Rachel Hack Merlo is a lifelong Kansas Citian who shares her life with her husband, Matt, their two energetic sons – Trent, 7, and Evan, 3, – and their spirited Shih Tzu, Happy.

Despite no formal dance training, Rachel is diving headfirst into the challenging rehearsals of Dancing With The Stars, blending unflinching resilience with a sense of humor about the missed steps along the way. A long-time KC Ballet Board member with a deep appreciation for live performance, Rachel has a new appreciation for spinning and spotting, and is fully committed to her new dancing challenge.

Rachel was the first employee at GFiber (Google Fiber) in Kansas City, launching its inaugural market in 2012. She now leads Government and Community Affairs for the Central Region and Orange County, Calif., and spearheads Local Government Affairs Strategy for colleagues across the nation. Passionate about community development, one of the achievements Rachel is most proud of is the Gigabit Communities program, providing free gigabit internet to families in eight public housing communities across Kansas City.

Rachel thrives on setting ambitious personal and professional goals, a drive evident in her diverse pursuits. In 2024, she conquered a personal milestone by running her first marathon in 15 years, took on significant new responsibilities at work, completed her 1500th Bar Method class, and was named to the Top 50 Women Leaders of Missouri by Women We Admire.

Every child deserves access to quality learning and enriching experiences. Rachel’s support of Cristo Rey and its commitment to providing students with a pathway to success is in honor of her mother, a retired teacher, and many other educators and mentors who selflessly impacted her life.