Jennifer Mercado

Jennifer Mercado has a diverse work experience spanning various roles in plant operations, cultivation, production management, and gardening. Jennifer'smost recent position was as the Director of Plant Operations at Mango Materials since August 2022. Prior to that, they worked at Dark Heart Nursery for over a decade, holding roles such as Director of Cultivation, Production Manager, Production Supervisor, and Propagator. Jennifer also has experience as a Nursery Worker at Sloat Garden Center, Assistant Gardener at Anne Frost Professional Gardening, and Nursery Volunteer at San Francisco Botanical Garden. Jennifer has also worked as a Nursery Assistant at Literacy for Environmental Justice, Restoration Assistant at Ahakhav Tribal Preserve, and as a Nature Conservation Volunteer at Volunteers for International Partnership. Jennifer was also a Substitute Teacher at South Lake Tahoe School District and served as a Natural Resource Management Volunteer in the Peace Corps. Overall, Jennifer has a well-rounded background in plant operations, cultivation, production management, and environmental conservation.

Jennifer Mercado earned a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences from California State University, Chico, from 2000 to 2004. In addition to their degree, they obtained a Nursery and Greenhouse Management Certificate from City College of San Francisco in December 2010. Most recently, in December 2021, they obtained a Qualified Applicator Certificate from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.