Rio currently directs the creative efforts for Sagon-Phior, helping organizations develop, enhance and grow their brands. Clients range from Fortune 500 companies to entrepreneurial start-ups. Some have included the Olympic Games, Sony, Disney, American Heart Foundation, Random House, DreamWorks, A&E, Princess Cruises, Bravo, Nestle, Ford Foundation and Microsoft.

Rio's career began as a fashion illustrator and designer, segueing into art directing and copywriting for Wells, Rich, Greene Advertising's Max Factor, Britannia Jeans and Columbia Pictures accounts. Shortly thereafter, Rio became creative director for George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, where she was responsible for developing the worldwide branding, advertising and merchandising for their films, setting record-breaking precedents for box office and licensing revenue. Rio has always believed that successful branding is rooted in genuinely understanding "the art of making something famous."

Rio's creative achievements have been recognized by the Library of Congress, Grammy Awards, NY and L.A. Art Director's Awards, Graphis, Creativity, Summit Awards, Women in Film and by WID as Best International Designer. Rio is also a professor at California State University, and has guest lectured at Art Center, UCLA, Jacob Javitz Center and Paul Hasting's Women In Business. Rio is an internationally recognized contemporary fine artist, and has earned academic scholarships to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), California State University, Los Angeles, and the prestigious Art Center College of Design as the youngest student ever accepted.