About Tim Merriman, Ph.D.
Creator of the Heritage Interpretive Guide Program & HEART Approach
Dr. Tim Merriman has spent more than 50 years doing what he loves most: helping people connect meaningfully to the natural and cultural heritage that surrounds them. As the creator of the Heritage Interpretive Guide (HIG) program and the HEART approach to interpretation — Holistic, Engaging, Appropriate, Rewarding, and Thematic — Tim has trained and inspired interpreters in all 50 U.S. states and 26 countries around the world.
Whether you’re a park ranger, naturalist, museum educator, ecotour guide, or heritage site manager, Tim’s courses are designed to deepen your practice, sharpen your communication, and give you tools you’ll use for the rest of your career.
Heartfelt Associates
Tim is a partner in Heartfelt Associates, a private consultancy specializing in planning and training for heritage interpretation and sustainable tourism. He works alongside his wife, training partner, and co-author, Lisa Brochu — together one of the most experienced and respected teams in the field. Their consultancy has supported individuals, agencies, communities, and organizations in designing visitor experiences that are both meaningful and memorable.
The Heritage Interpretive Guide Program
The HIG program is Tim’s flagship contribution to the interpretation profession. Built around the HEART framework, the curriculum guides participants through the fundamentals of interpretive communication — how to craft strong themes, engage diverse audiences, and create experiences that leave lasting impressions.
To date, Tim and Lisa have helped certify over 20,000 professionals in more than 40 countries through the National Association for Interpretation’s (NAI) certification programs, which they co-developed. The HIG courses offered through InterpretiveTraining.org bring that same depth of knowledge in an accessible, flexible format — online and in person.
Co-host of Reflections on Interpretation Audio Podcast with Bill Gwaltney
Search your favorite audio source for this popular bi-weekly conversation with leaders in the heritage interpretation community. https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/
A Career Rooted in Nature, Community & Communication
Tim’s path to becoming one of interpretation’s leading voices wasn’t linear — and that’s exactly what makes him such a rich resource for his students. His professional background includes work as an environmental educator, front-line interpreter and naturalist, state park visitor center manager, nature center director, restaurant and rafting company manager, landscaping business owner, research station director, biosphere reserve manager, and executive director of a national professional association.
He led the movement from 1984 to 1987 to merge the Association of Interpretive Naturalists with the Western Interpreters Association to create the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) — and then served as NAI’s Executive Director from 1995 to 2012, growing the organization from 1,900 to 5,800 members across 30 nations.
Tim has delivered keynote addresses and training sessions across the U.S., Australia, China, Panama, and Korea, and led interpretive and planning projects in Canada, France, Japan, Malaysia, Rwanda, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, among others. He has also led ecotours in Belize, Ecuador, China, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania.
Education & Academic Career
Tim holds a Ph.D. in speech and communication, an M.A. in botany/aquatic ecology, and a B.S. in zoology/education — all from Southern Illinois University — along with a secondary teaching certificate. His academic career spans 40 years, including five years of full-time teaching at Southern Illinois University and adjunct roles at the University of Hawai’i, the University of Southern Colorado, Regis University, and Colorado State University.
Publications
Tim is co-author (with Lisa Brochu) of four professional textbooks on heritage interpretation, an award-winning book on sustainable community planning, and The Leopard Tree — an award-winning novel that highlights the lives and struggles of orphans in East Africa.
Life on the Big Island
Tim and Lisa live on a small Kona coffee farm in Captain Cook, Hawai’i, where they share their home with two dogs (Oni and Akamai), two cats (Pono and Laka), and an eclectus parrot named Katie. In appreciation of the natural beauty of his home community, Tim picks up more than 18,000 pieces of litter each year along a road overlooking Kealakekua Bay — a quiet, personal act of stewardship that says everything about who he is.
Ready to train with Tim?
Browse upcoming Heritage Interpretive Guide courses, the HEART Trainers’ Course, and other professional development offerings at
interpretivetraining.com 