Mercedes Elias

Mercedes Elias is the first and currently the only woman veteran to serve as CEO of a service-disabled, veteran-owned broker-dealer on Wall Street.

Ms. Elias is of Mexican American descent and grew up in San Antonio, Texas. Her father served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base.

After graduating from St. Mary’s University, Ms. Elias attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps that same year. Her commissioning class started with 49 women and only 17 women graduated, showcasing how difficult it is for women to become officers in the U.S. Marine Corps.