RIZZUTO

THERESA

Full-time Communications Director // Sometimes Creative Freelancer

Hi! Nice to meet you. I specialize in crafting meaningful visual storytelling in the conservation, environmental, and visual art sectors. My approach emphasizes active listening, social-first strategy, and authentic communication, transforming complex ideas into clear, compelling content. From brand development to video production and editing, I provide strategic communications solutions to a variety of clients from non-profits and small businesses to local politicians. If you have a message to get across, I can help you craft it.

This portfolio website represents a sampling of my most meaningful work spanning the past decade, including personal work. Have a look around, and thanks for being here!

Areas of Expertise

    • Content production & filming

    • Social-first video editing

    • Social media caption writing

    • Social media scheduling

    • Infographics and other graphics creation

    • Logo design

    • Brand voice

    • Brand values brainstorm

    • Brand kits

    • Social Media + newsletter graphics

    • Style guide creation

    • Mood board creation

    • Props & styling

    • Shot list creation and photoshoot production

    • Visual branding consistency audits

    • Newsletter writing

    • Taglines

    • SEO-driven blog article writing

    • Web copy

    • Content brainstorming

    • Customized editorial calendar creation

    • Accessibility guidance and recommendations

    • Data aggregation and analysis

    • Customized insights and recommendations

Meet Theresa

Based in Durham, NC, I'm the Communications Director for a National Conservation-focused Non-profit. In my free time, I’m the Communications Chair on the board of my local Audubon Chapter, and love to support local organizations in my creative work through my freelance business, Tailorbird Creative.

My journey has included getting my BFA in graphic design at UNCG, and my Master of Arts from UNC-Chapel Hill in Digital Communication. This background enables me to combine my love of writing, design, and high-level strategic thinking to guide organizations and clients with an intuitive and creative lens.

I’m also an Enneagram 7, bird nerd, and pasta granny at heart. My favorite things to do are going out birding, stewarding my little corner of land in Durham, and spending time on my artistic hobbies.

Testimonials

  • From the minute Theresa started volunteering with New Hope Bird Alliance, she changed our chapter for the better.  Theresa had new ideas and positive energy to create better outreach materials that were more impactful and engaging.  I love her ideas and artistic expression.  When we changed our name, she had the knowledge and expertise to help us through creating a new logo.  We had hired a design person, who frankly didn't listen to the Board's concerns.  Theresa took over the process, listened to everyone's inputs and created a logo that we love.  Even with a full-time position, she finds ways to help the organization and her passion for birds and the environment is clear.

    -Barbara Driscoll, former President of New Hope Audubon & current Co-Chair of the Bird Friendly Habitat Committee; retired Physical Scientist for the Environmental Protection Agency

  • Theresa took on leadership of our non-profit’s Media and Communications committee about 18 months ago and doubled or tripled our visibility and accessibility since then. She creates and publishes a content-rich, concise and visually appealing bi-weekly membership newsletter, and has established our active presence on Instagram. These efforts helped double our membership numbers. She rescued a floundering logo and tagline process and is now leading a significant re-branding effort in our organization. She is creative, reliable, and knowledgeable.  

    - Carol Dukes Hamilton, MD, Emeritus Professor, Duke University, President, New Hope Bird Alliance

  • Theresa was great to work with. I gave her a logo design project with little to no direction and she created a wonderful array of choices for my client! They were so impressed, several staff members sent me a personal message of appreciation. I would certainly hire her again!

    -Laura Naylor, Partner, Power Advertising

  • Theresa has created a powerful media outreach program for our organization. She is a careful listener and has the ability to move ideas into action in the work she does.  Her writing, oral communication, and graphic arts skills are exemplary.  Her positive attitude and can-do spirit are a joy.

    -Mary George, Secretary, New Hope Bird Alliance

  • As our organization’s Chair for the media and communications committee and Board of Directors member, Theresa enthusiastically became engaged in her work. Her thoughtful ideas and thorough recommendations yielded more complete and concisely written, verbal and digital marketing efforts.

    Theresa made a significant contribution to our organization’s name change process and subsequent logo change, navigating a challenging collaboration with outside vendors.

    Our bi-weekly newsletter content and communications have significantly improved through Theresa’s direction.

    -Cathy Rodrigues, MSW

  • Theresa Rizzuto is the absolute QUEEN of content marketing and strategy backed by her empathetic, thoughtful, and customer-first approach. During our time working together at Spoonflower, Theresa encouraged our team to think creatively, and with accessibility in mind. She was informed and intentional in how we maintained brand voice and experience across many creative audiences and channels. Just as importantly, Theresa inspired the inclusive nature of our brand partnerships to span abilities, backgrounds, and perspectives. That moral ethos is also invested back into her team, respecting each teammate’s input and making sure all voices are heard.

    Theresa is a heartfelt and genuine marketer, a creative community cheerleader, and an imperative member of brand strategy.

    - Laurie Shipley, Email Marketing Manager, Lulu Press Inc.