Discover what’s happening around the company.
📰 Company News & Announcements
📌 2026 March Madness Bracket Challenge Final Results
Congrats to this year’s March Madness Bracket Challenge Winner, Kyle Elliott! Followed by Jonathan Eller in second place, and Karson Merrell in third place. Firm handshakes are in order for Kyle, who is also taking home a $100 gift card, and more importantly, a year of bragging rights.
Thanks to everyone who filled out a bracket and joined in on the fun this year!
Top 3 Leaderboard:
🥇 1st Place: $100 Gift Card – Kyle Elliott
🥈 2nd Place: $50 Gift Card – Jonathan Eller
🥉 3rd Place: $25 Gift Card – Karson Merrell
📌 Employee Photo Contest | SHOWCASE CHALLENGE ANNOUNCEMENT!
We are kicking off our first Showcase Challenge Series, and will run for the next two weeks. Each week, one winning photo will receive 100 MB Award points, and selected honorable mentions will earn 20 MB Award points.
To be considered for the Showcase Challenge, your photo must:
- Include yourself and or teammates
- Be taken while working or on the job
- Capture real moments of teamwork, collaboration, and company culture
IMPORTANT: Safety ALWAYS comes first. Do not take photos while behind the wheel, or put yourself or others at risk to capture a photo. These photos will not be considered.
This challenge is all about highlighting the people behind the work and the moments that make Merrell Bros what it is. We are excited to see the teamwork, pride, and culture you bring to life through your photos!
📌 Merrell Bros. Step Challenge Winner & Final Leaderboard
Congrats to Matt Droll who really got to steppin’ in a big way during the month of March with a mind blowing 623k steps, followed by Karson Merrell in second place with 517k steps, and Marcus Misinec in third with 383k steps!
Thanks to ALL who participated in the challenge and sent in their steps. If you enjoyed March’s step challenge, keep reading below to see the this month’s challenge and how you can participate!
📌 Biggest Loser Challenge | Starts April 13
The Biggest Loser Challenge officially kicks off April 13 and runs through July 31. This is a voluntary, company-wide challenge focused on getting healthier, having fun, and adding a little friendly competition along the way.
Biggest Loser Challenge Rules
1. Who’s In
- Open to anyone
- 100% voluntary… but bragging rights are not.
2. Weigh-Ins
- Start: April 13, 2026 (must weigh in or send your starting number to Candace Collins in HR by the end of the week)
- Finish: July 31, 2026
- Same scale, same general clothes… don’t show up in steel-toes one time and flip flops the next.
3. How You Win
- We’re going by % of body weight lost.
- Simple math:
(Weight Lost ÷ Starting Weight) × 100 - Biggest percentage = biggest bragging rights.
4. Keep It Honest
- No funny business, just be honest
- What you weigh is what you weigh
5. Tracking
- We’ll keep track of starting and ending weights.
- Progress updates may be shared periodically… or we might just let people guess who’s sneaking salads.
6. Help Each Other Out
- We’ve got some folks here who’ve already been putting in work and making real progress.
- If that’s you, help the rest out. Share what’s worked, what hasn’t, and any tips or tricks.
- If you’re new to this, don’t be afraid to ask. Nobody’s got it all figured out.
- A little advice can go a long way.
7. Shop Rules Apply
- This is about getting healthier and having some fun.
- Chirping is allowed. Being a jerk is not.
- If someone’s grinding, respect it.
8. Prize
- Winner gets the GRAND PRIZE and permanent bragging rights.
9. Common Sense Clause
- Don’t do anything stupid to lose weight.
- If your method sounds like a bad idea, it probably is.
Bottom line: Show up, put in the work, help each other out, and let’s get healthier together!
Here are some resources to help you along the way:
Yuka-Food and Cosmetic Scanner: Great for telling you what’s in your food!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.yuka.android&pcampaignid=web_share
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yuka-food-cosmetic-scanner/id1092799236
MyFitnessPal: Calorie Counter
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.myfitnesspal.android&pcampaignid=web_share
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/myfitnesspal-calorie-counter/id341232718
Best Fitness Apps Of 2026
https://www.forbes.com/health/
📌 Merrell Bros. Whole-Life Leadership Journey
Building Leaders. Bettering Lives.
The Whole Life Leadership Journey is for every Merrell Bros. team member, no matter your role or title. Guided by the teachings of The Way of the Shepherd, it is designed to help you grow as a leader and as a person by focusing on faith, character, stewardship, and life beyond the job. This journey is about becoming the best version of yourself, at work and at home.
Your Weekly Intentional Practice:
“Don’t ignore the burdens on your heart this week. Own them, pray about them, and let God use them.“
🎧 Solid Start Podcast | Weekly Devotional
Overview: Brian and Greg sit down with Ron Dennis, Fabrications Director at Merrell Bros., to explore what it means to find true purpose in your work. Ron opens up about the real burdens and past struggles he’s faced, and how he went from unfulfilling jobs to leading a team he’s deeply passionate about today. He also shares his lifelong love of racing and how that passion helped keep him on the right track. Greg challenges listeners to not ignore the burdens on their hearts—own them, pray about them, and let God use them.
Hosted by: Greg Reed & Brian Hertzog
Special guest: Ron Dennis
🌐 Listen on your favorite platform:
solidstart.buzzsprout.com
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
📌 Weekly Photo & Video Contest | Week 20 Winner
🏆 Congrats to John Hegel!
Shoutout to John Hegel for winning last week’s Photo Contest with this sweet sunset picture taken near Merrell Bros. Kokomo HQ! Great work, John, and thanks for sharing!
Keep the submissions coming for your chance to earn MB Awards, and work your way up the leaderboard! Want to participate in this week’s photo contest? It’s really easy! See details on how to submit your pics below.
Photo Contest Leaderboard
Leaderboard Scoring Breakdown (Event Showcase Challenge Winner = 100 Points, Weekly Winner = 25 Points, Honorable Mention = 10 Points)
📌 How to Participate to Start Earning Extra MB Awards Points
The Merrell Bros. company-wide photo and video contest that gives you the opportunity to earn MB Awards points bonuses, have your photos featured online, and compete with coworkers as you rack up wins and climb the leaderboard for even more bonuses!
How It Works
- Submit your photos and videos each week.
- If we use your photo or video on social media, the website, or in any marketing materials, you earn MB Awards points — no limit on how many times you can earn.
- Multiple submissions = more chances to earn.
- Each week, we will announce our “Photo (or Video) of the Week” contest winner on social media and in the weekly update text.
- We may also highlight additional weekly honorable mentions, which will also earn MB Awards points if used in marketing materials (social media posts, website, signage, etc.).
- We’ll track participation and highlight Top Contributors on a running leaderboard, occasionally running competitions and giving you chances to earn even more!
What to Send
Any cool, interesting, fun, etc. pictures or videos from around the company. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Job site action shots
- Team moments
- Equipment in use
- Cool project highlights
- Scenic shots featuring Merrell Bros., Inc. or FloridaGreen logos
There’s no wrong submission — just have fun with it.
How to Enter Your Pictures/Videos
- Reply to the weekly company update text message with your pictures/videos.
- Email them to Marketing at [email protected].
📅 Reminders
✅ We are hiring! There are multiple positions open within the company. If you know anyone that would be a good fit, please encourage them to visit our careers page to apply!
✅ Don’t forget to complete your assigned Paycom training modules.
🙏 How Can We Support You in Prayer This Week?
If you have a prayer request, click here to share how we can pray for you.
Until next week… stay kind, stay safe, and keep doing great work!
