Career Summary
​​​My name is Maria Schechter. I am a digital marketing and communications specialist with ten years of experience. After college graduation, I worked with the Seattle Art Museum for three years and co-created an international arts collective turned non-profit (What Is Art - What Is Sound), which led to a MacArthur nomination. I initiated my graduate work with New York University in visual arts administration. In 2007 I received the Benjamin Franklin scholarship and attended Schiller International University in Heidelberg, Germany and graduated in 2009 with a Masters in International Business Management with a published thesis on cause related marketing. Since 2009, I have been a marketing and communications specialist with a platform called Cultured Social Co.. The creative projects, campaigns, and unique experiences I have designed for numerous clients have been an accumulative wonder and an absolute honor. I grew up in the Silicon Valley and pursued my higher education on the East Coast and in the EU. My worldview has been shaped by living in South East Asia and Germany and traveling to 17 countries. By encouraging engagement, we find answers to some of the world’s greatest challenges.
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Below are a few of my favorite projects.
Cafe Pluma
Volunteer Work
Collaborated with a business owner from Mexico to develop public-facing brand assets for the U.S. market. In addition, I created a scalable strategy enabling American customers to purchase products directly from local farmers, strengthening cross-border visibility and market access.
Thai Mundo Org.
Volunteer Work
In 2010, I raised $10,000 to support a children’s orphanage in Udon Thani, located 11 hours northeast of Bangkok. The funds provided English and Spanish learning materials, art supplies, and educational resources for the children. During my time there, I also taught Thai forest monks and nuns how to build blogs and share essential information with neighboring villages — helping strengthen local communication and access to knowledge.
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The experience was deeply transformative, inspiring me to return in 2013 and 2014 to continue supporting the community.
Grimmway Farms
I was hired by a brand agency to lead efforts in securing Grimmway Farms as a client. Through strategic planning, creative direction, and a tailored brand presentation, my work successfully helped the firm win this multi-million-dollar account. Included are the pitch deck I designed and the social media strategy developed for implementation by the agency’s design team.