Maria manages Meridian internal events, is part of the Meridian Ball team, and serves as the venue director for private events and weddings. Before joining Meridian in 2009, Maria worked in museums, including the San Diego Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution. While at the Smithsonian, Maria worked at the National Museum of the American Indian during the capital campaign and building of the museum facility on the National Mall, and served on the event production team for its week-long grand opening festivities in 2004. Maria graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Communications.