Mera Cardenas is the Executive Director of Canalway Partners (CWP), a non-profit cultural heritage organization based in Cleveland that has joint responsibility for stewardship of the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area. For more than 35-years, Canalway Partners has worked to develop cultural, historic, and outdoor recreation experiences along the Industrial Valley, Cuyahoga River, and historic O&E Canal route in Cuyahoga County.
Mera joined CWP in 2020 after 10 years at a similar organization outside Atlanta, GA. As the first Executive Director for the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance: she built the professional staff and partner network; secured funding for tourism and historic preservation projects; and led the rehabilitation of several publically-owned historic sites. That work to advance heritage tourism and economic development was recognized on a state, regional, and national level including a 2019 award for outdoor recreation from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and a “Diamond of the District” honor from Rep. Hank Johnson.
Prior to her transition to cultural heritage work, Mera spent nearly 20 years at CNN. As a producer, she was part of the Emmy and Peabody Award winning coverage teams for several Presidential campaigns, The Oklahoma City Bombing, September 11th Terrorist Attacks, and Hurricane Katrina. Mera was the lead field producer covering both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Opening in 1995 and John Glenn’s Return to Space in 1998.
Mera holds a Masters of Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University and a BS in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Miami, FL. She was raised in Uniontown, PA among the cricks, hollers, and patch towns of the Allegheny Mountains.
Mera and her husband currently make their home in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland with their “Bark Ranger” Daisy and two cats, Mo & Chuck Noll. She enjoys biking the Towpath Trail, yoga, kayaking, exploring historic sites, binge watching quirky TV series, knitting, and the view from her front porch.