kim merritt

Hi, I'm Kim! I partner with travel and outdoor brands to tell deeper, more meaningful stories about the places we explore and the people we meet. ​Across nearly two decades of creative work, these are a few hats I've worn that inform how I work today.

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Award-Winning Copywriter & Creative Director

After graduating from the School of Visual Arts with a BFA in Advertising, I spent 15 years writing and developing creative for some of the world's biggest brands, at ad agencies in New York, London, and Los Angeles. 

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Founder at Goodera®

In 2020 I launched Goodera to help purpose-driven brands do more good. I won a $10k pitch competition to further my vision, and so far have been able to give back over $12k, and have collaborated with a local community college to establish The Merritt Award (currently in its fourth year) to give back to local students.

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Freelance Writer, Journalist, and Travel Writer
I've worked at Elite Traveler, been paid to party at carnival in Rio de Janeiro, and have been interviewed and featured in The New York Times Frugal Traveler, People Magazine, and National Geographic.

Curious Traveler
At 38 countries and counting, I'm always exploring the world through different cultures and perspectives. I'm just as down for an off-grid, multi-day backpacking trip as I am a luxurious overwater bungalow, and  fine dining alongside Michelin-star chefs.
 

Outdoors Photographer

My photos have appeared in F-Stop Magazine, and gone viral for brands like Pure Michigan. Clients hire me to shoot marathons, outdoors adventures, and multi-day hikes. When I'm not road-tripping around the American West, chasing light and weather conditions in my Jeep, I'm joining fellow photographers in places like Alaska, Norway, and Kenya to improve my skills.

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Humanitarian

Prior to starting Goodera, I took on several pro-bono projects for organizations like UNICEF and Pencils of Promise. In 2017, I began volunteering with the International Rescue Committee, and served as the Communications Chair for the GenR LA Chapter. In 2019 I traveled to Myanmar to report on our efforts.
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Outdoorswoman

My favorite place to be is outside—hiking, biking, running, kayaking, camping, and eating. I've walked countless miles of trails around the world, with some of my fav so far being Mount Kilimanjaro, Mt Whitney, and the Patagonia W Trek.

 

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