Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Orange

Michael Rafael Merino, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Michael Merino Architects, established the firm in Orange County, California in 1996. His education includes graduation from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, in 1986 with a Bachelor of Architecture and graduation "with distinction" from the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island with a Master of Arts Degree in National Security & Strategic Studies in 2004. He is also a commissioned officer in the United States Naval Reserve, Civil Engineer Corps and currently holds the rank of Commander. Mr. Merino is a licensed architect in California and holds registration with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

Mr. Merino established his firm after working as a project architect/manager with several firms, both large and small, for over eighteen years in the southern California area. His experience during this period covered a wide variety of projects but focused on public facilities such as educational, civic/governmental, recreational, and other institutional buildings. Now, as principal and chief executive officer of Michael Merino Architects, he has complete authority for management of the firm including responsibility for business policy, contract negotiation, client relations, and supervision of the design/production process with the various clients of the firm.

The firm's experience ranges the entire gamut of project types over a period of 18 years with both large and small clients in all phases of the project development process. Michael Merino Architects is a two-time recipient of the Woodwork Institute of California's Wilbur Johnston Award for Outstanding Specifications.

Mr. Merino is a veteran and has served in both Operation Desert Shield / Storm, with the United Nations in Western Sahara (Western Africa), and recently returned from Kuwait/Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Michael Merino Architect's past and present clients include:

Colton Joint Unified School District East Whittier City School District Fontana Unified School District Fullerton School District Little Lake City School District Los Nietos School District Lowell Joint School District Mountain View School District Orange Unified School District Rialto Unified School District Riverside Unified School District Walnut Valley Unified School District Whittier City School District

City of Arcadia, CA City of Lawndale, CA City of Chino Hills, CA City of Chula Vista, CA City of Manhattan Beach, CA City of Montebello, CA City of Stanton, CA City of Victorville, CA

Chaffey Community College District Los Angeles Community College District Rancho Santiago Community College District