Featured WBE Interview

Mercedes La Porta, President

Mercedes Electric Supply, Inc.

Tell us a little bit about Mercedes Electric Supply, Inc.

Mercedes Electric Supply, Inc. is an electric distributor, selling to electrical contractors and industrial accounts.  From 900 square feet and 3 employees in 1979, they have grown to 43 employees and over $2.5 million worth of inventory.

Mercedes LaPorta was born in Havana, Cuba. After the revolution she and her family moved to Chicago, IL. After high school she went to work for A&P Tea Company as the first woman buyer, purchasing grocery items in excess of $200 million per year. During her time at A&P she was successful in negotiating an end to a strike by a group of Mexican workers, which saved the company thousands of dollars in labor cost.

What made you go into this business?

After I got married, my husband and I decided to move to Miami from Chicago, where I had family. We predicted that Miami was going to grow very fast and that there would be a lot of construction in the area. Since my husband worked for GTE Sylvania already, we asked them if they would give us a line of credit with them and began selling Sylvania Light bulbs. We grew the business from there into a full Electrical Distribution house.

What has been the worst or the biggest obstacle you've faced or had to overcome?

One of the greatest challenges that I have had is in finding and retaining good qualified employees to work for me. I would say that has also been one of my biggest successes. Another challenge has been finding and forming a mutually beneficial relationship with a banking institution. In the 27 years I have been in business I have had to change bankers due to mergers and losses of relationships. Today, I can finally say that I have found the right relationship for my company. Finding and forming longstanding relationships with my customers has been a challenge, which I believe I have been extremely successful at proven by the amount of customers we have kept throughout our 27 years. Also partnering up with the right manufacturers has been a challenge. I have made myself important to the manufacturers whose materials I distribute; I've always considered them a partner in my business.

What has been your biggest triumph?

My biggest triumph would be winning the bid for the Miami International Airport MIC job worth $10,000,000, the largest job in the history of the company.

What is the best advice you've ever received?

The best advice I ever received was not to take things personally in business. As a woman you internalize a lot, and take a lot of things people do personally. I have come to realize the person who told me that was right. People in business can be dubious.

Is there anyone who inspired you and why?

My family inspired me tremendously. My family left Havana when I was six years old because of the regime . Fidel. My parents came to this country with nothing but literally the clothes on their backs and myself. And, seeing my father and my mother struggle to start fresh with absolutely nothing taught me a lot. My dad had owned his own business in Havana, here he worked nights in a cookie factory. He worked so hard that he was able to start his own grocery store ten years after coming to this country. I think I was like my father and was born with this entrepreneurial gene in me. Just seeing him work so hard inspired me. I always knew I wanted to have my own business. I didn't want to work for anyone else.

What is the best book you ever read and would recommend?

"The Road Less Traveled" By M. Scott Peck.

What is your favorite quote?

"Far away, there in the sunshine, are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead." Louisa May Alcott.

What are your goals now and where do you see yourself going?

I would like to grow my business, selling more nationally to corporations. I would like to market my company on a national basis, bringing the services I have provided locally for 27 years to the nation.

How has being a member of the WBDC and WBENC helped you?

I have been certified over the past twenty-five years with a lot of different organizations and government agencies. In my short WBENC membership, I have had experiences that I have never had through any other organization. The energy that is in WBENC has been incredible. We currently supply materials to Office Depot's maintenance department and are in the process of growing the number of items we sell to them. Since then we have also met with several other corporate members of WBENC to discuss how we can supply them with the electrical materials they require. The networking that goes on with the women here . everyone cares about what you do and how to help you. It's just incredible.

What do you want to be remembered for?

I would like to be remembered for my compassion and fairness towards others; my generosity with those less fortunate than I; and an innovative business woman. I would also like to be remembered as a great mother, wife and daughter.

How does someone get in contact with you at Mercedes Electric?

For more information you can contact Mercedes at