Peter Schechter
Encyclopedia
Peter Schechter, born 1959, is an international strategic communications consultant and author.
Schechter has served as principal election advisor in nearly every country in Latin America, including work for President Álvaro Uribe
(his fourth Presidential client in Colombia), President Fernando Henrique Cardoso
in Brazil, and President Ernesto Zedillo
in Mexico. His clients are wide-ranging, from wine-making regions like Champagne
, Port
and Sherry
seeking protection from name infringements in the US to Hunt Oil’s Camisea project in Peru.
In September 2009, Schechter's firm signed a four-month contract with the interim Honduran government of Roberto Micheletti to provide public relations services following the June 28, 2009 coup d'état
in this country. According to Foreign Agents Registration
filings with the US Department of Justice, the firm received over $292,000 to boost the interim regime's image in the US. The contract put Schechter's firm in the spotlight and sparked letters of condemnation. On October 19, 2009 a protest took place in front of the firm's Washington, DC office in response to its work on behalf of the interim Honduran government.
Purportedly fluent in six languages, Schechter is a frequent political commentator for Univision
and Telemundo
, the nation’s two largest Spanish language television networks. Apart from his work, Schechter is also a Virginia goat farmer, a co-owner and board member with superstar chef Jose Andres
of five successful Washington restaurants (including prize-winning Jaleo and Zaytinya), a co-proprietor of Agur Winery in Israel, and a critically acclaimed author.
Schechter published his first novel, Point of Entry, in 2006. The Washington Post called it “fast moving”, The Chicago Tribune
said it is “as good as this kind of writing gets.” The St. Louis Post Dispatch said the plot is “why-didn’t I think-of-that-clever.”. Newsweek
called it “a rip-roaring novel about terrorism, nuclear plots and presidential dating.” The Boston Globe declared it “entertaining.” His second book, Pipeline, was published in 2009.
Peter Schechter lives in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
, with his Spanish wife Rosa and two daughters Alia and Marina.
Biography
Schechter is founding partner of Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter & Associates, a Washington, DC-based company which advises politicians, companies, non-profits and international organizations. He created the public relations firm in 1992 with colleagues Bob Chlopak and Charlie Leonard after a decade on Capitol Hill and with the Sawyer Miller Group, a New York consulting firm.Schechter has served as principal election advisor in nearly every country in Latin America, including work for President Álvaro Uribe
Álvaro Uribe
Alvaro Uribe Vélez was the 58th President of Colombia, from 2002 to 2010. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid....
(his fourth Presidential client in Colombia), President Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Fernando Henrique Cardoso – also known by his initials FHC – was the 34th President of the Federative Republic of Brazil for two terms from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2002. He is an accomplished sociologist, professor and politician...
in Brazil, and President Ernesto Zedillo
Ernesto Zedillo
Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León is a Mexican economist and politician. He served as President of Mexico from December 1, 1994 to November 30, 2000, as the last of the uninterrupted seventy year line of Mexican presidents from the Institutional Revolutionary Party...
in Mexico. His clients are wide-ranging, from wine-making regions like Champagne
Champagne, France
Champagne is a historic province in the northeast of France, now best known for the sparkling white wine that bears its name.Formerly ruled by the counts of Champagne, its western edge is about 100 miles east of Paris. The cities of Troyes, Reims, and Épernay are the commercial centers of the area...
, Port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
and Sherry
Sherry
Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes that are grown near the town of Jerez , Spain. In Spanish, it is called vino de Jerez....
seeking protection from name infringements in the US to Hunt Oil’s Camisea project in Peru.
In September 2009, Schechter's firm signed a four-month contract with the interim Honduran government of Roberto Micheletti to provide public relations services following the June 28, 2009 coup d'état
2009 Honduran coup d'état
The 2009 Honduran coup d'état, part of the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis, occurred when the Honduran Army ousted President Manuel Zelaya and sent him into exile on June 28, 2009. It was prompted by his attempts to schedule a non binding poll on holding a referendum about convening a...
in this country. According to Foreign Agents Registration
Foreign Agents Registration Act
The Foreign Agents Registration Act is a United States law passed in 1938 requiring that agents representing the interests of foreign powers be properly identified to the American public. The act was passed in response to German propaganda in the lead-up to World War II...
filings with the US Department of Justice, the firm received over $292,000 to boost the interim regime's image in the US. The contract put Schechter's firm in the spotlight and sparked letters of condemnation. On October 19, 2009 a protest took place in front of the firm's Washington, DC office in response to its work on behalf of the interim Honduran government.
Purportedly fluent in six languages, Schechter is a frequent political commentator for Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
and Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
, the nation’s two largest Spanish language television networks. Apart from his work, Schechter is also a Virginia goat farmer, a co-owner and board member with superstar chef Jose Andres
José Andrés
José Ramón Andrés Puerta , known as José Andrés, is a Spanish chef often credited for bringing the small plates dining concept to America...
of five successful Washington restaurants (including prize-winning Jaleo and Zaytinya), a co-proprietor of Agur Winery in Israel, and a critically acclaimed author.
Schechter published his first novel, Point of Entry, in 2006. The Washington Post called it “fast moving”, The Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
said it is “as good as this kind of writing gets.” The St. Louis Post Dispatch said the plot is “why-didn’t I think-of-that-clever.”. Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
called it “a rip-roaring novel about terrorism, nuclear plots and presidential dating.” The Boston Globe declared it “entertaining.” His second book, Pipeline, was published in 2009.
Peter Schechter lives in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
, with his Spanish wife Rosa and two daughters Alia and Marina.