By Bego Calderon
Born in Venezuela, Maria holds a bachelor’s in architecture and a marketing certificate. As a new degree holder, she had the opportunity to work in trade shows’ booth design and production, translating into more than ten years of work in the field of trade shows and corporate image. Later, she moved to the United States and worked in higher education administration spearheading the student services department in a private university. For more than a decade she worked developing student services procedures and training with a particular concentration on students’ non-academic matters assistance, regulations compliance, campus safety, handbook revision and update, student onboarding, and major university events.
Her responsibilities as a student services administrator also provided her with an open door for community service, getting involved in organizing fundraising and awareness events to support national and local organizations, overseeing, and advising students’ clubs and associations, and mentoring the Student Government Association.
Her volunteer work led her to act as a mentor for a non-profit organization, Youth and Democracy in the Americas. Being its Mission to raise awareness regarding the situation of democracy in Latin America, it successfully progressed attaining the support of the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro, several US Senators and Representatives, national and foreign student organizations, and various other non-profit organizations.
More recently, Maria has been involved in e-commerce and logistics having among her duties the translation and interpretation of meetings, training, and documents for limited English proficient team members. In her spare time, she volunteers as an assistant instructor for an early literacy for adults’ program, and as an English-Spanish translator and interpreter for non-profit organizations.
–Maria shares her experience as a volunteer with EGBI.
–Share a fun fact with us.
I love to swim in cold waters but not on the beach or rivers. I prefer to swim by jumping off of a boat, in the clear shallow blue waters of the open sea.
“It is an exciting opportunity to learn about EGBI’s work and mission” – Maria Hoffman
-How did you first get involved with EGBI?
I was looking for opportunities to volunteer and got involved with EGBI through Volunteer Match.
-Why do you volunteer for EGBI?
It’s an opportunity that allows me to give back to the community. On the other hand, I have the chance to put into practice my translation skills, which is something I highly enjoy.
-How has your involvement with EGBI helped you grow professionally and personally?
Professionally I believe it is an exciting opportunity to learn about EGBI’s work and mission. Personally, EGBI provides me with the rewarding feeling of being of help for a good cause.
– What was the most rewarding experience you had while volunteering for EGBI?
I’m new to EGBI, yet I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate to spread the voice about the resources available for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
– Why do you think others should volunteer or support EGBI?
Helping small businesses and entrepreneurs to succeed is very important, and volunteering with EGBI increases the opportunities to accomplish that goal.
EGBI provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business. If you would like to support our efforts, please visit our website https://egbi.org/donate/.