Executive Staff

Martha Hunter Smith - President and CEO

Prior to her appointment as President and CEO of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation, Martha Hunter Smith was founder and served as Executive President of Fundación del Empresariado en México, A.C., (Fundemex), a nonprofit organization established by the National Business Council and the principal business associations in Mexico to contribute to the social and economic development of impoverished communities in Mexico.

Ms. Smith held several executive positions at Bank of Boston for 10 years. In 1985, she began her dedication to the nonprofit sector at the Junior League of Mexico, managing its Housing Reconstruction Fund. Ms. Smith has been President of the Junior League of Mexico, of the Mothers' Guild of Mexico, of Quiera (foundation of the Mexican Bankers’ Association), and in 1999 she was appointed the first CEO of Christel House of Mexico. She was Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (CEMEFI) where she was member of the Board of Directors for 20 years.

Ms. Smith actively collaborated with Universidad Iberoamericana and Tec de Monterrey in the design and implementation of innovative graduate programs related to capacity building for non profit organizations. For two years Martha also managed her own weekly column on Corporate Social Responsibility in Spanish in “El Economista”, a prestigious Mexican daily newspaper.

In 2002, the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (CEMEFI) honored Ms. Smith with its coveted "Commitment to Others" award. In 2007 she was one of the five finalists considered for the "Visionaries" Prize, awarded by UBS to social entrepreneurs worldwide.

Martha is also a board member of Wal-Mart Foundation, Fundación BBVA Bancomer, PaseUsted, National Institute of Migration, the citizen’s advisory board of the Ministry for Social Development, the Center for Sustainable Transport Mexico, (World Resources Institute) as well as the Editorial Board of Ganar-Ganar magazine. Martha presently participates on the donations committee of the Nacional Monte de Piedad, one of the largest grant giving organizations in Mexico.

Mercedes Caso Valdés- Program Officer

Mercedes Caso serves as Program Officer of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation since its establishment in 2009.  She has played a major role in conceiving, designing and managing the start-up phase and early initiatives undertaken by the USMF. She is responsible for the Foundation's programs, and coordinates the Mexican American Leadership Initiative.

In her career in the nonprofit sector and philanthropy in the United States and Mexico, Mercedes has worked on multiple issues on behalf of low-income children and families, indigenous communities, migrants, Mexican culture and people with disabilities. Before joining the USMF, Ms. Caso worked in development at YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities Network in New York City. She worked as Trade Representative at the New York chapter of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, and served as Executive Director of The Mexican Educational Foundation of New York. Previously, Ms. Caso worked at Sotheby’s in Mexico City.

Mercedes is an active volunteer and was founding board member of Mano a Mano: Mexican Culture without Borders. She currently serves on the board of the Citizen Coalition for Education (Coalición Ciudadana por la Educación).

She received her master's degree in Nonprofit Management from The New School’s Milano School for Management and Urban Policy in New York, and a bachelor's degree in Art History from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.  She also holds a Certificate in Fundraising from the George H. Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising at New York University.

Karla Pérez Zebadúa- Executive Assistant and Office Administrator

Karla Perez serves as Executive Assistant and Office Administrator of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation. She is responsible for assisting the CEO, organization and maintenance of administrative functions of Foundation, and the financial accounting and bill payment.

Prior of joining the USMF team Karla worked in the private sector, mainly in telecommunication industry, focusing on Administrative areas. She also volunteered in Animal Welfare no profit organizations in Mexico and in LGBT community rights groups, collaborating in areas such as fundraising, treasury and activism.

Karla holds a Certificate in Human Resources from Universidad Panamericana, and she received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Universidad del Valle de Mexico.