all things boating, especially when accompanied by his dog FeBe! His other hobbies include grilling, barbecue, and wine making.

Heidi Lauppe joined the Mercer Zimmerman team in 2007.  Based in our Wichita office, she loves spending time with her daughter Emery and husband Justin. During the summer months, you can find Heidi enjoying time on the lake with friends and family and hanging out with her miniature dachshund Ozzy.

Nate graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha and has extensive project management and quotations experience. He and his wife have 4 kids and enjoy watching them play hockey other sports. You can find Nate cheering on the Huskers, Cubs, and Pittsburgh Penguins. In his spare time, Nate likes doing DIY jobs with his wife, coaching some of his kids sports, and spending time on the lake and in the mountains.

Kyle Lang joined Mercer Zimmerman at their Wichita location in March of 2012. He graduated from Kansas State University in 2008 with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, as well as a minor in Spanish and a Certificate of International Business. Between graduating from college and starting at Mercer-Zimmerman, Kyle worked at CED-Wichita and completed the Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels of the Electrical Products Education Course. When he is not working for Mercer-Zimmerman, Kyle enjoys sports, whether it is watching them or playing them, and loves to root for his alma mater. He also spends much of his free time enjoying the company of his wife Lisa and five boys.

Marge grew up in Omaha and graduated from UNO with a degree in Criminal Justice. She has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. Marge is a huge homebody and loves watching Creighton Men’s Basketball. A fun fact about Marge is that she speaks Polish.  Her parents came to the United States from Poland and you may hear her speaking Polish if her mom happens to call the office!

Layne grew up in Fairbury, Nebraska and graduated from Southeast Community College-Milford in Electrical Technology. After moving to Omaha, he was employed by Wesco for 4 years then joined AES Lighting Group as a lighting manufactures representative. He has been with the company for over 35 years. He and his wife Sherry raised four daughters and have four grandsons. Layne spends his summers at the lake with family and friends riding their wave runners. He enjoys cheering on the Nebraska Huskers teams along with the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Cardinals.

Troy was born and raised in Nebraska and graduated from Northwest High School. He and his lovely wife Beth live in Omaha with their cat Simba. Troy enjoys reading science fiction and in his spare time likes to go on bus trips to different casinos with his wife and friends and paint by numbers. You can find him calling BINGO on Sundays and Fridays for a local charity. Troy like watching hockey and cheers on his favorite NHL team, the Washington Capitals. He has also volunteered for the Omaha Lancers for the past 15 years by working the goal judge box, penalty box, running the clock, and doing stats.

Boyd has lived in Omaha for most of his life and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is married with two boys and enjoys gardening in his free time. Boyd has played softball for 45 years and likes to travel and visit with extended family and friends. He cheers for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Chiefs, Burke High School Bulldogs, and the Beveridge Magnet Middle School Bulldogs.

Nick is a 2019 graduate of Washburn University where he earned his degree in Criminal Justice. He has experience as a Case Design Consultant supporting financial advisors with products and services to help them be successful. Nick was born and raised in Topeka, KS and has two brothers and a sister, and is an uncle of two amazing nieces. Nick enjoys staying active – playing soccer (played for his college team), basketball and golf. He loves taking trips and trying new things.

Tom received his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Kansas State in 2017. After working for the Missouri-based lighting manufacturer, H.E. Williams he joined the Mercer Zimmerman team. Tom’s talents span across several departments, but his current focuses include quoting and ceiling solutions. On most weekends you can find Tom out with his telescope and camera checking out the skies, hanging out with friends, or binge watching movies.

Sydni grew up in Omaha, NE and is the youngest of five children. She and her husband Chad have a yellow lab, Judge, who is named after Yankees player, Aaron Judge. In her free time, Sydni loves watching Husker football and Creighton basketball. She also enjoys boating on the river with friends and family.

Brandin Lazenby joined Mercer Zimmerman in 2011, after working in the Cooling Technologies unit of SPX Corporation, a global provider of technical products and systems. Through the years, he has grown in experience and responsibility. He typically leads by partnering with bright teammates to drive continuous improvement and growth. Brandin and his wife Stacey have six wonderful and active children. He has a heart for giving back and getting involved with local charity groups. Brandin enjoys mountain biking, 4-wheeling, camping, farming, and traveling with his family.

Lindsey Osborn joined Mercer Zimmerman from the new home construction industry. She graduated from Fort Hays State University with a Business Administration degree, with an emphasis in management. Lindsey is able to build positive relationships with clients and employees in a relaxed, family-friendly environment. When not at MZ, you will find her spending time with her husband and daughter, cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, University of Kansas Jayhawks, and volunteering with the City of Shawnee and her church.

Kim Crum has been working in the electric industry for over thirty years with companies such as Amfac Electric and Illumination Sales, and has been a part of the Mercer Zimmerman Wichita team since 1998. Her favorite part of working with Mercer Zimmerman is how professional, skilled, and resourceful her team and the company overall are. In her free time Kim enjoys spending time with her daughter Kylie and her husband Robbie, going to the lake or up to the mountains.

Beth was born and raised in Denison, Iowa and has been with the company for almost 30 years. She and her husband, Russ have two boys, Dylan and Connor. Beth loves spending time outside, hanging out with family and friends, cooking, and traveling. They are always cheering on the Nebraska Cornhusker Football and Baseball teams (Go Big Red!) and the KC Chiefs.  Red must be her favorite color! In her free time you can usually find her hanging out with her grandchildren.

Cory grew up in Halstead, Kansas and later graduated from K-State. Go Cats! He and his wife Lillie have a chocolate lab named Aggie (after Aggieville in Manhattan). Cory enjoys spending his free time golfing, spending time out on the lake, and taking their RZR (side by side) out on the trails.

Sarah was born and raised in Omaha and comes from a large, tight-knit family where she is known as the world’s greatest Aunt and best host. She has an active role in several areas including post-sales customer service, project entry, and putting together submittals/priors packages. She is organized, hardworking, and always a friendly face in the office. In her spare time she loves to entertain family and friends, find new camping/hiking/vacay spots, and all things HGTV.

Every summer (for the last 13 summers), Sarah manages and coordinates 2 youth service camps in rural NE and Kansas City; a life of service is very important to her. Her camps always see up to 500 campers and serve up to 75 homes/organizations in the community.

Sarah’s biggest personal goal for the next year is to buy her first investment property to flip with her brother. It’s been their dream to own and manage property all over the U.S.

Go Big Red!

Sarah Hess joined Mercer Zimmerman in 2021. Born in Omaha and raised in Elkhorn, Nebraska, Sarah also spent 12 years of her young adult life in Denver, Colorado. She and her husband Andy live in Topeka and are currently weighing the pros and cons of pet ownership, but do have a salt water aquarium at home. Sarah enjoys dancing (country, west coast swing, salsa), traveling, finding and supporting locally owned restaurants and artists, reading and taking classes/earning certifications to further her education, knowledge and growth. She also enjoys a good tailgate and loves most ethnic cuisines including Thai, Vietnamese, and Indian.

Sarah served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer from 2016-2018 in Cambodia. She says it was an unparalleled experience that helped to refine her worldview and global perspective. Sarah still talks to her host family and looks forward to taking to meeting up with them each year. She is very family-oriented and enjoys building relationships.

Keil was lucky enough to marry his wife Lena in 2007 and start a family. They met in Florida where they both grew up, but shortly after being married found themselves in Nebraska and have called Lincoln, NE home for the last 13 years. They have two daughters Annie and Abbie, and a son Andrew. Keil is a USMC veteran and he and his wife enjoy spending time with family, taking the kids to their sporting events, vacationing on the beach, playing with their Boston Terrier, Gunner, and cheering for the Florida State Seminoles.

Kim Miller joined the Mercer Zimmerman team in 2021 after working as a Project Manager at a local electrical distributor. She hails from Southwest Virginia and attended college at Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina studying Education and Psychology and was proud to be part of the Royals volleyball team. Her electrical background was in the automation field where she dealt with Industrial, OEM, and contractor accounts slowly specializing in the world of lighting. 

Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 kids. They love camping, sports, and trying new things. Kim is passionate about serving others and is excited to be part of a family of coworkers that are focused on opportunity driven solutions.

McKenzie received her bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing from Kansas State University. After working for a lighting manufacturer for 5 years, she joined the Mercer Zimmerman team in 2021. She loves being a part of a constantly changing industry and working for a family-oriented business. In her free time, McKenzie enjoys spending time with her husband and son, exploring the outdoors, going to local breweries, and cheering on the Kansas State Wildcats.

Ashley Young works at Mercer Zimmerman as a project manager. Ashley enjoys working at Mercer Zimmerman because they stand behind their work, and they strive to provide top quality products. She also enjoys working with her fun, close knit group of coworkers. In her free time, Ashley likes to spend time with her two children, doing anything that involves the outdoors.

Melisa Young started her career in the lighting industry as an Administrative Assistant for an electrical contracting company. There she became familiar with Mercer Zimmerman and says she knew what a reputable company MZ was LONG before she became an employee! She feels her work with a contractor was the perfect lead-in for her current position as a Project Manager. She says she was honored to join MZ, after having worked closely with their knowledgeable team in the past.

Nancy was born and raised in Omaha, NE. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and has been in the lighting agency business for over 30 years. Nancy has three adult children, and loves to travel, cook, and hang with friends and family.

Jennifer has enjoyed working at Mercer Zimmerman for over 15 years. She and her husband Keith have three grown children, Austin, Matthew, and Emily. They enjoy spending time together and cheering on the Chiefs!

Kelly joined Mercer Zimmerman team in 2007. She earned a Business/Office Management degree and has an extensive background in customer service. When Kelly has free time she enjoys spending time with her husband and two dogs, traveling to beaches, gardening, and spending time with family.

As an International Business graduate, Emily joined Mercer Zimmerman with a background in healthcare management and customer service.  When not at work, Emily and her son, CT, enjoy visits to the zoo, attending sporting events and seeking out new adventures.

Janet joined the Mercer Zimmerman team in 2016 after nine years at American Electric as a lighting specialist.  In her free time, she enjoys travel, time with family and friends, nature, rockhounding, naps, international foods, tinkering, and card games.

Cassandra joined our team in 2016 after working in the Group Insurance Business with many roles including enrollment, implementation of new business, and as a configuration analyst for FMLA. She grew up in Council Bluffs, Iowa and has been with her crazy husband for over 20 years. Cassandra loves to hang out and do house projects with her husband. She enjoys girl dates with her bestie, usually shopping and lunch. On the weekends, you can find her cheering on the MN Vikings, KC Chiefs, and of course the Huskers. Cassandra is a crazy cat mom of 3 (how the heck it happened is beyond her.)  Her fur-babies are Kewlee (male), Chloe, and Calie.

Julie has been with our company since 1998. She is married with two children, Danelle and Chad, and two grandchildren. The Hutchings family loves boating on the river and going to the camper. Her grandson, Quincy, says that is his favorite thing to do and every time they go out boating he says it’s the “best day ever”. On fall weekends you can find them watching Nebraska Huskers football.

Nathan grew up 30 minutes east of Springfield in Seymour, Missouri (known for their large Amish Community and the Apple Festival). He and his wife, Kaylee, have been married for six and a half years and give back to their community by fostering local children. They also have three dogs: Bibiana (Bulldog), Basil (Toy Australian Shepherd), and Barley (Toy Australian Shephard). Nathan enjoys hobby farming, gardening, camping, hiking, and mountain biking. You can also find him working with his hands doing carpentry, building things, and woodworking.

Nicole was born in Genoa, NE and moved a bit with the Airforce before living in Florida and eventually settling in southern California. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Mass Communications TV/Film. Nicole decided to move back to Nebraska and made Omaha her home. A fan of most genres of music, Nicole is especially into ‘80s and ‘90s rock and pop including The Cure, Depeche Mode, and Duran Duran. She collects vinyl and CDs and owns thousands of movie DVDs. Additional hobbies include going to concerts and traveling – Grand Cayman, Turks & Caicos, and Pawleys Island are her favorite places to visit.

Miranda grew up in Cedar Falls, IA and graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in communication studies. After graduation, she bought a house in Des Moines where she lives today with her fur family – a dog named Jasper and a cat named Toby. When not at work, Miranda enjoys spending time with friends and family, including her boyfriend, Rick and his dog, Lua. She also likes to run, bike, and do the occasional home improvement project. 

Matt is originally from Omaha, Nebraska, which means he is a big Huskers fan. He spent four years in leadership roles with the Marine Corps, mostly stationed in North Carolina. After leaving the Marines, he got his Inside Wireman’s Journeyman license and spent 11 years as a commercial/industrial electrician with Baker Electric in Des Moines – bringing a wealth of experience to the Mercer Zimmerman team.

Matt and his wife Veronica are the proud parents of two sons, Jordan and Mason. The family has three dogs who he describes as “the biggest babies in the world.” Two are pure bred Rottweilers and the third is a Dachshund. Matt’s family enjoys camping (with the dogs) and, when time allows, Matt loves to go shooting at the skeet range.

Diane Thurston graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Agricultural economics, and joined the Mercer Zimmerman team in 2011 after working nine years in the insurance industry. Diane enjoys her work at Mercer Zimmerman, especially because of the family environment, and the way the company cares about both their clients and their employees. When not at Mercer Zimmerman, she can be found spending time with her two adult sons. Her hobbies include weightlifting, working outside, and playing softball.

Kathy Deming received her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications from the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware, and has over sixteen years of experience in product and retail marketing with some of the industry’s top companies. Deming enjoys the feeling of family among her coworkers, and feels lucky to be with Mercer-Zimmerman. In her personal life, Kathy enjoys spending time with her two wonderful children, as well as her two four-legged children. She loves to exercise and spend time at the dog park, and when she isn’t in the Midwest, she is likely found visiting her family in Savannah, Georgia, or spending time with her friends

Bennett is originally from Minnesota and moved to Lawrence, Kansas in 2014 to attend the University of Kansas on a music scholarship. While there, he met his wife, Erin, during the first marching band rehearsal. They enjoy spending time with their son, Micha, and daughter, Maisie. In his free time, Bennett enjoys playing any instrument he can get his hands on – mainly guitar, bass, and piano. He also enjoy training and spending time with their frisbee-obsessed blue heeler, Mowgli. 

Baylie grew up in Berryton, KS and has lived in Ohio, Virginia and Texas. She graduated from Wichita State University with a BA in Sport Management and a Master of Education, Sport Management. She enjoys reading, watching basketball (or any sport really), and hanging out with her cat, Remi. Baylie loves spending time outdoors, listening to live music, and exploring new places.

Justin is originally from Colorado Springs, CO and moved to Glenwood, IA to attend middle school and high school. He graduated from Iowa State University and enjoys spending time with his dog, going to the gym or on runs, and spending time hanging out with his friends. Justin is a fan of the NBA and NFL with his favorite teams being the Broncos and the Nuggets. 

Abril grew up in Wichita and graduated from the University of Little Rock at Arkansas in the Spring of 2022. She earned a BA in Applied Communication with minor in Studio Art and is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership through Oral Roberts University. Abril is fluent in Spanish and English and loves listening to music and spending time with friends. Her biggest passion is staying active, taking walks, and playing soccer.  She played soccer throughout college – most recently as a Midfielder for the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles.

She grew up in Overland Park, KS and graduated from the University of Kansas. She double majored with a degree in Business Administration and a degree in Psychology. In her free time, Sydney enjoys golfing and attending KU sporting events (yes…even football games). She attended the 2022 National Championship in New Orleans and studied abroad in Italy that summer.

Ryan grew up on a small family cattle operation in Westmoreland, KS and graduated from Kansas State University with his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration – Operations & Supply Chain Management.  In his free time, Ryan enjoys listening to podcasts and watching documentaries, or anything that introduces him to new things. He also enjoys hanging out with friends and family, as well as traveling when given the opportunity.

Nick was born, raised, and spent the majority of his life in the Kansas City area. He and his wife Megan have two sons, Jackson and Parker. Nick has more than ten years of experience in minor league baseball operations with the Kansas City Royals. He is a K-State alum and enjoys golfing, exercising, and working on house projects. Nick’s favorite way to spend his time is hanging out with his family.

Brittany is originally from Savannah, MO and graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a degree in Corporate Recreation and Wellness and a minor in Nutrition. She loves to travel, play golf, workout and watch the Kansas City Chiefs and Husker basketball. Brittany and her husband Kevin have a golden retriever named Jeter, named after Derek Jeter.

Beth grew up in Quincy, Illinois and moved to Kansas City after college to begin her career with a Top 10 accounting firm. She is a Certified Public Accountant, and earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Illinois Wesleyan University and her master’s in accountancy with a tax focus from the UMKC. Beth and her husband, Thad, have two kids – Abby and Garrett, plus a Golden Retriever named Sadie. She loves pretty much anything outside including boating, swimming, and skiing in the summer.  

Diana Kepferle graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Fort Hays University, and went on to receive her Master’s degree from Webster University. She has worked for thirteen years in public accounting, one year with Learjet, and ten years in new home construction. Diana’s favorite part of working with the Mercer-Zimmerman team is their dedication to a great work environment and their caring attitude towards employees and clients. In her free time, Diana enjoys reading, gardening, sea shelling, and spending time with her husband and two cats.

Krista Romeo is the Accounting Assistant for Mercer-Zimmerman and one thing you can count on: she’s a Jayhawk fan among the dozens of K-Staters. She attended University of Kansas and has Bachelor’s in Sociology. Before finding MZ, she worked in procurement and accounting for large and small businesses but loves that Mercer-Zimmerman is truly a company that values employees and their families. In her spare time, Krista practices yoga, enjoys cooking, and spends time with her husband Tommy and their dogs Indy and Albus.

Jodi is an Assistant Controller for Mercer Zimmerman and has more than 20 years of experience in finance and accounting leadership roles. Originally from Green, Kansas, she attended attended Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS, majoring in Finance. After graduation, she moved to the Kansas City area and began her career, while also getting my MBA from Baker University. Jodi and her husband Scott have a son, Lawson, and daughter, Lily. They spend most of their time watching their kids play sports, running them to practices, and volunteering at church. Jodi also enjoys working in the yard and tending to her vegetable and flower gardens.  When they have a free weekend, they travel to St. Louis to watch the Cardinals or Green to visit family.

Donna grew up in Seneca, KS on a dairy farm and is one of 8 children.  She played volleyball and basketball through junior high and high school including 2 years of college volleyball. She also spent 28 years coaching volleyball to junior high and high school girls. Donna is married to Leland Hill and they have three grown children. During her free time she enjoys going to sporting events, watching March Madness, and spending time with friends and family.