The Ohio State University campus is the source of almost limitless success stories from students whose efforts and accomplishments transcend the classroom. Mercedes Sánchez is an example of such a story because her work is making an impact on the development of small Latin@ businesses.
A returning Buckeye, Mercedes received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Summa Cum Laude honors) from The Ohio State University, and a Master of Business Administration from Capital University. Currently, she is pursuing a doctorate degree in Workforce Development at Ohio State. Her academic achievement, coupled with 15 years of professional experience, have provided her with the tools to develop various initiatives to help address educational, cultural, and language barriers faced by the Latin@ community.
Also impressive is Mercedes’ involvement and leadership in the community. She has served as the Director of the Central Ohio International Trade Assistance Center, the International Trade Manager of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, and International Counselor for the Agency of Economic Development of Murcia (Spain). This experienced professional possesses a keen ability to create partnerships and receive support from local, state and federal agencies, as well as sponsorships from businesses and private institutions such as banks, radio and television media, and Hispanic newspapers.
The Latino Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which she directs, is one such initiative. The Latino SBDC, funded by the federal and state government, provides business counseling, training services, and assistance to Latin@ entrepreneurs looking to start up small businesses or to improve the operation of existing ones. According to Mercedes, the economic integration of immigrants has become an urgent issue to be addressed by host communities, as she says: “The enormous movement of people is changing the demographic composition of the United States and immigrant-sending societies, with profound economic, social and political implications.” SBDCs provide an optimal approach to these challenges by focusing on reducing economic and social inequalities, accelerating mobility of employed persons with low earnings, while preparing workers for employment and training entrepreneurs to operate businesses.
Like many immigrants, Mercedes confronted the difficulties of adapting to a new culture and language while attempting to improve her education, all while running her own business. She wants to make a difference by providing education to disadvantaged immigrant minorities to improve their social welfare and contribution to the economy. “I am familiar with the despair and frustration endemic to individuals struggling to survive without adequate support networks in a foreign country,” she said. “Increasing immigrants’ access to entrepreneurial education and skills for the workplace can make the difference between despondency and hope.” As such, she is well prepared as the founder and president of the Trade Education and Compliance Network, a consulting and training company that provides cultural and diversity training and an array of entrepreneurial courses in Spanish as means to bridge the communities.
While deeply involved in the working world, Mercedes is able to apply her educational experiences at Ohio State to her day-to-day activities at SBDC and elsewhere. She personifies the application of classroom knowledge to the wider community off campus, where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. To date, she has provided over 160 Latin@ entrepreneurs with strategic planning and marketing analysis, business registration and licensing assistance, and business finance advice. With more than 1,040 consulting hours and over 600 training hours delivered, Mercedes’ initiative is making a positive impact on the Latin@ community. “Without jobs, immigrants place a burden on governments and their own communities. I am happy to be able to help solve this problem,” she added.
For more information on the Latino SDBC, please contact Mercedes at
mmooretecn@wowway.com
