Jill Merriam of Key Hyundai of Milford At Aldarios, Tuesday Oct. 7

Come Hear Jill Merriam of Key Hyundai talk about how she came to be the successful business owner she is today. She has a fascinating story about career, family and giving back to the community. “We could all learn a lot from Jill and her amazing journey,” commented NEW President, Mary Birarelli.

Jill will be speaking and taking questions at the upcoming Network of Executive Women Luncheon, held on Tuesday, October 7 at Aldario’s in Milford. For more information or to register for the luncheon, go to: http://www.networkofexecutivewomen.org/.

Jill grew up in Madison, Ct. She went to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. As an undergraduate she heard Marianne Keller, an automotive equity analyst, speak. She was a finance major and her family owned car dealerships. She realized in that moment that she could combine her love of finance with her desire to be in the business world by becoming an equity analyst.

She got her first job at Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) in 1992 making $23,500 as a secretary because she was an amazing typist (thank you, public high school). Once she had her foot in the door, she used hard work and dedication, but most importantly, her ability to listen and provide her bosses what they needed, to move her forward. She became a Chartered Financial Analyst and got into University of Chicago business school. She chose not to go to business school and instead take an assignment in London. After eight years in investment banking and two years at Microsoft, Jill lost her passion for finance and corporate America.

One day when Jill was in a meeting with Bill Gates, she got to thinking, “Bill Gates revolutionized the software business. Now, I am one of 35,000 employees on this campus. What if I tried to revolutionize my family’s business?”

In 2002, Jill partnered with her brother, Jeff to become third generation car dealers in Connecticut. They own two Hyundai dealerships in Connecticut and employ over 100 people. They have swum in the treacherous waters of family business only to come out stronger. In the last 12 years, Jill and Jeff have revolutionized their dealerships by focusing on marketing, processes, mission of purpose and leadership.

Jill has two school aged children and her husband, Rob, is a stay at home Dad. Jill is very philanthropically involved. She is on the Board of Medical Aid to Haiti, she is the Treasurer of her synagogue, and she donates time and resources to eradicate pediatric cancer through Hyundai Hope on Wheels and her personal involvement in Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.