Category Architect. Cultural Synthesizer. Experience Producer. Strategist.
I'm Deborah Kattler Kupetz, specializing in creating immersive experiences that bring people together and strengthen communities. Alongside my event production work, I lead entrepreneurial projects focused on innovating immersive experiences. Below are some highlights of my ventures that are dedicated to redefining how we connect and collaborate.
Highlights
Reimagined what one can mean when creating a centerpiece, utilizing re-useable objects and food that were later donated to those in need rather than one-time-use disposable florals.
2018-2020
Co-founder
Founded in 1999, Virtual Philanthropy was an internet company created to unify and simplify the shared functions of nonprofit organizations—including operations, board management, fundraising, and communications. It was the first of five philanthropic.com startups that year and was later acquired by KindMark.
1999-2001
Founder, CEO
Led a successful national clothing brand with $15 million in annual revenue and a team of 50 employees. Oversaw all aspects of the business, including production, sales, marketing, and distribution, establishing the company as a recognized name in the apparel industry.
1987-1997
This project was part of TEDx, a locally organized event licensed by TED to bring people together around "ideas worth spreading." Rooted in the global Countdown initiative, the event focused on bold, solutions-oriented responses to the climate crisis. By blending TED Talks, live speakers, and community engagement, the event aimed to inspire action toward a zero-carbon future that’s safer, cleaner, and more equitable for all.
Provided strategic support to Mayor Richard Riordan’s literacy initiative, fostering partnerships between the City of Los Angeles and the Department of Water and Power to create reading gardens at LAUSD schools. The program also developed a formal vetting and placement process for a volunteer corps dedicated to supporting youth literacy across the city.
2001-2012
In 1997, launched the first online fundraising pilot within Rhino Entertainment, a leading American specialty record label. The initiative explored early digital strategies for nonprofit support, marking a pioneering moment in the intersection of music, media, and
philanthropy.
1997