Mercedes is one of only four survivors of American Airlines Flight 965, which crashed into the Andes Mountains near Cali, Colombia in December 1995.

Her story of the crash, and her recovery against the odds, completing her education and achieving a highly successful career in healthcare software and pharmaceutical sales has inspired thousands. As a professional speaker, Mercedes passionately delivers her story of perseverance and courage, and of fully living her second chance at life.

She is a contributing author of Exit Row: The True Story of an Emergency Volunteer, a Miraculous Survivor and the Crash of Flight 965 by Tammy Kling. Her story was featured in Heads Up! A Zillion Ways to Survive Negativity by Christine Rossi, and for People en Espanol Triunfadores Latinos, a story of inspiring individuals across the country in People magazine's Spanish edition.

In addition to her career, Mercedes aims to make a difference in her community. She is a board member of Northwest Missouri State University Foundation. Since 1993, Mercedes has been active with the minority career development firm INROADS, Inc.

She received her Bachelor of Science in International Business in 1997 from Northwest Missouri State University. Over the next five years, Mercedes continued to beat the odds by setting new company records-selling multi-million dollar contracts at such a young age-in the competitive healthcare industry.

Today in her keynotes, seminars, workshops and retreats, she inspires audiences to find their core values and use the principles of Return on Investment Living™ to solve the human side of problems. As she shares her story with groups from 10 to 15,000 people, she touches every member of the audience-they will never look at life the same way again.

Her book, Second Chance Living, was published in January 2006.

Inspirational, Leadership, Attitude, Health & Wellness, Women & Gender Issues, Diversity & Race, Personal Growth, Motivational, Diversity Topics,