Cindy Waddle and Carl Merrell

FOUNDER BIO
My name is Cindy Waddle, and I am the Founder and CEO of Dezire to Inspire, a company founded on the promise to answer a calling received by my good Lord above. I am forever grateful that He trusted me enough to give me this mission. I married my high school sweetheart 46 years ago. We spent 24 years with him serving in the U.S. Army, so I am the proud spouse of a military veteran. We have one son, Brandon, who is the light of my life. Together we spent 24 years traveling the world, experiencing other cultures, and learning a lot about life.

I spent my working years as a civil servant in the federal government. I began my federal career as a GS-02 Commissary Cashier in Stuttgart, Germany, as a military spouse. The federal government uses a grading scale from GS-01 through GS-15, with each level representing increased responsibility and leadership. I started at GS-02 and retired as a GS-14 Human Resources Manager with the United States Mint in Denver after thirty-eight years. I accomplished that without a college degree. A true blessing and most unlikely without a college degree. I spent most of my career in the Department of Defense but also spent time at the Department of the Interior and the US Mint, most in Human Resources.

I have a lifelong passion for servant leadership, employee wellness, encouragement, and human connection. With my in-depth experience in leadership roles, my understanding of human behaviors, and my desire to be a change-maker, I love developing products to uplift, encourage, and support others during life’s challenges. My legacy is rooted in kindness, compassion, and touching the lives of others through inspiration.
My journey is deeply rooted in perseverance, compassion, and purpose. Having overcome personal hardships and near-death experiences, I focus on channeling my life experiences into inspiring others to believe in themselves, find strength through adversity, and embrace hope even during life’s most difficult moments. My mission is simple yet profound: to leave lasting imprints on the hearts of others when they need it most.

Carl's Bio:
I am W. Carl Merrell, Co-Owner of Dezire to Inspire, a company built around a simple but powerful belief: words matter. My professional journey has been shaped by more than 20 years of service in the United States Army, followed by leadership roles in education and, ultimately, entrepreneurship. Throughout every chapter of my career, one principle has remained constant—leadership is about people. Whether leading soldiers, mentoring colleagues, supporting students and staff, or helping build Dezire to Inspire, I have seen firsthand how the right words, delivered at the right time, can influence confidence, performance, resilience, and even the direction of someone's life.