Consistency. Collaboration. Commitment
The Excellence Award recognizes individuals whose careers reflect a sustained commitment to leadership, integrity and service to direct selling. This year, that honor goes to Dave Merriman, Executive Vice President of ACN.
For Dave, the recognition was unexpected. “I was very surprised when I got the call. I’m humbled. Truly.”
That response reflects a defining trait of his leadership style—one grounded in humility and appreciation for the team and company he has helped build over the past three decades.
Starting from the Ground Up
When Dave joined ACN in the mid-1990s, the company was still young. His background was in public accounting, where he worked with both large corporations and emerging businesses—but it was startups that sparked his interest.
“I really enjoyed those companies that were just starting and growing. You could see your impact—how you could help support what they were doing.”
ACN offered that same opportunity. While he had little experience in direct selling, the model stood out. “To me, it was just so appealing to be part of something that supports entrepreneurs.”
That early alignment would shape the next 30 years of his career, as Dave became an integral part of a company that has grown into one of the most established names in the channel.
Learning Leadership Early
Dave’s leadership philosophy didn’t begin in a boardroom—it started much earlier. At 16, he found himself running a car wash on weekends, entrusted with responsibilities that seemed far beyond his experience. The experience left a lasting impression, teaching accountability, work ethic and the importance of leading by example.
Those lessons were reinforced in his early years at ACN, where mentorship played a defining role. In the company’s early days, the founders established a Legal Advisory Committee made up of former Attorneys General. Bob Stephan, former Attorney General of Kansas, led the committee and became a consistent presence—visiting the office, speaking at training events and helping guide the company’s approach to ethics and compliance.
Through those interactions, Dave gained firsthand exposure to operating in a highly regulated environment. The committee reviewed marketing materials, evaluated compliance programs and helped ACN navigate evolving regulatory standards—instilling principles that would influence how he approached leadership.
“I learned so much about how people treat other people—and how I want to act.”
The Role of Integrity
Integrity is a cornerstone of the Bravo Excellence Award, and for Dave, it is not separate from business—it is embedded within it. “A lot of times, when things get tough, people look for shortcuts.”
In his view, long-term success depends on resisting that impulse. At ACN, operating in a highly regulated telecommunications space reinforced the importance of doing right by customers. “If you want people that stay for a long time, you have to treat them appropriately.”
That mindset has helped shape a culture guided by long-term thinking rather than short-term gains. For Dave, integrity isn’t about statements or policies—it’s about consistency in how a company operates every day.
A Collaborative Industry
Dave considers one of direct selling’s greatest strengths to be its collaborative nature. Throughout his career, he has been actively involved in industry organizations, including the Direct Selling Association and the Direct Selling Education Foundation.
“I had zero experience in government relations before ACN. But by showing up, listening and participating, you learn quickly.”
He points to the openness of the industry—an environment where leaders share insights, challenges and best practices. “In our channel, you hear both success stories and where people made mistakes—and how they corrected them.”
For Dave, that willingness to collaborate is both a cultural strength and a strategic advantage.
A Career Defined by People
After more than 30 years with ACN, Dave doesn’t point to a single milestone as his greatest achievement. Instead, he points to the people and relationships built along the way. “It’s that collaboration—working with the founders and with other executives and employees.”
He notes that many ACN employees have been with the company for decades, reflecting an environment where people feel valued and where their roles continue to evolve.
When asked about Dave’s impact, ACN Co-Founder Greg Provenzano noted, “This award recognizes more than years, it honors a life of consistency, a legacy of loyalty and a standard of integrity that very few people achieve.”
A Lasting Standard
Dave Merriman’s career is defined not by a single moment, but by decades of consistent leadership and a commitment to doing things the right way. His steady, collaborative approach has helped shape both ACN and the broader direct selling community.
That is the essence of the Bravo Excellence Award. DSN congratulates Dave Merriman on this well-deserved honor.
From the May/June 2026 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.
