Maia Merritt is a vibrant and creative voice in Downtown Lincoln.
Her passion for storytelling, visual media and community connection shines through in the work she does for the community. Since joining the Downtown Lincoln Association, she has played a pivotal role in amplifying the voices of local businesses, bringing energy and authenticity to DLA’s marketing efforts. Whether she is behind the camera, creating impressive marketing campaigns or working hands-on with local business people, Maia is a priceless asset to Downtown Lincoln and an incredible person to work with.
Q: How long have you been with the Downtown Lincoln Association, and what led you to this job? – I’ve been with Downtown Lincoln for just over a year now. It all started when I was finishing up college and trying to find a “big girl job.” I had always loved doing social media and marketing work, so this seemed like a perfect fit. Before this, I interned with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, which gave me great experience. I also worked on campus with Student Affairs and New Student Enrollment, and with Barstool Sports, which was a blast and helped me learn a lot about digital media. In college, I definitely changed my mind a lot. I changed my major five times!
Q: What is your role with DLA? – My official title is marketing coordinator. I enhance Downtown Lincoln’s presence in the community; I manage our social media platforms, send a monthly newsletter, update our website and much more. I stay in close contact with any downtown business that may need marketing support of any kind. Whether it’s social media promotion, event planning or designing posters, I’m happy to help.
Q: What is a part of your job that people may not realize? – One thing people don’t often realize is how many businesses are in our Downtown Lincoln BID (Business Improvement District). There are over 900 businesses that we keep tabs on and support in various ways. It’s easy to underestimate that number when you’re walking around downtown, but behind the scenes, there are a lot of moving parts. It’s not just events or marketing, we have real and personal relationships with so many business owners downtown, and it is our job to make sure they are seen and supported in the downtown community.
Q: What is your favorite project or proudest accomplishment with Downtown Lincoln? – One project that will always stick out to me is working on the Holiday Gift Guide last winter. It was one of my first major projects that I took the lead on, and I learned so much. It was very stressful, but so fun at the same time. I was reaching out to so many different businesses, organizing submissions and keeping everything on schedule. It was a lot of hard work, but it taught me so much. There were definitely moments where it felt overwhelming, but seeing the final product come together was amazing. It turned out great, and I was so proud of the work. That project gave me a huge boost of confidence and made me feel like, “Okay, I can really do this.”
Q: What is your favorite part of your job? – My coworkers. I genuinely always look forward to coming into work because of everyone I work with. Everyone is so kind and supportive. I have worked in many collaborative spaces, but this feels much different. It feels like we are a family here. In the office, we always have a fun time and love to joke around. Our meetings are usually filled with laughs, and there are so many pets that stop into our office, which always keeps things exciting.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of work? – Outside of work, I have a small photography business. I love taking pictures, so over time, people started asking me to take their senior photos, and now other events as well. I also love traveling and I have been fortunate enough to have visited many places. My family and I go out of the country at least once a year, and it’s so cool to experience and see something new. I also enjoy video editing. When I travel, I always try to make a video recap. I just started to do vlog style. It’s a great creative outlet for me, and it is so fun to have something to look back on and remember those moments.