Originally from Lima, Peru, Maria joined Avekta after careers in international banking and real estate development. Maria supervises finance, administration and sales, is fluent in five languages, and is listed in Who's Who of American Women. Taking over her husband's new company in 1982, Maria brought sophisticated financial management and international marketing techniques to the young firm. In 1998 she acquired Visual House International, one of New York's oldest foreign language and cultural translation companies.

Maria's diverse interests include jungle exploration, sailing and guiding her two children through their college careers (Pratt Institute and West Point). A consummate flamenco guitarist, she's also swung a big sledge hammer while renovating 5 Brooklyn brownstones and still holds the Boerum Hill speed record for drywall taping.