Get to Know the Team: Our Original Hometowns

As we recently explained in a blog about our team’s favorite movies, we’re taking some time in 2016 to showcase a little more in-depth info about the people behind the product at BrightGauge. So we’re putting together several lists about our favorite things and sharing them with our community.
Question # 2 asked our team about their original hometown and what it was like growing up there:
Randall: Coral Gables. A nice, green oasis in a bustling city (Miami). Central to everything and plenty to do.
welcome to “The City Beautiful”
Brian: Miami - great city to be from due to the multi-cultures that all converge together throughout my entire life. It was unique to be from a city that is all about "materialistic" things but also is built on hard work from immigrants who believe so much in family and in small business.
Miami at dusk
Ryan: Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee, USA
The self-proclaimed Mule Capitol of the World, C-Town had a population of about 30,000 people when I grew up there. Most worked at the GM automotive factory, farmed, or commuted an hour to Nashville for their job. I lived a typical small-town life in the exurbs, spending lots of time outside, playing soccer, and creating things for fun (building treehouses, designing objects, making studio art).
Living in a small town made me want to live in a large city, just because there was so much going on all the time. Once old enough to drive, I spent time driving to Nashville on the weekends. Eventually I moved to a giant city -- Miami, FL!
downtown Columbia
Steve: I was born in Long Island, NY but grew up in Miami, West Kendall more specifically. Our neighborhood was great and I had an awesome group of friends that I met there and we are still close to this day. Always had big family parties and caused a lot of havoc with my cousins. And it was great to be able to take a 20 minute drive and be at the beach.
Miami’s sun and surf view
Eric: Miami / Coral Gables. I'm a local guy and grew up here in town. I did live in Boston for 4 years and New York City for 2 years but I love Miami and being close to family.
the famous Venetian Pool, Coral Gables
Rick: Long Island, New York! Hard to beat a 30 minute train ride into the city, a beach around every corner, and a slice at the quintessential pizza spot in Huntington followed by a night out with friends. Never a dull moment.
the sign says it all...
Amanda: Concord, North Carolina… “Where Racing Lives”
Concord is a suburb about 30 minutes outside of Charlotte, but its claim to fame is being home of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. NASCAR is a really big deal in the area. As a child, I lived even further outside the city in a fairly rural area where there was quite a bit of farmland and I always knew the same kids for most of my younger years. Charlotte wasn’t really on the map for big business relocations until probably the mid to late 90’s; after that things seemed to explode with tons of new people moving in and the suburbs multiplied quickly. While it’s nice to go back to Concord and visit my family now, and find some good ol’ Southern Hospitality, my trips there are short. I much prefer living in South Florida and I don’t think I could ever get tired of palm trees, the awesome weather and always having plenty of things to do!
historic downtown Concord
Francisco: Caracas, Venezuela. (Vista Alegre) The fondest memories I've had with friends took place there in a very modest neighborhood that was always beaming with life at every street. As a kid, I was always on the street with my friends playing any game that popped into our heads. Walking from place to place, eating fresh bread from the local bakery, and enjoying our youths is all I can remember when I think back to my home town.
a panoramic view of Vista Alegre, Caracas
Larry: Miami. Great cosmopolitan city to be raised in. Unlike anywhere else in the world. First world city with third world culture.
Calle Ocho (8th Street) in Miami’s famous Little Havana neighborhood
Orlando: I grew up in Miami. It was great. There is something to be said about playing outside year round.
South Pointe Park, Miami Beach
David: Kingston, Jamaica. Occasional trips to the beach, a few weekend runs to the touristy parts of the country for a getaway, good local eats, warm climate, some hurricanes which are fun to be in once you're safe. Luckily none were terribly damaging/serious.
Kingston’s skyline
Adam: Miami, born and raised. Growing up I always felt the need to go see other places and never really considered Miami a special place. I never lived on the beach, never went clubbing, and my Spanish isn't great so it was a bit like being a foreigner sometimes. After a bit of traveling I do see the appeal to this city, especially for people that want to get out of the snow. The summers can get brutally humid, but the rest of the year makes up for it. As for the Hispanic/Caribbean culture, I definitely appreciate it a lot more after leaving and having food cravings. Having a car has always been essential and growing up I thought if I moved more central it wouldn't be needed, but it seems one will always need a car in Miami.
the annual SOBE (South Beach) Wine & Food Festival
Kristian: I’m a born and raised Miami boy that has endured excessive humidity, no winters, and crappy drivers all his life. Ok, I may be exaggerating a bit, but anyone who has lived (or at least visited Miami) knows what I’m referring to. In all honesty, I wouldn’t trade growing up and living in Miami for anything. Miami is a huge Melting Pot of cultures and this can be seen through its people, which are constantly expressing their heritage. Whether it is through food in restaurants, music/dance in clubs, or simply just being themselves and practicing their ways/customs. Apart from the cultural diversity, I also love Miami’s awesome activities, beaches, and nightlife. There’s is always something to do. Being “bored” in Miami, truly isn't an option.
LIV, one of Miami’s famous clubs
It’s safe to say we have a lot of locals in the BrightGauge office, but everyone still brings their own unique background to our group! The Miami area is truly one of the best places we can think of to find a huge variety of people from all over the world and we look forward to seeing where our future teammates are from.
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