Public Relations Specialist in the Beverage Industry, Hospitality Sector, & Co-Founder of Hispanics in Wine & Spirits
Maria is a seasoned B2B/B2C public relations expert with over ten years of specialized experience. Her comprehensive background encompasses both agency and in-house communications, allowing her to offer a well-rounded perspective on reputation management. She excels in media relations, develops integrated communications strategies, and fosters cross-business collaboration to elevate brand positioning and engagement.
Maria was born in Quito, Ecuador but grew up in Queens, NYC - the most diverse place in the United States! Maria started to fall in love with food & wine while studying abroad in Spain and traveling to numerous cities, including Porto, Portugal, where she visited her first winery. Since that first tasting room, she has eagerly sought out new winemakers from close-to-home regions like Virginia all the way to Tuscany to the Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc hotspots of New Zealand.
Before transitioning to food & wine, Maria was the Vice President of Global Communications at a currency broker on Wall Street. Maria has always been committed to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and was nominated Co-Chairman of the company's Charity Committee. Maria spearheaded initiatives to give back to the local community by securing partnerships with non-profit organizations in the tri-state area. After several years in finance, in 2018, she decided to follow her palate to the wine industry, joining a renowned PR agency in New York City, as a Senior Account Executive. During her time at the agency, Maria led integrated communications campaigns for institutions and brands in food & wine worldwide.
Maria Has Been Featured In
In 2020, Maria Calvert co-founded Hispanics in Wine & Spirits, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization alongside Lydia Richards. This initiative highlights the Hispanic/Latine heritage within the beverage and hospitality sectors. Hispanics in Wine serves a dual purpose: to amplify the community while inspiring the next generation of Hispanic/Latine talent. Currently, Maria lives in St. Louis, Missouri, leveraging her expertise as a Public Relations Expert to support both start-ups and established brands in the beverage and hospitality industries.
