Mercedes Bolen

Mercedes Bolen is a senior external affairs and public strategy advisor with more than 20 years of experience strengthening brand reputation, building alignment between organizations and local leaders, and guiding entities through complex regulatory, political, and community environments across Texas. She counsels organizational leaders and public officials at the intersection of policy, development, reputation, and regional growth—aligning business objectives with local priorities to deliver outcomes that benefit both communities and the entities that serve them.

Experience

Before joining Longbow Partners to lead local government affairs & public strategy, Mercedes spent 13 years as Vice President of External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at Hillwood Development Company, where she led outreach and strategic projects across AllianceTexas and the broader North Texas region. Earlier in her career at Chesapeake Energy, she directed municipal and community affairs throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, translating technical issues into clear narratives, engaging elected officials and city staff, and supporting zoning and land use solutions that balanced operational needs with community interests.

Professional Affiliations

Her portfolio spans corporate strategy, reputation management and positioning, municipal affairs, land use and zoning advisory services, and philanthropic and sponsorship strategy. A 2019 graduate of Leadership North Texas, and Leadership Fort Worth alumni, Mercedes is an active community volunteer and has held leadership roles with organizations including Tarrant Area Food Bank, Tarrant To & Through (T3), and the North Central Texas Workforce Development Board. She holds both a B.A. and an MBA from East Carolina University and lives in North Texas with her husband and two children.