To the City of Charlotte – thank you.
Thank you for the opportunities you offered me as a young graduate in a new city, and nearly a decade later, for continuing to offer me rewarding opportunities each and every day.
My name is Alexandria Anneheim and I am a ticket sales manager for the best franchise in the NBA – the Charlotte Hornets, of course. One year out of college, I took a leap of faith and moved to the Queen City, and I haven’t looked back. When interviewing prospective employees – especially those in college or recent graduates – I’m frequently asked “Why Charlotte?” What they really want to ask is “Why should I leave my college town or hometown to move to a mid-sized city several hours away?”
While most of you reading this already know “Charlotte’s got a lot” isn’t just a cliché slogan our city uses to market itself, it’s a little more complex when speaking to soon-to-be young professionals. Typically, I end up telling my story and how they too can take a leap of faith and learn so much about themselves in a city that truly does “got a lot.”
So onto my story…
After graduating from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, I accepted an insurance sales role for a small agency in Greensboro. I had always dreamed of living in a “big city” – tall buildings with the hustle and bustle. Initially that’s what Greensboro felt like to me, although I quickly learned I was still seeking something bigger, something more.
I applied to several roles, in several cities, without ever putting Charlotte on my radar. Then one night I was reading an article about the Hornets name returning to Charlotte (replacing the Bobcats) and at the bottom of the article was a careers link. As a young professional in search of change and hungry for success, I clicked the link and applied to a sales role that very night. Unbeknownst to me, that was the best decision I’ve made in my 30-something (not all details are relevant!) years of life.
I was offered an entry level sales role with the Hornets and relocated to Charlotte, a city I had previously only visited a handful of times to go to Carowinds. “What do I have to lose?” I thought. It pretty quickly became clear that this city was filled with people just like me: young professionals in search of change and hungry for success.
Charlotte is a city where the traffic flows a little quicker than some others, a city where many people elect to move to every single month, and a city that offers entertainment for all. It’s a city that has proven it can host global events such as the NBA All-Star Games, Wells Fargo PGA Championships, stadium sell-outs (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, and Drake to name a few), and even earn some bragging rights from Guy Fieri on his “Diners, Drive ins, and Dives.” But at the same time, a city where Mick Jagger feels comfortable enough to have a drink at the local saloon.
Charlotte is a city where you can scooter to work or enjoy a 30-minute commute. It’s a city where you can go to an Italian restaurant that’s been in business for 70+ years on Friday night and then attend a brewery grand opening the very next day. It’s a city filled with people from all over who break tables when the Bills are in town and who ring cowbells the entire third period of a Checkers game. For so many, Charlotte is their second home, but has turned into their children’s first. It is THE city that all of your friends will want to visit and the heart of where so many memories are set to be made.
So, to the young professional who asks “Why Charlotte?” I challenge you with, “Why not Charlotte?” Take a leap of faith. Jump right in. Charlotte’s got a lot, and if you’re like me, it may just be the best decision you ever make.
