Rick Merrell is an independent information technology consultant specializing in the financial services. He has 20 years experience managing complex information technology systems for both the financial services industry and the United States Air Force.

Since 2000, Rick has successfully run an IT consulting practice for brokerage firms, investment banks, insurance companies, and software development companies. During this time, Rick managed the successful development and integration of nine complex IT projects. These projects ranged from establishing a complete content-rich transactional web site for an international brokerage firm to developing a compliance management system for an investment bank's retail brokerage division. Rick has access to programmers and other technical staff offering his clients a complete project team if needed.

Prior to establishing his consulting practice, Rick served for 4 years as a Vice President for Information Technology at Fiserv Securities, Inc. FSI offers outsourced clearing and execution services to broker/dealers. As a senior IT executive, Rick managed the firm's voice and data networks, client/server systems, and Internet host center. He was also responsible for the firm's Technology Project Office overseeing all mainframe, client/server, and web-based software development projects. Leading a large staff of project managers, analysts, and programmers, Rick was directly responsible for developing software that exceeded clients' expectations and requirements.

Rick started his IT career as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force. During his eight years on active duty, Rick held a variety of assignments related to a broad range of information technology. He led both ground-mobile and airborne communications teams establishing global voice and data networks from various points around the world. He was also responsible for managing several IT implementation projects including the installation of the first secure voice and data packet-switched network at Strategic Air Command's underground command center. Rick held a Department of Defense Top Secret (TS-SCI) security clearance while on active duty and currently holds the rank of Major in the US Air Force Reserves. As a veteran of Operation Desert Storm and deployment to various combat zones around the globe, he received two United States Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medals.

Rick received his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Lehigh University in 1987. He currently resides with his wife and two children in West Chester, Pennsylvania.