The engagement of Kelly Ann Stiely of Richmond, Va. to Christopher Gerald Merkel, also of Richmond, has been announced by the couple's parents.

The bride-to-be is the daughter of James Stiely of Lansford and Peggy Stiely of Palmerton. She is a 2001 graduate of Panther Valley High School and received a bachelor of arts in business management from Moravian College in 2005.She is employed by SP Richards as a sales representative, covering Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland.The prospective bridegroom is the son of Catherine Baily of Mechanicsville, Va., and Gerald Merkel of Rochester, N.Y. He earned a bachelor of business administration in marketing from Radford University. He is a district sales representative at Western Pest Services.A wedding is planned for Nov. 24, 2012 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.