Stella Mercado was elected to the District 6 County Council seat in 2022. She was unanimously elected County Council Vice-Chair in January 2025.
Stella’s has focused on quality of life issues: working to cut development density on the Waccamaw Neck by 50 percent, improve traffic flow and safety, strengthen public safety by funding badly needed sheriff deputies, and ensuring fire and rescue responders have the equipment they need.
As the oldest of three siblings and the only daughter of a Naval Officer, Stella grew up learning how to serve her country, adapt to diverse communities, and build relationships. She excelled in sports and academics and was recruited to play softball at the University of Virginia.
She has lived on the Waccamaw Neck for 25 years, serving on the boards of Teach My People and the Coastal Montessori Charter School and its Parent Teacher Organization.
Stella received a degree in International Relations and Spanish from the University of Virginia in 1995. She later completed The Executive Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business in 2014.
In 2000, she founded Mercom, a federal information technology contractor, headquartered in Pawleys Island, and serves as Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair.
Stella serves on the boards of the Coastal Carolina University Wall College of Business, Grand Strand Technology Business Council, Charleston Defense Contractors Association, and South Carolina Regional Authority.
She has been a member of industry associations such as Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and Intelligence and National Security Alliance.
Stella has been awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by the Grand Strand Technology Council and the Application of Technology Award by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. Inc. magazine recognized her as one of only three South Carolina-based women entrepreneurs in the magazine’s Inaugural Impact 50, which identified the top 50 companies led by women in the annual Inc. 5000.
She lives in Litchfield with her husband Mark and two active young sons, Alex and Nicolas. They attend Belin Memorial United Methodist Church in Murrells Inlet.
