Merrilee Kick

Founder/Strategic Advisor at Buzzballz / Southern Champion LLC

Addison, Texas, United States

About

Specialties: Dallas Business Journal’s #2 Dallas/Fort Worth middle market companies; D-CEO’s top 500 Companies; Chase Bank/Women President Organization Fifty Fastest Growing Companies 2021/2022; International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge 2020 Award, Alumni Harvard Business School OPM55, EY Entrepreneur of the Year Winner Southwest, 2018; EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist 2016, EY's Winning Woman Award 2016; D-CEO’s “Most Inspirational CEO’s Award”; Enterprising Woman's Award 2018 & Top 20 Women Owned Companies 2020; 2021 Top Women in Grocery Award; Texas Woman's University Outstanding Alumni Award 2013; WBENC Certified Business Owner, CEO of Manufacturing & Beverage Operations, Vertical integration, Marketing Strategy, international business executive, CBS News Anchor, writer & "live" radio newscaster, non-profit executive, event producer, public speaker, voice-over artist/actress. Teacher of international business,entrepreneurship, business law, marketing, business computer systems. Member of the Committee of 200, Women's President's Organization, Entrepreneurial Women's Organization/NAWBO.

Experience

  • Chief Executive Officer at GourmetLand Foods
    Jan 2025 - Present · 1 yr 6 mos

    Start up foods company still in concept phase

  • Buzzballz, LLC / Southern Champion (Full-time · 17 yrs 1 mo)
    • Founder & Strategic Advisor
      Jan 2025 - Present · 1 yr 6 mos

    • Chief Executive Officer
      Jun 2009 - Jan 2025 · 15 yrs 8 mos

      BuzzBallz/Southern Champion is a Distillery/Winery/Brewery manufacturing company in the Dallas area, that specializes in making ready-to-drink cocktails (BuzzBallz), as well as premium spirits with our Southern Champion company which makes vodka, rum, gin and bourbon. We import/export wines and spirits, and also manufacture private label brands. We sell in all 50 states in the US to grocery, liquor stores, convenience stores, arenas and airlines. Major customers include 7-Eleven, QuikTrip, Racetrac, HEB, Walmart, Total Wine & More, Meijers, Albertsons, Ralph's, Kroger, Frontier Airlines, etc... We have strong placement in the domestic market and we are expanding into the international market in 29 countries. We are family oriented and have a fun culture. We are here to reinvent your Happy Hour!

  • Business Teacher at Plano West Senior High
    Aug 2004 - May 2011 · 6 yrs 10 mos

    Taught business courses: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Business Law, International Business, and Computer Technology. Team Leader, DECA Sponsor, FBLA Sponsor, Hockey Team Sponsor, Lacrosse Sponsor.

  • News Anchor at CBS Radio
    May 2003 - Jan 2009 · 5 yrs 9 mos

    Live News Anchor for afternoon & evening drive newscasts. Wrote and anchored broadcast on CBS Radio for over 160 affiliated news channels across the state of Texas. Wrote stories for broadcast on KRLD radio and TSN-Texas State Network News. Performed Voice Overs for various station in-house commercials.

  • Editor at ScreenTalk Magazine
    Jan 1996 - Jan 2007 · 11 yrs 1 mo

    Editor of ScreenTalk Magazine from 2002-2007, attended red carpet events in Cannes, France, Milan's MiFed, Cape Town, Gothenburg Film Festival, SXSW, Video Festival of Dallas, AFF, and more. Wrote feature articles on screenwriting and film production.