Branding, consumer trends, leisure and lifestyle expert Merilee A. Kern is a good life connoisseur who keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme.  The best of the best across all product, service and travel categories–as well as noteworthy marketplace change makers, movers and shakers–are spotlighted in her exclusive column, “The Luxe List,” which reaches millions of readers each month through multiple syndication channels: print and online as well as broadcast TV and terrestrial radio.

An array of top-tier online and print media outlets publish Merilee’s Luxe List feature content and she is also the creator, executive producer and host of the Savvy Living TV show that airs in New York on the CBS-TV owned/operated WLNY, in Los Angeles on the CBS-TV owned/operated KCAL, in San Francisco on CBS-TV KPIX, in San Diego on FOX and CBS-TV KGTV and in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale on the CBS-TV owned/operated WBFS. In addition, she’s a recurring guest with multiple other international, national and regional TV and radio programs. This includes the internationally-syndicated “The Jet Set” travel TV program, and nationally-syndicated shows like Coffee With America, Daily Flash, Daytime, The Tech Show, and more. She is also a frequent contributor to an array of major market/network regional TV programs airing in key DMAs like NBC’s Atlanta & Company (#10 DMA), ABC’s The Morning Blend Tampa/St. Pete (#11 DMA), ABC’s Sonoran Living Phoenix (#12 DMA) and others across the U.S.

Since 1994, Merilee has worked to bring various multi-industry B2B and consumer-facing projects to the public consciousness. Over the past decade, hundreds of her articles, news items and interviews have been featured by media outlets worldwide and her expert insights have been featured by top-tier media like Bloomberg and American Express. Merilee is also a highly regarded communications industry expert source within the media, contributing perspective and commentary to leading media outlets. An instant Google search for “Merilee Kern” yields thousands of results that provide a strong sense of the breadth of her experience, reach, and presence.

As a former fitness competitor and champion twice over, having won the title of “Miss South Florida” and “Miss Palm Coast,” Merilee is also a health advocate and published author whose childhood obesity-related fictional title, “Making Healthy Choices – A Story to Inspire Fit, Weight-Wise Kids,” earned a coveted iParenting Media ‘Excellent Product’ award as well as acclaim from Oprah’s personal trainer Bob Greene and media personality Sally Jessy Raphael.

Among other honors realized throughout her career, Merilee was named a Finalist in the 3rd annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business – an international competition recognizing the accomplishments of outstanding women executives, business owners, and the companies they run, hailed by the New York Post as “the business world’s own Oscars.”

Merilee holds a Master of Business Administration degree with a marketing specialty and a Bachelor of Science degree, both earned from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She also received “Marketing on the Internet” certification from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Merilee is currently a member in good standing with Luxury Society, the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, the North American Travel Journalists Association, the International Travel Writers Alliance, the San Diego Press Club, and the National Association of Professional and Executive Women (NAPEW).

Merilee is the very definition of a renaissance woman: a savvy entrepreneur, media personality, author, journalist, publicist, athlete, health advocate, and proud mother of 2.