At the age of 21, Merrisa took her first step into entrepreneurship by purchasing her first business, Merle Norman Cosmetics. Over the next six years, she successfully owned and operated several Merle Norman stores. However, she had bigger aspirations — to own one of the premier salons and spas in the Southeastern U.S. In 2003, Merrisa earned her aesthetic license and began planning for her dream salon and spa.

After years of searching for the perfect location, Merrisa's vision came to life in 2006 when she bought land and opened Bella Lago Salon and Spa in 2007. Since then, Bella Lago has continued to grow and become one of the largest accounts for prestigious brands such as Kérastase, Oribe, and Aveda. The salon expanded even further in 2024 with the addition of a MedSpa.

Merrisa has been happily married to her husband Gabe for 24 years, and together they have three children: Gabrielle, Brody, and London. When she's not managing her businesses, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends, although she often finds herself attending her kids' sporting events.