The Merge Summit
The Merge Summit is an educational and empowerment experience designed to provide an opportunity for men and women of faith to learn from entertainment industry’s top artists and executives. Drawing people from around the world, THE MERGE SUMMIT includes workshops, interactive panel discussions, as well as Master Class presentations and live entertainment. Past speakers include Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laurence Fishburne, Anthony Anderson, Kirk Franklin, DeVon Franklin, Meagan Good, Suzanne de Passe and many more…
THE MERGE was created to educate, empower and inspire creative men and women of faith to do business in entertainment, by providing a platform to network, partner, and learn from the best. Each year since 2009, we fulfill that mission.
Held each August in Los Angeles and drawing nearly 1,500 people from around the nation, THE MERGE SUMMIT is a full weekend of entertainment, education and inspiration.
MERGE attendees are largely men and women of faith who are educated and informed, who are actively connected to their church and see it as a central force in their lives. They are motivated, growth-driven leaders and doers, both within their home ministries, where many serves in their everyday lives. Professionally, these individuals are active at all stages of their careers, in every area of film making, television production, news media, digital media, music, radio production, management and technology. They impact our culture and impact the lives of individuals worldwide.
MEET THE FOUNDER
Dr. Holly Carter has pioneered numerous initiatives and projects within the faith and inspiration space. Through her company Relevé Entertainment LLC, a multi-platform production and talent partnership boutique, Dr. Carter has curated original content and managed award-winning, multi-platinum artists including Usher, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Kierra Sheard-Kelly and Michelle Williams. Inspired by a passion for artist development, this twenty-five year industry veteran began her career in television casting The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Roc, and Martin ultimately expanding into content creation and brand development. Under her company umbrella, Carter has been known for creating Oxygen’s breakout franchise Preachers Of LA, Detroit, and Atlanta but most recently, she’s received much acclaim for The Lifetime original, The Clarks Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel, with producing partners Queen Latifah, Missy Elliot and Mary J. Blige, which premiered as the highest rated original movie of 2020, on both broadcast and cable nets, with an audience of 3+ million and an additional 11+ million streams in its debut week. She recently partnered with FOX Soul and debuted her very own talk show “Chatter”, which centers around conversation with women of faith. Additional Production credits include Love & Listings S1& S2 (VH1), The Next Big Thing (BET), Chad Loves Michelle (OWN), My Father’s Daughter (Lifetime), Fix My Choir (Oxygen), The Sheards (BET) and The Sheffields (FYI).
Holly is the creator of “The Merge Summit”, a complete weekend of education, empowerment, and entertainment in Los Angeles. It is coined as one of the largest education events for people of faith and features over 100 of entertainment’s top artists and executives “paying it forward” by leading interactive panel discussions, workshops, and master class sessions covering music, television, film, artistry, branding and more. Along with Emmy Award-winning casting director Robi Reed, Carter created The ASCEND Bible Movement as a monthly entertainment industry bible study. The bible study draws hundreds of attendees every month
