2011 Forty Under 40: John Merriweather

  • Comments
  • Print
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
This audio file is brought to you by
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

 
About me…
John Merriweather
President
Go Cos. USA Inc.
38
Web sites:
Social media:
On my hip:
Droid 2
Most-used apps:
ESPN
NFL Mobile
Fitness Tips
Fandango
Tip-Calculator
Bible
Favorite stuff:
Colts football; professional development books; movies; Pandora; Judge Judy; all types of music; coaching youth sports

 

John Merriweather went from the Army at 18—he earned a Commendation Medal in Desert Storm (“Just being a good soldier,” he said. “I didn’t do anything heroic.”)—to a small company in Carmel where he learned all facets of the business, from warehousing to quality control to sales.

But that’s not where he wanted to end up. So during his off-hours, he created Go Cos. USA Inc., which helps Indianapolis-area companies recruit, relocate and retain top talent. The Carmel-based service is described as “an all-inclusive welcome wagon to Indianapolis for domestic and international professionals.”

Merriweather said the idea came from studying potential clients and their needs. Eli Lilly and Co. was Go’s first contract.

“We courted them and looked for ways to provide a service for them, to develop a relationship,” he said. “That’s why we built the service. Having Lilly as a first client was a great steppingstone. For others in the area to see Lilly investing resources in recruitment,relocation and retention, it made it a lot easier to get into other corporations.”

Go has now welcomed more than 2,500 people to central Indiana on behalf of organizations such as Roche Diagnostics, the NCAA, the Indianapolis Colts and the Indiana Pacers. Earlier this year, Merriweather won a supplier of the year nomination from Lilly, and his company has boasted a 97-percent satisfaction rating since 2003.

When he’s not helping others at work, he’s helping them at play. Merriweather and his wife have two children. He’s active in Carmel Dads Club, and the AAU fifth-grade basketball team he coaches won the national championship this year.

“As coaches, we were happy that the kids won the championship against the best fifth-grade talent in the country after making it to the Final Four each of the previous three years,” he said. “… It’s an extraordinary achievement that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”•

___

Click here to return to the Forty Under 40 landing page.

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Story Continues Below

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In