About
What can I do for you based on my experience and knowledge:
For Corporations, Organizations, and Teams, I offer:
- Presentation coaching and training, exclusively provided through 2Connect, the leading presentation coaching and training firm that helps individuals and teams deliver presentations that rise above the noise and achieve the results you want.
- Professional writing and new media consulting, coaching, and training. I help elevate the caliber of your business, technical, visual, and Social Media communication to help you reach your target audience and achieve the results you want.
For Leaders, Writers, and Authors, I offer:
- An “Author Greenhouse” coaching program to help you move your writing project from idea to market.
- Workshops and keynotes about the craft and business of writing, as well as strategies to maximize your effectiveness as an influential leader.
- Professional writing and publishing services as a ghostwriter, coauthor, or publication consultant.
My goal is to help my clients move forward. As a creative communications consultant, I draw from my vast experience producing results in educational, corporate, non-profit/ministry, and publishing settings. Before I draft a unique strategy to help you meet your objectives, I listen. Read why my clients like working with me. I look forward to connecting with you. Click here to ontact me.
How Can I Do This? A Brief Bio
As a creative communications consultant, I draw from over 13 years experience in educational and corporate training, technical and new media communications, social media and branding strategy, as well as professional writing and publishing.
Prior to transitioning to full time consulting, public speaking, and publishing, I served, for eight years, as Director of the Ezra Center for Excellence and Instructional Technology, serving San Diego Christian College, Southern California Seminary, San Diego Christian Unified School District, and Shadow Mountain Ministries.
Fluent and articulate in Spanish, I speak both to English and Spanish speaking audiences nationally and internationally. Most recently, I received top reviews after my keynote presentations at the annual Story Crafting Conference in Guam and for my conference presentations, for three consecutive years, at BbWorld Conference by Blackboard, Inc.
I studied at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where I earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English with a special focus on technical communication.
I’m a published author, ghost writer, founder of Vineworks Publishers and the managing editor for StoriesFromtheVine.com. I write on topics relating to effective communication, leadership, and the art, craft, and business side of writing and publishing.
Why People Work with Me
Below are a few testimonials and endorsements. You can read more in my Testimonials page.
“I have attended numerous classes and workshops on effective communication and presentation throughout my 30 years of working in and consulting for education, business, and ministry, and I must say that Maria’s workshops are at the top of my list. I recently attended one of Maria’s workshops and walked away with not only new tools for my presentation bag of tricks, but a refreshed perspective on developing content into effective presentations. Maria is a gifted instructor with unique insight into the development of compelling story-driven content and dynamic presentation strategies. She is able to effectively share this knowledge through her workshops. Whether you are a teacher that desires to improve the impact of your instruction or an executive that needs to increase the effectiveness of your board presentations, Maria will encourage, inspire and equip you.
John A. McCabe, M.A.
Instructional Design Consultant
Santa Cruz, California
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“Maria Keckler belongs to that élite international group of communicators who transcend the conventional boundaries of her craft. Maria’s cross-cultural team works seamlessly in print and digital media—guiding businesses and organizations to their fullest strategic advantage through effective communications. Working with them is a pleasure because Maria Keckler’s cohesive team is friendly, creative, professional, and effective. As a former CEO, what I find most compelling are Maria’s integrity, quick awareness and thorough resolution of difficult issues. Contracting Maria will produce better business results through more robust communications.”
Robert Webber, Ph.D.
International Consultant
Director, University Center for Arts & Media
San Luis Obispo, California U.S.A.
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I first saw Maria do at a training session on making lessons and presentations memorable at the 2010 TRACS conference in North Carolina. I knew immediately that she was the person I wanted to come and train our team at Pacific Islands University (PIU). Our professors have unanimously assessed the time with her as being “extremely helpful” to them. This year, as one of our keynote speakers for our island-wide “Story-Crafting Conference,” Maria helped establish PIU as a leader among the educational, ministry, and professional community. As a result, PIU has been asked to schedule regular conferences to benefit Guam’s teachers and ministry leaders. Maria knows how to teach teachers to teach and produce results.
Dave Owen, President
Pacific Islands University
Guam
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“…I have seldom come across a professional who displays a sense of professionalism and dedication to her work as does Ms. Maria Keckler… Her work, in all things, is among the highest quality I have seen both in academia and in the professional workplace.”
Matthew S. Novak, Ph.D.
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)
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“Maria Keckler will energize you! When she talks about social media, she puts it in a way that anyone can understand and learn from…”
Arlene Pellicane
Speaker/Author
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“Maria Keckler is a leader among leaders. Everything she does: writing, speaking, social media, training and equipping is all 100% A+! …”
Pam Farrel
Best-Selling Author, Speaker
Love-Wise Ministries
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“Your session seems to have been the favorite at the conference. I received so much positive feedback, more so than any other presentation… We hope to have you present again next year!”
Dara Friedson
Manager of Educational Programs, Corporate Events and Conferences
Blackboard Inc.
Professional Highlights
Ezra Center for Excellence (Founder): Collaborative initiative to provide professional development and to promote the sharing of resources among leaders, educators, and staff of SDCC, SCS, CUSSD, and SMCC.
Instructional Technology and Distance Learning
- Director of Instructional Technology (8 years): Shadow Mountain Ministries: SDCC, SCS, CUSSD, and SMCC.
- Collaborative leadership roles with Blackboard, Inc. (Idea Exchange Program; New Release Cohort Program; New Release Beta Program; Bug Squad Program
- Faculty Development Trainer (multiple venues and institutions (K-20)
- Online Learning Development and Training (multiple institutions)
Conference & Workshop Presentations
Maria is a regular presenter at conferences and professional development events. For more details visit her speaking information page. These are recent venues.
- Bb World International Conference (Blackboard Inc)
- Computer Using Educators, San Diego Conference (CUE)
- Association of Christians Schools International (ACSI)
- Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS)
- Story Crafting Conference, Guam (PIU)
- San Diego Christian College (SDCC)
- Southern California Seminary (SCS)
- Christian Unified Schools (CUSSD)
- Pacific Islands University (PIU)
- Professional Women’s Fellowship (PWFSD)
Disclosures & Disclaimers
Clicking here to read disclaimers and disclosures about my affiliations and any affiliate advertising links in this site.
