# David Williams

> David Williams is the founder, chairman and CEO of MRE Capital, an Annapolis family office investing in real estate and mid-market services businesses. He acquired Merkle in 1988 at 25, led it for more than three decades, and is the author of Connected CRM. His work at MRE emphasizes long-term ownership, executive development and an operating growth playbook.

- **Role:** Founder, Chairman and CEO at MRE Capital
- **Organizations:** MRE Capital, Merkle (former Chairman and CEO), Trilliad (Executive Chairman), Severn School (trustee), Butcher & Singer (early career)
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in business administration, Shippensburg University
- **Known for:** Led Merkle for more than 30 years as it grew to more than $1.2 billion in annual revenue, according to MRE., Author of Connected CRM: Implementing a Data-Driven, Customer-Centric Business Strategy (2014)., Recognized as the 2007 Maryland Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

## Career timeline

- **High school** — Managed a landscaping team as a teenager.
- **Early career** — Worked at Butcher & Singer in Philadelphia.
- **1988** — Acquired Merkle at age 25.
- **2008** — Formed MRE Capital as his family office and private investment vehicle.
- **2014** — Published Connected CRM with Wiley.
- **2016** — Dentsu acquired a majority stake in Merkle.
- **2020** — Dentsu confirmed full ownership of Merkle.
- **2025** — Led a CEO roundtable at MRE’s second annual Executive Summit.

## Achievements

- Led Merkle for more than 30 years as it grew to more than $1.2 billion in annual revenue, according to MRE.
- Author of Connected CRM: Implementing a Data-Driven, Customer-Centric Business Strategy (2014).
- Recognized as the 2007 Maryland Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
- Recognized by Winning Workplaces and Fortune among America’s Best Bosses in 2006.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Total Fire Protection added Victory Fire Protection, establishing a Pennsylvania presence; Williams commented on the expansion.
- **2026-07** — MRE portfolio company Curated Events acquired Montana Party Rentals.
- **2026-05** — DJ’s Landscape Management reached No. 32 in the Lawn & Landscape Top 100; Williams commented on the company’s growth.
- **2026-04** — Shippensburg University published an interview about Williams’s entrepreneurial career.
- **2026-03** — MRE released its 2025 review, reporting $679 million in portfolio pro forma revenue, 17% organic growth and 24% total growth.

## Links

- Website: https://www.mre-capital.com/bio-david-williams
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwilliams17/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/merkle_david

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/david-williams
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-10