TRIO History 101: The Story Behind Our Spark
For nearly 25 years, TRIO has been a trusted full-service marketing agency for small to midsize businesses and nonprofits. While we know we’re not the only pros in the game, we consider our approach unique, and our team has been unmatched since day one.
Based in Charleston, South Carolina, TRIO exists to make a difference through transformative marketing. From a one-woman agency to a thriving team, this is the story of how the TRIO way came to be.
From CMO dreams to an unconventional proposal
Any worthwhile effort begins with inspiration. For Team TRIO, that spark ignited in 2001 when our future CEO, Jessica Munday, embarked on her professional career in healthcare marketing.
Unlike many of her fellow Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) health administration graduates who eyed CEO roles, Jessica dreamed of becoming a chief marketing officer (CMO) for a major health system. Her career path took a milestone turn when the internet emerged. As Matthew McConaughey would say, “Greenlight!”
Captivated by the potential of this new digital frontier, she dove into the world of web design and branding to become a self-taught “webmaster and web service manager” at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughter or CHKD for short.
Spoiler Alert: CHKD would become TRIO’s first client!
It was here that our founder uncovered the potential of blending creativity, content and technology to expand a brand’s footprint just as the internet was beginning to reshape the world. Seizing the moment, Jessica eagerly stepped up to lead and learn in every way possible. At CHKD, she found invaluable mentors and a team that shaped her journey, while her boss took a chance on a driven young professional—an opportunity that opened countless doors and set the stage for everything that followed.
When Jessica’s personal life called her back to Charleston, she faced a tough decision—leave a job she loved or find a way to make it work from a distance. Taking a chance, she approached her boss with an unconventional request: to work remotely before remote work was even a thing. Her proposal was simple—spend one week each month onsite and the rest working from home, over 400 miles away, on a dial-up connection and Dell Latitude laptop.
The answer was yes, and the rest is history. That agreement allowed her to continue doing what she loved and sparked an idea. Businesses were just beginning to explore the internet, and many had no idea how to navigate it. If she could successfully do her job remotely, what else could she do to help companies embrace this new digital world?
That realization led her to take the next step—getting a business license and exploring the possibility of helping businesses understand the World Wide Web as a marketing asset. What started as a way to keep her job quickly evolved into something more: the foundation of a career built on guiding brands through an ever-changing landscape.
TRIO opened its doors on—and this is no joke—April 1, 2001.
So you want to start a marketing agency…
“What exactly would you do?” This is the question that helped Jessica narrow down her vision. Her answer was clear: marketing, web and events. “It’s like a trio of solutions,” she said—and the name stuck.
The name TRIO represents more than just three core service categories—it embodies our approach to marketing as a seamless blend of creativity, strategy and execution. It symbolizes balance, strength and the power of synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
After all, good things come in threes—a belief that has shaped TRIO’s brand over the years. From day one, Jessica set a clear philosophy for the business and has stayed true to it ever since. She wanted her motto to be more than just words; it had to be part of the company’s DNA, guiding her team, clients and partners alike: ‘Work hard, enjoy life, and make a difference.’
- Work Hard: Know the quality of hard work.
- Enjoy life: Understand the value of time in our life.
- Make a Difference: Create change using our talents and passions.
We didn’t stop there. The power of three became the foundation of our brand identity, shaping our tagline: ‘Be seen. Be heard. Be creative.’ This mantra reflects our commitment to helping clients build visibility, amplify their message and embrace innovation.
Our logo also carries this theme, designed as a collection of triangles coming together to form a diamond—a symbol of strength, brilliance and transformation. Just as a diamond is shaped under pressure, great marketing is built through strategy, creativity and execution working in perfect harmony.
Did that spark your interest? Check out our Diamond Process!
It’s all about growth.
From its beginnings as a one-woman show, TRIO quickly grew into a full-service marketing agency, helping businesses and nonprofits across Charleston and beyond.
2003: The hiring of our first full-time employee, and thus Team TRIO is born. There is a cool full circle story from this milestone move. Greenlight!
2004: The second full-time employee is hired, and TRIO becomes a TRIO. Jessica, Jessica and Jennifer make their debut at a conference in Las Vegas. Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!
2005: TRIO gets a real office (all 900 sq. feet) in Park West and serves more than 50 clients with a team of five.
2007: 505 Belle Hall Parkway becomes TRIO’s new creative hub. We are named the Lowcountry’s exclusive CreateAthon agency, and we helped produce the Miracle Match Tennis Exhibition featuring Pete Sampras and Jim Courier to support MUSC Children’s Hospital and Taking the Field for Autism with Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weiss.
2008: We became one of the first agencies in our market to offer social media management services, back when people were still figuring out what a ‘tweet’ was and whether Facebook was just for college kids.
2010: Jessica serves as a marketing and communications advisor for “Guiding Principles and Best Practices for SC Nonprofits,” and our decade-long partnership with SCANPO (now Together SC) begins.
Spoiler alert: We proudly helped SCANPO rebrand to Together SC, and the rest is history. The brand is still one of our favorites to this day.
2011: Ten years looks good on us! Jessica wins AMA Marketer of the Year, and TRIO undergoes its first rebrand.
2012: TRIO jumps on the inaugural #GivingTuesday train and begins offering easy-to-implement, branded GivingTuesday packages to help nonprofits capitalize on year-end giving.
2013: Jessica makes her first national TV appearance on Anderson Cooper for her PR and advocacy work for the Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl Supreme Court case.
2014: TRIO goes to Hollywood. We are officially coast-to-coast and begin working with Special Needs Network in Los Angeles providing media relations and PR support to this powerhouse nonprofit serving people with disabilities.
2016: TRIO enters the world of private school marketing! Partnering with ParkGate Fundraising, we expanded into the NYC market, working with institutions like St. Peter’s Boys High School. This milestone marked the beginning of our expertise in helping private schools strengthen their brand and marketing efforts.
2017: TRIO 2.0 is born, and the team welcomes its first COO, now-president Jenny Dennis. TRIO executes the statewide rebrand and launch of Together SC.
2018: TRIO turns into a broadcast studio with the addition of the “Box in The Morning” podcast. Box, a popular local radio personality, brought his signature energy to our office through live weekday broadcasts. Sadly, not long after, Box passed away, leaving a void in the Charleston community. His impact, humor and spirit will always be remembered. We miss you, Box.
PSA: If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available. Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—you’re not alone.
2019: TRIO was honored to be chosen by the City of Charleston to plan its 350th anniversary celebration. Then COVID hit, and our master plan never saw the light of day. The ‘best party never thrown’ may have been canceled, but the honor of being part of Charleston’s history remains.
2020: MIA, our nonprofit marketing megastar, is born (or built—she is a robot, after all!). Created to help nonprofits amplify their impact, she quickly became part of our mission. Around the same time, TRIO was honored with the AMA’s Giving Back Award, recognizing our commitment to using marketing for good.
2021: We adopt the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), bringing clarity and focus to our work. Around the same time, we hit a major milestone—TRIO’s 20th anniversary! Two decades of creativity, strategy and impact, now with an even stronger foundation for the future. #EOSlife
2022: TRIO expands to South Florida through its partnership with Cloud 9, combining our nonprofit marketing expertise with their fundraising leadership to collaborate and support clients together, helping organizations amplify their impact and reach their goals.
2023: We’ve got new digs! TRIO moves into the Harbor Entrepreneur Center (HEC), where we’re surrounded by fellow innovators, big ideas and the kind of energy that keeps us pushing boundaries. It’s the perfect spot to make marketing magic happen! We also start evolving into marketing AI professionals, excited for what’s ahead and having flashbacks to our roots as the world makes historic technological moves.
2024: TRIO partners with its equity initiative partner, Shaniequa Washington. The Creative Lab by TRIO opens to offer Charleston-area creatives and businesses an affordable multi-media space for creative projects (photography, videography and podcasts). Oh, and TRIO’s president and chief creative officer earned her EOS Master Integrator certificate and was named one of the Top 50 Women Chief Creative Officers of 2024 by Women We Admire.
2025: TRIO is honored by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce as Small Business of the Year!
Over the years, TRIO has worked with nearly 400 organizations, including local businesses, national nonprofits and everything in between, and has supported 90 pro bono CreateAthon recipients. Clients know they can rely on TRIO for a seamless blend of marketing communications, digital strategy and creative problem-solving.
P.S. Check our CreateAthon page regularly for updates on our annual application openings and deadlines.
As one of South Carolina’s longest-running female-owned marketing agencies, TRIO is proud of its Lowcountry roots and our impact on Charleston’s thriving business community. From partnering with local nonprofits to supporting businesses of all sizes, we’re dedicated to delivering our best—while having a little fun along the way!
And we believe the best is yet to come.
As TRIO approaches its 25th anniversary in 2026, our agency’s journey is far from over. With a growing team, a commitment to leveraging AI technology to better serve our clients, innovative resources like The Creative Lab by TRIO and a dedication to creativity and purpose, TRIO is ready for whatever comes next. And this is our promise to you…
- Our team will become your team.
- We will seek to understand with curiosity and enthusiasm.
- We will craft intentional solutions through collaboration and guidance.
Through all of our growth and evolution, one thing remains constant—TRIO is, was, and always will be dedicated to making a difference through transformative marketing solutions.
Let’s do great things together!
Whether you’re a potential client or a future #TeamTRIO member, we can’t wait to meet you. Contact our team to explore our role as your new favorite fractional marketing department. Visit our careers page to view open positions with our team.
