Today we’d like to introduce you to Hazel Geary.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Drio started in 2011 with two longtime friends, Rachel McFadden and Hazel Geary, who brought together very different but complementary strengths. Rachel came from a civil engineering background and naturally gravitated toward structure, systems, and web development. Hazel brought the creative strategy, marketing, and storytelling side. Together, we became the “left brain” and “right brain” behind Drio.
What began as a small web design partnership has grown into a full-service digital agency helping organizations strengthen their online presence and turn their websites into more effective business tools. Over the years, we have worked with nonprofits, associations, workforce development organizations, education partners, construction and building industry clients, and purpose-driven businesses that need both a beautiful website and a smart strategy behind it.
Like many small businesses, our growth has been steady, hands-on, and fueled by relationships. We have learned by doing, refining our process with every client, and building a team that shares our commitment to quality, collaboration, and thoughtful problem-solving.
Today, Drio is a women- and minority-owned agency based in Baltimore, serving clients locally and beyond. We design and develop websites, provide ongoing support and hosting, and help organizations better communicate who they are, what they do, and why it matters. We are proud of how far we have come, but we still approach the work with the same heart we started with: helping good organizations look more credible, communicate more clearly, and grow with confidence.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road, but every challenge has helped shape Drio into the company it is today.
One of the biggest challenges has been growing in a way that still protects the quality of our work and the relationships we have built with clients. In the beginning, so much of the business depended directly on us as founders. As Drio grew, we had to learn how to build stronger systems, delegate more effectively, hire the right people, and create processes that allowed the business to scale without losing the personal care our clients value.
We have also had to navigate the constant changes that come with working in technology and digital marketing. Websites, platforms, security standards, accessibility requirements, search behavior, and client expectations are always evolving. That has required us to stay flexible, keep learning, and sometimes make hard decisions about when to change the way we work.
Like many small business owners, we have also experienced the pressure of balancing the day-to-day work with the bigger vision for the company. There are seasons when you are serving clients, managing a team, solving urgent problems, and trying to plan for growth all at once. It can be a lot, but it has also taught us resilience, leadership, and the importance of building a business that is sustainable.
Looking back, the struggles have made us more intentional. They have pushed us to strengthen our operations, trust our team, refine our services, and stay focused on the kind of impact we want Drio to have.
We’ve been impressed with Drio, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Drio is a Baltimore-based woman-owned website design and digital strategy agency helping organizations strengthen their presence and grow with confidence online. We specialize in custom WordPress websites, website strategy, digital marketing support, analytics, hosting, maintenance, and ongoing website care.
At our core, we help organizations turn their websites into stronger business tools. A website should not just look good. It should communicate clearly, support growth, build trust, and make it easier for people to take action. That is the lens we bring to every project.
We are especially known for working with purpose-driven organizations, nonprofits, education and workforce development groups, associations, construction and building industry clients, and businesses that need a true digital partner. Many of our clients come to us because their current website no longer reflects who they are, what they offer, or where they are headed. We help them clarify their message, organize their content, improve the user experience, and build a website that feels polished, professional, and easy to manage.
What sets Drio apart is the balance of strategy, creativity, and technical expertise. We often describe ourselves as the “left brain” and “right brain” working together. We care about how a website looks, but we care just as much about how it functions, how it supports the client’s goals, and how it will continue to serve them long after launch.
We are also proud of the relationships we build. Our work is not transactional. We get to know our clients, their teams, their audiences, and their goals. Because of that, many clients stay with us well beyond the initial website project for ongoing support, strategy, hosting, security, and continued growth.
Brand-wise, we are most proud that Drio has become known as a thoughtful, reliable, and collaborative partner. We are a women- and minority-owned agency, and our growth has been rooted in trust, referrals, and doing the work well. We want readers to know that Drio is not just building pretty websites. We are helping organizations show up more clearly, serve their audiences better, and create a stronger digital foundation for whatever comes next.
What are your plans for the future?
We are really excited about the next chapter for Drio. After years of building custom websites and supporting clients one-on-one, we have been thinking about how we can use what we have learned to serve more organizations and entrepreneurs.
One of our major initiatives is WholeSite, a platform and guided process designed to help entrepreneurs build stronger websites with more structure, support, and confidence. Built for workshops, incubators, accelerators, and one-on-one advising, WholeSite partners with entrepreneurial support organizations to guide entrepreneurs more effectively and help them launch websites faster.
At the same time, we are continuing to grow Drio’s core agency work. We remain committed to serving purpose-driven organizations, nonprofits, associations, education and workforce development groups, and growing businesses that need a thoughtful digital partner. Our work goes beyond launching websites. We help clients maintain, protect, improve, and grow their digital presence over time.
We are also investing more deeply in website security, accessibility, performance, and long-term digital health. The online world is constantly changing, and we want to make sure our clients are prepared, protected, and positioned for continued growth.
Looking ahead, we are most excited about building a business that creates impact at multiple levels: high-touch custom work for organizations that need a strategic partner, along with scalable tools and resources for entrepreneurs who need a strong foundation. Our goal is to continue growing without losing the heart, care, and creativity Drio was built on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://drioduo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drioduo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16PCSYAVE4/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drio-llc/
- Twitter: https://x.com/DrioDuo
