Eric, here. I think it’s best if I just state this bluntly. We’re moving to Oregon.
That’s right; you read that correctly. You may have heard us talk about it as a possibility, but our plans are now official. I will be starting the University of Oregon’s MBA program in September and I’m totally jazzed. You probably know that I currently work as an engineer, but along with my interest in how things work, I’m also fascinated with how people work together. I know what you’re thinking, “Yeah, yeah. Engineering. MBA. Got it. But why Oregon?” Let me tell you.
1. Responsibility- The downturn of our economy has exposed a lot of corrupt business leaders sacrificing the long term health of their companies in order to make short term gains. It is a goal of mine to be a business leader, but if I’m going to do that I want to do it right. I want to help companies build plans that allow them to have sustained success that is defined not only by financial profits but also by social and environmental impact. That is why I will be getting my MBA with a concentration in Sustainable Business Practices.
2. Location- When most people hear the word “sustainable” they think of the Northwest. Oregon and Washington have built that reputation through the commitment of the residents to take care of the resources they’ve been given. I want that reputation on my side. Along with that, Oregon is beautiful. Ally and I love the lush forests and flowing rivers. UO is in Eugene, a city so friendly it has a first name, which is only an hour from the Pacific Coast, an hour from skiing, and completely surrounded by countless other fun outdoor activities. Eugene is a college town, like Lexington, which gives it a familiar feeling for us. When we visited last October we just felt welcomed. As we drove the two hours from Portland to Eugene through the Willamette River Valley we saw periods of dramatic mountains on either side of us. Rain clouds came and went, sporadically broken by beautiful rays of bright sunshine. We saw at least three rainbows and by the time we got to Eugene, the whole town was gearing up for an Oregon Ducks football game, which gave the city an energy akin to Lexington before a UK basketball game. It was our home in the Northwest. Both of us grew up in Kentucky and we decided that before we start a family of our own, we’d like to spend some time living outside the Bluegrass state to see what other parts of the country are like. So, here we go.
We still love Kentucky and we may end up moving back and settling down here. But we thought if we ever wanted to live outside of Kentucky now would be the time to do it. And we’re sad to be leaving family, the great friends we’ve made in Lexington, and the old wonderful friends from home in Oldham County, but we’re excited for new opportunities and adventures! We’ll be sure to keep you updated right here on this blog! We’ll be leaving at the end of August and in the mean time we have lots to do to get ready and time to spend with Kentucky friends. And because I’m feeling a bit reflective about our wonderful Bluegrass state, Here’s to Kentucky.
-Eric
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