Meet Téa Morrison, our Marketing Coordinator within our Columbus, Ohio office who joined our team in January 2024. Téa’s path to marketing has been anything but ordinary — and that’s exactly what makes her work so impactful.
From Art School to Marketing
Born and raised in Canal Winchester, a suburb just outside of Columbus, Téa always knew she wanted to pursue a creative path. Right after high school, she enrolled at the Columbus College of Art and Design, where she focused on film and video. She had dreamed of a career in the arts since childhood, and her time there gave her valuable insight into storytelling and visual aesthetics. But as she progressed, Téa realized that the film industry might not be her long-term calling.
She shifted gears and enrolled at Ohio University to study media and visual communications. Although she gained valuable insight into visual storytelling, Téa still wasn’t sure she saw a sustainable future in the field. During this time of reflection, she continued gaining experience—working as a media relations specialist for a holistic health company and taking on administrative work in the carpentry industry with her dad. Like many during the COVID-19 pandemic, she also launched a home bakery!
Eventually, she returned to school at Columbus State Community College, this time pursuing marketing—a field where she saw endless opportunity. She graduated in 2023, excited by the balance marketing offered between creative freedom and critical thinking.
Discovering A/E/C Marketing
Though she once envisioned a career in social media marketing, Téa stumbled upon a new world when she joined the architecture/engineering/construction (A/E/C) industry. “I didn’t even know A/E/C marketing was a thing,” Téa says. “But now that I’m here, it’s a side of marketing that truly fits my personality.”
Her role combines structure with creativity—something that resonates with her. From crafting compelling proposals to capturing project images, Téa thrives on the balance between strategic planning and artistic execution. And yes, she’s even mastered the art of “making pavement look pretty.” Her visual skills—honed during her time in art and media programs—continue to shine in the work she does every day.
Proudest Moments
Some of Téa’s proudest moments stem from winning complex projects that require long-term business development efforts before ever reaching the RFP stage. These are the wins that reflect not just her own hard work, but also the collaborative spirit of the broader CM team.
She also finds a deep sense of accomplishment in managing high-demand proposal processes—those filled with intricate requirements, tight timelines, and moving parts. “When all that effort comes together in a successful proposal,” Téa says, “that’s a huge win.”
How Téa Finds Inspiration
Inspiration finds Téa everywhere—ads, career fairs, expos, and even random graphic design pieces spark her creativity. She enjoys experimenting with different design templates and cover pages, always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in proposal aesthetics.
But it’s not just visuals that motivate her. “When I see my co-workers working on projects I created proposals for,” she says, “it inspires me to keep winning more. The more they groan about being busy, the more I know I’ve done my job right!”
Words of Wisdom
Her advice to marketing newcomers: “Explore different aspects of marketing—not just the one you think you’ll like. Every industry approaches marketing differently, so try it all before narrowing your focus.”
Dream Jobs, Real and Imagined
If Téa could have any job in the world, she’d be “paid to play with puppies and kittens”—training them to do tricks in a completely ethical, adorable circus act. Think “Acro-Cats,” but with her own twist.
A more realist dream job would be, one day opening a bakery and coffee shop, combining her love of baking with her entrepreneurial spirit—a dream seeded during her home bakery venture.
