Tori Ludwig

Cultural Observer. Girl Mom. Gardener.

A native Floridian, Tori spent her early years watching a region grow and its culture change. Interested in government and the forces that shape it, she studied political science and journalism at Samford University in Birmingham.

Tori got her start working as a coalition director during a presidential campaign cycle — amplifying voices and shaping the narrative. She then worked a legislative cycle dealing with energy, education and regulatory reform policy. During her time at the North Carolina General Assembly, Tori worked for the Conference Leader and the Speaker of the House in communications roles. It’s here where Tori began communicating complicated messages to unfamiliar audiences. She then served on the communication team for the Department of Information Technology during its transition from the Office of Information Technology — elevating the role of data from the back room to the board room.

Since 2015, Tori has been a key member of the Eckel & Vaughan team. During her time at the agency, she has managed major public affairs and issue advocacy campaigns using traditional strategies and new technologies. With a knack for activating people at strategic moments, she’s cultivated coalitions, driven stakeholder outreach and mastered in-market engagement. She currently directs the agency’s Public Engagement Practice, the agency’s first fully-devoted team for a service offering. Under her leadership, the public engagement team works alongside clients to ensure appropriate communication to communities impacted by growth.

Tori lives in North Raleigh with her husband Michael, two young daughters Stella and Lucy, and their dog Sadie. You can often find her out on a family walk, reading stories aloud, hosting tea parties for pint-sized participants, and trying to adequately display her daughters’ artistic creations.