Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Dual Citizenship
References
Timeline
Generic

Cynthia Mercer

Industrial Engineer - Project Manager
Bogota

Overview

32
32
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages

Work History

Consultant Project Manager

OPORTUNIDAD ESTRATEGICA CONSULTING FIRM
07.2023 - Current
  • Planned and scheduled phases to meet project objective to develop an Investigation and Innovation Policy oriented by missions for the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation in Colombia. The missions topics are Bioeconomy, Food Security, Energy Transition, Public Health and Science for Peace.
  • Achieved project deadlines by coordinating with multiple teams to manage performance.
  • Coordinated with cross-functional teams to resolve project issues and mitigate risks.


Director of Social Development

COLOMBIAN COFFEE FEDERATION (FNC)
09.2019 - 05.2023
  • Lead the FNC team in structuring social development initiatives to improve the livelihoods of more than 540,000 smallholder coffee growing families of which 30% are women, through the strengthening of human capabilities and creating an enabling environment
  • Responsible for diagnosing and designing and implementing a Gender and Diversity Action Plan to address gaps in the coffee sector and improve economic opportunities for vulnerable populations, incentives for youths, food security programs, education and training, access to financial products, land tenure, health care and social protection, investment in infrastructure and housing improvement, among others
  • As part of the Colombian Peace Process I worked in providing an alternative for local farmers to plant coffee and cocoa as a viable option
  • We structured a leadership training program for rural women to bring peace with excellent results and designed programs to boost business skills as well as teach them strategies to protect them from violence
  • My most important results were spearheading initiatives in economic empowerment for women by launching a line of coffee produced exclusively by Colombian women into the international marketI spearheaded the launching of Coffee Produced by Colombian Women into the international market, integrated gender and diversity within programs and organized data collection and identified information gaps to guarantee gender stategic alignment.
  • Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.

Project Manager

POWER SEMINARS, LLC
04.2013 - 05.2018
  • Delivering professional education and training - Seminars, Webinars, Workshops and Corporate Training
  • Working with subject matter experts, we offer courses on a Project Management topics

Consultant

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP, SIBLEY INTERNATIONAL LLC
11.2012 - 02.2013
  • Assembled team of experts for USAID project in Colombia and co-wrote proposal document.

Economic and Social Advisor to the office of the Chief Executive Officer

COLOMBIAN COFFEE FEDERATION (FNC)
- 05.2010
  • Coordinated the design of FNC's comprehensive five-year plan for 2002 - 2007 to achieve sustainable economic and social development in the coffee sector
  • Leader in designing a pioneering program aimed at providing economic opportunities to new generations of farmers
  • The Program enabled young coffee growers with emphasis on women, to design and implement their own business plans and access financial, labor and land markets with funding from IDBG
  • Assisted Chief Executive Officer in designing policies to provide healthcare and food security programs for low-income coffee growers
  • Coordinated the startup of USAID's/ACDO VOCA Specialty Coffee Program
  • Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members and liasoned with government organizations.

Assistant Advisor on Coffee Policies for the Government

MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND PUBLIC CREDIT
12.1999 - 06.2002
  • Advised Finance ministry on which coffee industry policies to promote before National Committee of Coffee Growers
  • Participated in writing policy document which structured a comprehensive bailout plan for the Colombian government and the National Committee of Coffee Growers aimed at reshaping entire coffee industry following a 1997 - 2002 worldwide crisis in coffee prices
  • Objective of commission was to increase competitiveness and aggregate value of Colombian coffee in world.

Special Assistant to the President - CEO

BBVA BANK
05.1993 - 11.1995
  • Acted as support and event planner to president's day-to-day operation of what was then Colombia's largest bank.

Director of Industries

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE
12.1991 - 05.1993
  • Was part of Colombian delegation negotiating free trade agreements with Venezuela and Mexico (G-3), with Andean Pact members, and with Chile in bilateral accords
  • Along with Colombian industry and commerce regulators, negotiated rules for intellectual property rights
  • Developed and promoted science and technology proposals in conjunction with Colciencias, Colombia's national science and technology research and development institution.

Education

Certified Project Manager - PMP -

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
WASHINGTON, DC

Industrial Engineer, specialized in Social Development - undefined

Skills

Operations Management

undefined

Dual Citizenship

USA and Colombia

References

  • Roberto Vélez Vallejo, CEO / GENERAL MANAGER, COLOMBIAN COFFEE FEDERATION, +573203773139, robertovelezvallejo@yahoo.es
  • Nestor Osorio Londoño, FORMER PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE, MEMBER OF UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL AND ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, UNITED NATIONS, +447834 023370, Osorio.nestor@gmail.com

Timeline

Consultant Project Manager

OPORTUNIDAD ESTRATEGICA CONSULTING FIRM
07.2023 - Current

Director of Social Development

COLOMBIAN COFFEE FEDERATION (FNC)
09.2019 - 05.2023

Project Manager

POWER SEMINARS, LLC
04.2013 - 05.2018

Consultant

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP, SIBLEY INTERNATIONAL LLC
11.2012 - 02.2013

Assistant Advisor on Coffee Policies for the Government

MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND PUBLIC CREDIT
12.1999 - 06.2002

Special Assistant to the President - CEO

BBVA BANK
05.1993 - 11.1995

Director of Industries

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE
12.1991 - 05.1993

Economic and Social Advisor to the office of the Chief Executive Officer

COLOMBIAN COFFEE FEDERATION (FNC)
- 05.2010

Certified Project Manager - PMP -

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

Industrial Engineer, specialized in Social Development - undefined

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Cynthia MercerIndustrial Engineer - Project Manager