20% off in-stock furniture with code SUMMER20  View Details

Featuring Arrow and Kangaroo sewing furniture brands.

Store Locator
Search
Menu
  • Sign In
    • Store Locator
    Account
  • Sign In
  • Wish list
    • Store Locator

    AccuQuilt Leadership

    Chris Merritt
    Chief Executive Officer  

     Our customers don't ask for much—just a great product, delivered on time. That's the promise I care about most, and it's what drew me to Qraftful, first as a consultant, then as Chief Operating Officer, and now as CEO. I've spent more than 30 years leading companies in omni-channel retail—direct-to-consumer brands and the dealer networks that support them. Along the way I've learned that both audiences want the same thing: to trust that when they order something, it shows up, it works, and it's exactly what they expected. That trust is earned one order, one shipment, one interaction at a time, and it's my job to make sure our teams have what they need to deliver it consistently.

    I'm back in Omaha, home to the most famous Omahan of all. I spent years leading a business inside Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway portfolio, and one lesson from those years has stayed with me ever since: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” That’s the standard I hold myself and our teams to at Qraftful. Coming to lead a company built around makers feels like a natural next chapter.

    What matters most to me now is the product itself—making sure it’s reliable enough that our customers can simply enjoy creating with it, whether they’re piecing a quilt at home or teaching a class in a dealer’s store. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me outdoors, designing and building projects—mostly working in wood, though I’ve dabbled in metal too.

    Renee Thomas Jacobs 
    Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing

    I eagerly joined Qraftful in 2022 and am looking forward to this next chapter of growth and opportunity. I have been working with meaningful lifestyle brands since 1990 and love the genuine interaction between Customers, Team Members and Suppliers when we all care passionately about the product, how it’s used and how we can innovate to enhance all our lives through creativity, productivity, and joyful living.

    While my professional background is diverse – women’s athletic apparel, wine-country living, automotive parts, and flooring – my management philosophy has been consistent. I believe in listening to our customers carefully to ensure we are providing real solutions and value. I believe suppliers in our ecosystem need to be partners as we are invested in each other’s success. I believe in transparent leadership and strive to run company with as much candor to our employees as possible. I understand that leadership is as much about learning and adapting quickly as it is about having knowledge and answers.

    Lastly, I believe business is a team sport and I love all aspects of it: coaching, learning, talent recruitment, setting strategy, studying statistics, revising tactics, and calling the occasional “audible.”

    On a personal note, I am blessed with a spouse of 20 years and two teenage boys. I enjoy cooking and entertaining with my family and competing in running events and obstacle course races. I am also looking forward to my new quilting hobby!

    Lynn Gibney 
    Chief Brand & Product Officer

    Since 1998, I have held various marketing and creative positions of increasing responsibility within AccuQuilt. Now serving as Chief Brand & Product Officer, I am responsible for all omni-channel marketing efforts, marketing vision and strategy, and product development. My passion is in building brands through innovative marketing strategies and exceptional customer service.

    Additionally, I have been instrumental in creating the AccuQuilt GO!® and Studio™ brand identities and spearheading the launch of the GO! Big® electric fabric cutter, GO! Qube® boxed sets, GO! Block on Board® (BOB®) dies and GO! Me® fabric cutter.

    Outside of work, I am an artist at heart who can be found outdoors exploring with camera in hand or contemplating composition and color in one of my many unfinished quilting or design projects.

    Jake Chapman 
    Chief Financial Officer

    I have a deep appreciation for quilting—a craft that requires creativity, precision, and patience, much like my work in finance.

    To the Qraftful team I am bringing over a decade of experience in financial leadership, operations management, and global business development. 

    I hold an MBA with a focus in Economics and a Master’s degree in International Relations, both from Creighton University. My undergraduate studies in Global Business Management were completed while working across multiple countries, including Ghana, Iraq, and Switzerland. My professional journey has included leadership roles such as VP of Finance at PetFriendly and Capital Director at AmpliFi.

    Quilting involves careful planning, intricate design, and a keen eye for detail. I espouse the same approach to financial strategy, corporate finance, and risk management. I excel in navigating complex global markets, optimizing financial operations, and driving sustainable growth. 

    I am excited to be creating something meaningful and lasting with this great company.