Skip to content

About the Episode

The what's what...

In just a moment you’ll meet Teresa Valerio Parrot, Founder and Principal of TVP Communications, a premier higher education communications firm.

Growing up, Teresa wanted to be on Sesame Street.  She loved the authentic and positive character of the series and spent many an evening sitting on the couch next to her father watching Big Bird and Elmo teach important life lessons.

Teresa’s parents greatly valued education and she became the first female in her extended family to complete not just her bachelor’s degree, but a master’s as well — and yes, she’s currently working on her EdD. 

After graduating from the University of Colorado with her BA in Communication, she went on to work in the President’s office of the university as a special assistant.

And it was here that Teresa really grew to understand and love the power of words. After many years at the University of Colorado, Teresa went to work at SimpsonScarborough and Widmeyer Communications after that.  

One evening, a couple of her colleagues invited her out for drinks after work...and before Teresa could even take a sip of her beer, they asked a question that would change the rest of her life — “Why are you here? Why aren’t you doing something on your own?”

Tune in to hear the dynamic story of how this question inspired the birth of TVP Communications. You can learn more about Teresa and TVP Communications by visiting their website or following Teresa on Twitter.

About the Podcast

Zach Busekrus

Host

Zach Busekrus

Zach is the Founder of Enrollify. He thoroughly enjoys building new brands, developing and executing content marketing strategies, and hosting podcasts. When he's not working on Enrollify, he enjoys discussing life's quandaries over coffee (or a good bourbon) with friends, building Sponstayneous (his travel brand side hustle), trying out new HIIT workouts, and adventuring across the globe with his wife!

Teresa Valerio Parrot

Interviewee

Teresa Valerio Parrot

Teresa Valerio Parrot often says that while her husband is her true love, her alma mater, the University of Colorado, was her first love. Higher education, however, is her home. She is known for honesty juxtaposed with optimism; the two combine to provide communications counsel focused on transparent leadership and relationship building. Teresa helps higher education executives truthfully share excellence and genuinely own mistakes through their communications and actions because she knows honesty is present in all sound proactive and crisis outreach. Previously, Teresa served as senior vice president for Widmeyer Communications and vice president for SimpsonScarborough. She counts almost 10 years of service with the University of Colorado, including an officer-level appointment as assistant secretary of the University. She is co-host of the “Trusted Voices Podcast,” co-editor of Call to Action for Inside Higher Ed, and has numerous bylines with national and higher education media. Teresa earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Colorado Boulder, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver, and a doctoral degree in higher education policy and leadership from Southern Methodist University. She holds an accreditation in public relations from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). She lives in Longmont, Colorado, with her husband and dogs. Each year she threatens to become a runner and instead spends her time traveling with her family. Don’t get her started on how amazing her college-aged daughter is unless you have a spare hour or two. Or three. She serves on the boards of PRSA, the Colorado-based Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), and KUNC public radio and the Colorado Sound. She is a member of the Denver Ballet Guild.

Starter Stories

Starter Stories is a podcast that explores the stories behind the world’s leading education technology companies and education consultancies...and the people who created them. In each episode, you’ll hear about the grit, the strategies, the wins, the failures, and the serendipity that transpired to take a half-baked idea and bring it to life. 

stream episodes

Keep Growing With Us

Join 5,500 other marketers and enrollment managers in wrestling with ideas that will reshape higher education.