Mercedes oversees editorial content, outreach, advocacy, marketing, public relations, productions for non-profits, internships and mentoring.

In addition, Mercedes taught journalism to international Spanish language students through the University of Miami and coached media and press strategies to U.S. diplomats based in Latin America, as a subcontractor for the State Department.

Mercedes serves on the board of directors at the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Campowerment's Give her Camp.

She is on the Advisory Committee of ISLAC, the University of South Florida Institute for the Study of Latin America and the Caribbean and a member of the International Women's Forum.

Her stories included the September 11th terrorist attacks, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and the funerals of Celia Cruz and María Felix.