Sandra Merkel-DeJames, PhD

Innovator, Strategist, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

Dr. Sandra Merkel-DeJames is a highly accomplished entrepreneur, innovator, and business leader with extensive experience across multiple industries and continents. She is currently the Founder and CEO of Trellis Eco Technologies, leveraging her 20+ years of leadership experience.2

Professional Background

Dr. Merkel-DeJames has a diverse and impressive career history:

Entrepreneurship:

Founder, President, and CEO of Harmonize Strategy Group (founded in 2017)1
Co-founder of Acclivity Technologies Inc. (February 2022)1
Co-founder of Fieldhouse Holdings (August 2022)1
Founder of K.I.D.S Community, Inc. (2019)1
Founder and leader of NC Elite Volleyball, Inc. (founded in 2007)1

Corporate Leadership:

Vice President of Innovation and Commercial Development at Metabolon Inc.1
Vice President of Precision Medicine at Metabolon Inc.1 5
Head of Regional Development (Americas Region) for Novozymes1

Expertise and Interests

Dr. Merkel-DeJames specializes in:

Building and launching new businesses
Leading transformational change
Enabling growth
Strategy development and alignment
Innovation and commercial development
Precision medicine and health technology

Her experience spans public, private, and venture-backed companies, as well as for-profit and non-profit organizations.1

Education and Certifications

BA in Psychology from UNC Charlotte
PhD in Biology from UNC Charlotte
Post-doctoral training at the UNC School of Medicine
Certified Professional Coach
Certificates in Fundraising, Social Entrepreneurship, and Non-profit Strategy from UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business1

Athletic Background

As a student-athlete at UNC Charlotte, Dr. Merkel-DeJames was a NCAA Division I scholarship athlete in Volleyball and Track & Field, earning multiple accolades and finishing her career ranked 14th nationally in career assists.1

Board Memberships

She serves on various boards and advisory councils, including:

National Advisory Board for the NCSU Institute for Emerging Issues
Board Chair for NC Elite Volleyball, Inc.1

Dr. Sandra Merkel-DeJames continues to be active in the business world, recently sharing insights on topics such as women in sports and youth sports specialization through her LinkedIn profile.3 4