Our founder & instructor

Meet Rita

A certified etiquette consultant helping young people across New Mexico navigate the world with confidence and consideration for others — one kind, well-timed gesture at a time.

Rita Finley, founder of Manners Matter

Quick facts

  • Certified etiquette consultant since 2008
  • Certified life coach
  • 15+ years in leadership & development

Rita is a certified etiquette consultant who has been teaching modern manners to children, teens, and young adults across New Mexico since 2008. Her programs blend social-emotional learning with practical, real-world etiquette, helping young people build confidence, respect, and strong interpersonal skills.

With nearly two decades of experience, Rita is known for creating welcoming, age-appropriate learning environments where students gain the tools they need to thrive in school, social settings, and future careers.

Rita also has over 15 years’ experience in leadership development, management and supervisory training, employee development, and leading change — with expert facilitation for a variety of meetings, teambuilding efforts, and large-scale events. She is also a certified life coach working on work/life balance, enabling clients to excel in their personal and professional lives.

Her areas of expertise include emotional intelligence, communication, and teaching others to improve their interpersonal skills. Rita consistently demonstrates excellence in her communication and has been successful in establishing credibility, motivating others, and persuading, negotiating, and resolving conflict across a variety of challenging situations.

Above all, Rita has a passion for civility and helping others navigate the world with consideration for others.

Emotional intelligenceCommunicationInterpersonal skillsLeadership developmentWork/life balance
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