While some say there aren’t enough hours in a day, Danielle Rizzo’s mission is to make every hour count, while keeping family first and building businesses that make a difference.
After being a stay-at-home mom for eleven years, a change in lifestyle prompted Danielle to find a way to “stay present” while supporting herself and her four children, two of which have ongoing health issues.
Armed with a degree in Communications and Journalism from Hood College (2006) and faith in herself, Danielle created Marielle Agency, a consulting firm that helps business owners find more efficient ways of running their businesses, as well as implement forward thinking growth marketing plans.
“I had to find a way to make it work. I started this company out of a necessity to live and still have my presence there for my children,” said Danielle, who has four children Cadence, 15, Branson, 13, Kinsley, 10 and Daulton, 6.
With 15 years of experience working with business owners (including her father), Danielle said she started her agency in 2018 by reaching out and offering assistance to companies online.
“I realized I have a certain skill set so I just started cold calling—reaching out to businesses via social media and direct messages—to offer assistance with streamlining tasks and other organizational and marketing aspects,” she explained, noting that she was sending about fifty messages daily before landing her first client, a California-based company she discovered via Instagram. “I want to help business leaders think outside-of-the-box and give them some of their time back.”
Over the past five years, Marielle Agency has grown its resume to include working with real estate brokers, marketing companies, fundraising organizations, Fab Fit Fun subscription service and Disney Jr, just to name a few.
“I started my business pre-Covid, before people understood the world of working remote. It has only been in recent years that I started picking up local clients,” said Danielle, who has been a member of the Frederick community since moving here at the age of five from Staten Island with her family; a family who still plays a very big role in her life, not only through serving as a support system to her and her children as she follows her dreams, but also through special traditions like Sunday dinners.
“Family is so important to me. Growing up my parents taught me so many things about the importance of family and traditions that I am carrying out with my children,” Danielle said, noting that her family continues to gather regularly to build those special memories with the grandchildren.
In 2021, Danielle expanded her entrepreneurship by creating Ever Loved, a children’s minimalist apparel company, after noting a need for clothing that wasn’t filled with cartoon graphics and characters. “I wanted to create clothing that is classic and timeless, but also encouraging and positive.” Not only is Ever Loved empowering the children who wear it, Danielle noted that a portion of the proceeds from apparel sales goes to the National Down Syndrome Society, an organization she volunteered with when she was a high school student at St. John’s at Prospect Hall, graduating with the Class of 2002. “I loved volunteering there. I would like to eventually grow the business to employ children with disabilities.”
In addition to making a difference in the lives of her children and clients, Danielle is spreading her wings in the local community as a member of the Key City Rotary Board, a member of the Women in Business Committee with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, a part of the Federated Charities Outreach Committee and an ambassador for the Frederick Co. Chamber.
Danielle also aims to pass her community awareness onto her children. Earlier this year, she created the Kids Kindness Project, an event where young volunteers filled, decorated and wrote notes for 100 bags of supplies, which were then donated to the Student Homeless Initiative Project (SHIP). “I want kids to know there are lives in our community that need assistance.” The next Kids Kindness Project will be held this fall.
Danielle said her overall goal is to help others, whether through her businesses, volunteering or other ways of reaching out in the community and online.
“I love helping and working with others in any way I can, allowing me to be an example to my children as well.”
MarielleAgency.com
EverLovedApparel.com