Merritt Long joins Olympia Federal’s board of directors
Olympia Federal Savings has added Merritt Long to the bank’s board of directors, the thrift announced.
Long worked in leadership positions with the state for more than 30 years, serving as past chairman of the Liquor Control and Cannabis Board, Washington State Lottery, Human Rights Commission and State Board for Vocational Education, according to a news release. He also has worked as a consultant for several regional and national companies.
He and his wife, Marsha Tadano Long, started the Learning Seed Foundation, which provides scholarships to students of color who have faced significant challenges.
“Merritt is an incredibly thoughtful, caring and intelligent person, who understands the complexities of our business, which is focused on serving the diverse economic, financial and human needs of our customers and community,” said Lori Drummond, OlyFed President and CEO, in a statement.
Long has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Morehouse College in Atlanta and a master’s degree in education from Seattle University.
This past year, Long published his first book, titled “My View from the Back of the Bus,” a memoir of growing up as a Black person in Bessemer, Alabama and the journey to leadership and positive change in state government.
This story was originally published April 28, 2022 at 5:30 AM.
