Peter Schechter

Last updated

Peter Schechter
Born1959
Rome, Italy
NationalityAmerican
Education Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
Johns Hopkins University
Occupations
TitleExecutive Producer and Host of Altamar, A Foreign Policy Podcast
SpouseRosa Puech
ChildrenAlia, Marina
Website www.altamar.us

Peter Schechter (born 1959) is an American political consultant and the executive producer and host of Altamar, a foreign policy podcast. Until June 2017, he was the Atlantic Council's Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and the founding director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, a Washington-based think tank launched in October 2013 to study the trends transforming Latin America. [1] [2]

Contents

Born in 1959 in Rome, Schechter first came to the US when he was 16, then spent several years in Bolivia and Venezuela before returning to the US to settle in Washington. [3] He has a Master's from the Johns Hopkins’ Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies.[ citation needed ] He is fluent in six languages. [4]

Biography

Schechter spent a significant portion of his professional career providing guidance to political candidates in Latin America, such as Henrique Capriles from Venezuela, Alvaro Uribe from Colombia, and Fernando Henrique Cardoso from Brazil. [5]

From 1987 to 1992, Schechter worked as a political consultant for a public relations firm, The Sawyer Miller Group, where he led their international division. In 1991, he and Bob Chlopak were credited with helping Barco Vargas of Columbia get elected. [6] In 1993, he co-founded Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter and Associates, a Washington, DC–based public relations company with partners Bob Chlopak and Charlie Leonard. [4] [7]

According to Foreign Agents Registration filings with the US Department of Justice, the firm received over $292,000 in 2009 to boost the image of the interim government of Honduras in the US after the ousting of President Manuel Zelaya. [8] [9] The contract was signed by Schechter. The firm's lobbyists interacted with members of the US Congress, including Senator Jim DeMint, who became a supporter the interim government, later expressing his support to the Wall Street Journal and Fox News. [10] [11] [12] The Obama administration stated that they saw the coup in Honduras as a dangerous development in the region. [12] Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter and Associates received negative publicity in the US and Honduras for their involvement and a protest was held outside of their Washington DC office. [5] [13]

In 2013, The Atlantic council launched it’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. Peter Schechter was chosen to be their founding director due to his experience in the region. He also served as the Atlantic Council’s Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives until June 2017. [1] [2] [14]

Schechter is an adjunct professor at George Washington University in DC and a visiting professor at Ben Gurion University’s Faculty of Business and Management. He also serves on BGU's Board of Directors [15] [16]

He was on the board for Jose’ Andres's ThinkFoodGroup, which includes more than 30 restaurants across the US [17] Schechter opened his own restaurant, Immigrant Food, with Ezequiel Vazquez-Ger in 2019. The restaurant is located a block away from the White House in Washington DC. [18] [19] Immigrant food hosts virtual events and produces a monthly digital publication called "The Think Tank," which focuses on complex immigration issues. [20]

Schechter is also an author. He published his first novel, Point of Entry, in 2006. which received accolades from The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, and Newsweek. He published his second novel, Pipeline, in 2009. [21] [22]

References

  1. 1 2 Council, Atlantic (16 September 2013). "Peter Schechter Named First Director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  2. 1 2 BRASILWIRE (28 December 2017). "The Atlantic Council & Latin American "Regime Change"". BRASILWIRE. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  3. ↑ Ross, Adrienne (9 May 2022). "Immigrant Food's newest DC eatery marries advocacy work, fine dining". Washington Diplomat. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  4. 1 2 Team, Meridian International Center. "Peter Schechter | Meridian International Center". meridian.org. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  5. 1 2 BRASILWIRE (28 December 2017). "The Atlantic Council & Latin American "Regime Change"". BRASILWIRE. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  6. ↑ Siegel, Barry (24 November 1991). "SPIN DOCTORS TO THE WORLD : THE SAWYER MILLER GROUP USES THE TRICKS OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, BIG BUSINESS AND ANY CLIENT IN NEED OF AN IMAGE LIFT". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  7. ↑ Sarasohn, Judy (11 October 2000). "Enron Hire Faces Some Partisan Fire". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  8. ↑ "Honduran government hires PR shop", The Hill, 27 September 2009; retrieved November 2009.
  9. ↑ Contract filing for Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter and Associates, Inc., Foreign Agent Registration Unit, 21 October 2009; retrieved November 2009.
  10. ↑ "Foreign agents lobbied on issues raised in Wikileaks cables : Sunlight Foundation". sunlightfoundation.com. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  11. ↑ Davis, Susan (2 July 2009). "Sen. DeMint Supports Honduran Coup". Wall Street Journal. ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  12. 1 2 Thompson, Ginger; Nixon, Ron (8 October 2009). "Leader Ousted, Honduras Hires U.S. Lobbyists (Published 2009)". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "Honduras rights curbs lifted". The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  14. ↑ Ross, Adrienne (9 May 2022). "Immigrant Food's newest DC eatery marries advocacy work, fine dining". Washington Diplomat. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  15. ↑ "Board of Directors". A4BGU. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "Peter Schechter | HuffPost". www.huffpost.com. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  17. ↑ "First Look: Immigrant Food Is Fast-Casual Fare With An Activist Bent". DCist. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  18. ↑ "'Immigrant Food' Restaurant, Trump's New Neighbor". NPR. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  19. ↑ Carman, Tim (12 November 2019). "A new D.C. restaurant will promote immigrant causes right in Trump's front yard". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  20. ↑ "Two Beating Hearts: D.C.'s Immigrant Food Combines Gastronomy + Advocacy". District Fray - Making Fun Possible. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  21. ↑ "Peter Schechter". 3 February 2025.
  22. ↑ "Books by Peter Schechter". HarperCollins. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
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