Richard Merritt II had a clear vision for his next career step.
Journey In Technology
Richard Merritt II’s journey in technology began at the age of seven when he showed interest in old Dell computers and learned to code graphing calculators in math class.
“I was actually pretty interested in how computers work. In math class, they gave me those graphing calculators, and I was able to code them to do calculations for me. So, I kind of always wanted to do something with computers,” he told AFROTECH™.
Between 2007 and 2012, Merritt attended Texas Tech University. He initially pursued a degree in computer engineering but pivoted to business administration in management information systems after realizing he wanted to explore the intersection of technology and people.
Immediately after graduating, Merritt jump-started his career as an IT Analyst Intern at Valero Energy Corporation, as noted on his LinkedIn profile. This internship led to a full-time role as a Technical Product Manager for Valero’s refining systems from 2013 to 2018. His career now spans over 12 years and includes roles at Sunoco (Senior Business Systems Specialist), DonorDirect (CRM Business Consultant, SQL Programmer), and Freepoint Energy Solutions (Data Systems Technical Business Analyst).
Speaking about his unique value proposition to companies, Merritt explained:
“I bridge the gap between business strategy and technologies. I’m that connector. Often, you’ll find someone who’s either just tech-savvy or just people-skilled. I’m a fusion of both. I make technology make sense to people who aren’t in tech and vice versa. I help the really technical developers and coders understand what the stakeholders are saying, and I translate stakeholders’ needs into something actionable for tech teams.”
Securing A Job At AFROTECH™
Merritt’s most recent role concluded in November 2024. Eager to transition to a new company, he attended the annual AFROTECH™ Conference, held in Houston, TX, for the first time, which hosted more than 35,000 attendees.
“My intention and interest at AFROTECH™ was to get a job. I was on the hunt. AFROTECH™ has a lot of events and activities, but this particular year, I was in job-hunt mode,” Merritt shared.
Merritt purchased a general admission ticket and began preparing ahead of the conference. While he did have paper resumes on deck throughout his time, he also uploaded his resume to AFROTECH™’s resume book, which connects talent to top companies. This led to Merritt being recognized by a major fintech company, and he was able to secure an interview before the conference began.
“I went on the AFROTECH™ website. I researched kind of the companies, and I saw y’all had a resume bank. I put my resume in there. I was early, and I was just very intentional. I had a one-track mind,” he said.
Merritt has since conducted three interviews with the company, which led to an offer that he accepted. He took on his new position as a lead technical program manager of data services on Dec. 30, 2024.
Advice To Future Attendees
Merritt also shared advice for attendees, including the following: “Do as much prep work as you can before you come to the conference. You want to prep yourself. Physically, make sure you are getting sleep. Mentally, I would say know the value that you bring and be confident in that…Be ready to say that to people that you would network with.”
Looking to attend AFROTECH™ Conference 2025? Secure your early bird tickets now — Oct. 27 – 31, 2025, in Houston, TX.
