merging cells and changing color once option from table is selected

Greetings,

I am making a roster to track the dates information is trasnmitted to my personnel. I have a table that lets someone select how the person was contacted e.i. phone, text, e-mail.

What I want is when an option in the dropdown is selected for the other cells in that row to change to a red or yellow color. Since there are over 300 names color coding will help me quickly id who has been contacted.

I have attached a sample of what i have so far. Any help anyone could offer would be highly appericated.... Along with a brief explination since i'd like to be able to do it myself in the future.

Very Respectfully,

Michael W.