Michelle Schechtman

Fair Trader Wholesale Business Owner, PlayFair Trading Company San Francisco, CA May 2005-Present Design and develop fairly traded bamboo tableware and vegetable dyed wooden toys Create outreach marketing strategies to potential customers Foster relationships with producer groups in India, Burma and Vietnam Attend wholesale trade shows in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles to showcase products to educate retailers interested in selling fair trade products Manage an online retail store Maintained a database of over 200 customers Publicly speak to audiences interested in fair trade and women’s income generation projects Created a wholesale business from the ground up. Revenues increased __% yearly. Total revenues of $___.

Furnished upon request

• Fair Trader Wholesale Business Owner, PlayFair Trading Company, San Francisco, CA, 05/2005-Present, Design and develop fairly traded bamboo tableware and vegetable dyed wooden toys Create outreach marketing strategies to potential customers Foster relationships with producer groups in India, Burma and Vietnam Attend wholesale trade shows in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles to showcase products to educate retailers interested in selling fair trade products Manage an online retail store Maintained a database of over 200 customers Publicly speak to audiences interested in fair trade and women’s income generation projects Created a wholesale business from the ground up. Revenues increased __% yearly. Total revenues of $___.
• Department Coordinator of Russian Émigré Youth Program, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, San Francisco, CA, 03/2003-05/2005, Coordinated the work of the Émigré Youth Outreach Department Planned and coordinated an 8-week summer and 9-month academic year internship program Worked closely with Émigré Teen Advisory Board of # of members Responsible for ongoing evaluation of the services offered through the Émigré Youth Outreach Program Reported to funders about the program and drafted proposals for a variety of projects within the program.
• San Francisco, CA, 10/1997-03/2003, SOUTHEAST ASIA: Regional Representative, WEAVE (Women’s Education for Advancement & Empowerment), Chaing Mai, Thailand / USA Offered support and design ideas to the Burmese weavers living in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border Represented WEAVE by selling handicrafts made by Burmese refugee women at craft fairs throughout America. Organized events such as talks and expos that promote awareness of social justice and fair trade
• Assistant Program Coordinator, OSI Burma Project Education Office, Chaing Mai, Thailand, Participated as member of the management committee responsible for strategic planning and budget forecasting Planned and coordinated the curriculum used in OSI’s post-ten schools in the refugee camps Responsible for monthly site visits to the OSI schools located in the refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border
• Youth Coordinator, Jewish Community Center, Hong Kong, Designed and implemented leadership development activities for teens to take place weekly Responsible for the management of the weekly community service projects
• English and Business Lecturer, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Taught and developed comprehensive lessons helping 20-75 Thai students develop proficiency in the following subjects: Effective Business Writing, Business Correspondence, Creative Writing and English Grammar
• Marketing & Public Relations Assistant, Jewish Community Federation, San Francisco, CA, 09/1996-10/1997, Served as communication liaison to develop and enhance awareness of cultural events within the Jewish community by writing public service announcements and press releases Researched and wrote articles for the Jewish Bulletin regarding grants given by the JCF
• Volunteer, Tibetan Nuns Project, Berkeley, CA, 11/2002-05/2005, Assisted this local non-profit in outreach events and producing literature. Interned at Dolma Ling nunnery in Dharamsala, India.
• Co-Chairperson, Students for Free Tibet, Brattleboro, VT, 09/2000-06/2001, Co-chartered the School for International Training chapter. Arranged guest lectures, movies and activities centered on political and social issues within the Tibetan community.
• Teacher/Trainer, Tibetan Woman's Association, Dharamsala, India, 11/1999-03/2000, Taught two-hour daily English classes to twenty Tibetan refugee women. Specialized in teacher training to the women who planned to return to Tibet.