Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Moreno.
Hi Liz, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Fusion Creative Solutions came about as a long-time dream. I studied Multimedia and Web Design at the Illinois Institute of Art while working full-time as an accounting clerk for a manufacturing company in Chicago. Luckily, they offered tuition reimbursement, which meant I could work during the day and study at night.
I used to get to work an hour early to get ahead — by midmorning, I had most of my emails, invoices, and reports done. During lunch, I’d stay at my desk to work on assignments. Even while making collection calls, I’d be finishing drawings and projects for my classes. Balancing a full college course load with a full-time job wasn’t easy, but I loved it because I was doing what I was passionate about.
After work, I’d go home, walk my dog Grumpy, and then head to school from 6:15 to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, plus Saturday morning classes. Life was good. I had a great job, and I loved school. Every class tied into art in some way — even the general education courses always connected back to an expressive project. I met some great people, and I felt on top of the world.
But life had other plans. I was offered a promotion to become the HR rep for the company. At first, I said no — my dream was to be a web designer. But the money was good, and I felt grateful they were flexible with my school schedule and covering tuition. I took it, but told myself it would only be until graduation. My plan was still to go into web design and create amazing multimedia websites. Back then, websites were just HTML-based with no bells and whistles, JavaScript was barely starting out. I thought that’s where I’d make my mark.
Fast forward 20 years: three kids, a move to Florida, and a long career in HR — I was burned out. I wanted to run straight to my passion and finally become the web designer I always held inside me. But instead, I fell into another unexpected path.
Through a friend of a friend, I was introduced to a company in Chicago that needed a recruiter. With my HR background, it made sense. That meeting with the owner turned into four years of recruiting Class A CDL drivers. I learned everything about logistics, and I discovered that truck drivers are some of the most down-to-earth and caring people you’ll ever meet. The work was rewarding, and as a single parent, the flexibility wasn’t just nice to have — it was survival. Every pivot I made had to balance providing for my kids while also being present for them.
Then COVID hit. The company outsourced recruiting overseas, and just like that, I was out.
Would I lean on my degree? No. Once again, I pivoted. I went independent, recruiting drivers for different logistics companies. Business was booming because trucking was one of the few industries thriving during the pandemic. But I still felt disconnected. Something was missing.
In 2022, when the trucking industry collapsed under fuel hikes, double brokering, and big companies undercutting owner-operators, my business collapsed too. I lost the side of recruiting I enjoyed most — working with independent owner-ops — and with it, my spark.
This was my wall. I was scared. I questioned my ability to get back into web design after so much had changed: new coding languages, website templates, AI. At the same time, I realized my recruiting business needed digital branding, marketing, and a proper online presence. And I asked myself: how could I hire a web developer when this had always been my passion?
That’s when I knew life had put me right back where I was always supposed to be. The time was now.
So I committed. I started catching up on modern platforms, studying new marketing trends, and reimagining my dream into something bigger. That’s how Fusion Creative Solutions (FCS), a digital marketing agency, was born.
The hardest thing anyone can do is invest in themselves. For me, that meant going all in relearning, planning, strategizing, creating business formats and standards, mapping workflows — even when it meant zero income. I’ve learned from past ventures that growth without structure isn’t sustainable. FCS isn’t just about delivering services; it’s about scaling responsibly. I don’t want employees, I want business partners — people who think creatively, take ownership, and help build something meaningful.
I was born in Colombia and raised in Chicago, which has given me the perspective of two worlds: the hustle and the culture. That mix shapes everything I do, especially my creativity.
This is my rebirth — turning two decades of detours into the fuel for the business I was always meant to have. And honestly, without those detours, the passion and the drive wouldn’t burn as strong as they do today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. I had to make the difficult decision to go without income in order to create the time and space to truly learn. Learning, planning, and building from the ground up is a full-time job, and when you’re your own client, the work has to get done even if there’s no revenue coming in. That meant long hours with zero immediate return.
To stay the course, I downsized my life: the car, the house because the time was now. I promised myself I would commit fully, no matter what it required. If life has taught me anything, it’s that money will always find its way back, but personal fulfillment and living your dreams should never be put on hold.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Fusion Creative Solutions, We specialize in helping small and mid-sized businesses grow through modern web design, branding, and digital marketing. What sets me apart is that we don’t just create websites or digital products we create strategies that drive revenue.
I know how to design with impact designing visually compelling but effective, functional, and aligned with the needs of the business and its people.
I’m most proud of finally bringing my lifelong dream to life and creating an agency that reflects both creativity and strategy. After years of detours, I committed to investing in myself, and Fusion Creative Solutions “FCS” was born. Every client I work with gets that same commitment: We treat their business as if it were my own, with the goal of building something lasting, not just quick fixes.
What sets us apart is the way we work with people not just as clients, but as partners. I don’t want to hand off a pretty design and disappear; I want to build relationships, teach, and empower businesses to keep growing long after the project is done.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I grew up on the north side of Chicago, and my childhood was like so many other Gen X kids — lots of freedom to play outside with neighborhood friends, walk to the penny store for candy and cupcakes, or ride our bikes to the pizza shop that also doubled as the neighborhood arcade. The smell of fresh pizza and the sound of Pac-Man are some of my best childhood memories.
Winters in Chicago were a different story. They meant being home most of the time, reading a great book, listening to the newest Michael Jackson album, and waiting for dinner to be ready.
As I grew older, the days didn’t feel as long. School and after-school work took most of my time, but summers still gave me the chance to take long bike rides along Lake Shore Drive. The bike route wound through the trees, soccer parks and beaches, with a view of the lake on one side and the Chicago skyline on the other. If you’ve never been to Chicago, the lake looks more like an ocean.
Summer also came with long days, countless city festivals, and all the “carne asadas” (code for house parties) hosted by friends and family. Those moments made growing up in Chicago truly unforgettable.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://Lizs-portfolio-fcs.webflow.io
- Instagram: @fusion_creative_solution
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570568176830
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-m-905214155
Image Credits
All Image are © Fusion Creative Solutions
