Mercedes LaPorta - President

Mercedes LaPorta, President of Mercedes Electric, was born in Havana, Cuba.  Her family immigrated to the United States after the revolution and settled in Chicago, IL. Mercedes attended Catholic schools through high school and after graduating she went to work for A&P Tea Company. As the first woman buyer for A&P, she was responsible for purchasing grocery items in excess of $200 Million per year.  During her time at A&P she was instrumental in negotiating an end to a strike by a group of Mexican workers, which saved the company thousands of dollars in labor cost.

Mercedes met her husband Victor, whom she married in 1975, in Chicago.  Tired of the Chicago winters, they moved to Miami, Florida where they set out to start up their own company.  In March 1979 they began Mercedes Lighting, Inc., which in 1992 would become Mercedes Electric Supply, Inc.

As President of Mercedes Electric Supply, she now employs 45 employees and has annual sales of over $20 million. Under her direction, Mercedes Electric Supply, Inc. was awarded the largest contract in the history of the company at Miami International Airport worth $10 Million.

Mercedes is a successful business leader and a leader in the community. She is an active member of and true advocate for several women's business organizations including the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), Women’s President’s Organization (WPO), Zenith Group, and National Minority Supplier Development Corporation (NMSDC).  She also is a member of several industry groups such as IMARK Group, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Independent Electrical Contractors Association (IEC), National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and Mercedes is also a member of the US Chamber of Commerce.

Mercedes also serves on the Enterprising Woman National Advisory Board.  Within WEBNC, Mercedes is very active, serving on the National Forum, Strategic Sourcing Committee and is a WBENC Ambassador where she is able to better fulfill her objective to get large corporations to recognize the importance of supporting the growth of woman and minority owned businesses. 


Mercedes and Victor have two daughters, Jennifer and Katherine.  Jennifer is employed in the fashion industry in New York City.   Katherine is attending Florida International University, preparing for Veterinary School after graduation.

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