Carlos Mercado, State Committee
Carlos Mercado is a Vineland Fire Captain & Cumberland County Tax Board Commissioner. He was a former Vineland School Board Member, Cumberland County Commissioner, and longtime President of Cumberland County Board of Social Services. He has volunteered with numerous nonprofits across the State of New Jersey helping to raise millions of dollars that have helped improve the quality of life of its residents. Two nonprofits of the many nonprofits in Cumberland County blessed by Carlos ‘philanthropy was M25 where he was a founding member and Vice President and Habitat for Humanity where he served as President and Executive director. He was one of the few people to receive the lifetime achievement award. Certainly, noteworthy accomplishments.
Carlos is married to his high school sweetheart, Kristi who is a 1st Grade Special-Education Teacher at Petway Elementary School in Vineland. In 2022, she was selected as the Petway Teacher of the Year for her excellence in teaching. She is truly a Master Teacher. She is the unsung hero of the Mercado family as she is the great woman not “behind” but “beside” the Mercado men, Carlos, and their sons, Sabastian and Dominic.
They are active members of their unions and volunteer with numerous nonprofit groups, tutoring, mentoring students & families, helping with fundraising efforts to help the homeless, combat food insecurities, provide affordable housing, youth sport participation, educational scholarships, and cancer research. In their free time they enjoy finding unique places to eat and spending time in Cape May.
A proud note about Mercado sons.
Sebastian is a Graduate of CCTEC. Former Captain of the VHS Cross Country and Track and Field Teams. He’s currently an Honors Freshman at NJIT Majoring in Mechanical Engineering on a full academic scholarship. He is also the Co-Founder of Dom’s Pasta Party. Dom’s Pasta Party has collected thousands of pounds of pasta and sauce and raised thousands of dollars over the last five years to assist the Vineland Soup Kitchen. He is a frequent volunteer assisting with summer showers, unloading trucks, separating canned goods and providing assistance with many tasks. In his free time, he enjoys working with the Aero Team at NJIT, constructing airplanes to compete in international competitions and continuing volunteering with nonprofit agencies in not only Cumberland but Essex County.
Dominic is a Sophomore at CCTEC Majoring in Law Enforcement. He plans to attend college and become a NJ State Trooper. He is the Manager of the VHS Cross Country Team, Varsity Swimmer and Crew Team Member. He’s also a Lifeguard for the YMCA. With his brother he Co-Founded Dom’s Pasta Party. He plans to expand Dom’s Pasta Party to encourage others to follow his simple idea to help food kitchens across the Country. In his free time, he enjoys baking and cooking and sharing his creations with those in need. He also enjoys surfing and volunteering his time with nonprofit agencies in Cumberland County.
Debbie Eisinger, (friend and fellow Board Member):
“It is through the Mercado Family’s example that we are reminded of the power each individual possesses to effect meaningful change.”