A: Coming up to 7 years.
A: Downtown.
A: My wife, Stephanie. She invited me to visit Charleston a number of times while we were both studying in London. She gently sold me the city over time by taking me to great restaurants, trips to the beach, and of course the chance of great weather year round.
A: I might be a bit biased, but I think Blackbaud started it all over 25 years ago when they relocated the main HQ to Charleston. Their presence, along with other companies like Benefitfocus, attracted tech talent from all over the country. A lot of those people became the seeds for the tech sector we live in today. I see Charleston as an attractive alternative to tech communities in cities like Austin, New York, and San Francisco. When I go abroad to tech capitals like London, Hong Kong or Seoul, I notice just how unique Charleston is because it’s a place you can work and be part of a tech community without feeling like you’re being swallowed up by the city.
A: Spend time to experience the culture of the company before you sign any contract. There are so many tech companies in Charleston, each with their own unique culture, so it’s important to find the one that fits you and the way you want to work.
A: Revealing the secret of Charleston.
A: I love working here because it feels like a vacation. My job allows me the flexibility to work remotely, so I can literally be running meetings at the beach. Another big motivator for working in Charleston, is that it’s a great place to raise a family.
A: It feels more intimate. You can come in as an outsider and instantly feel connected with the community because it’s not intimidating or overwhelming. Everyone seems to be excited about what Charleston is going through now, so people are happy to help each other out or collaborate on projects.
A: One of my biggest passions is photography. Another is my family. So every weekend I try to spend as much time as possible on both. Charleston is a great place to be for a photographer because downtown has such great character in its streets and architecture, but you can also take a 20-30 minute drive to get to the beach for a completely different experience.
A: For me it's the Charleston Battery on the tip of the Peninsula. The walk from Rainbow Row to White Point Gardens is one I do all the time.
A: Chillax
A: I enjoy the smaller meet ups like WordPress Charleston and Refresh. Pecha Kucha is always fun too. Its also been great seeing Dig South grow each year.
A: Events like Dig South, Giant UX Conference and WordCamp are really exciting. When I speak to people from other states who attend those events I often hear about how they’ve fallen in love with Charleston and can’t wait to get back.
A: Walking around King Street on Second Sunday, when the roads get blocked off for pedestrians on the second Sunday of the month.
A: Only in Charleston can you experience Southern Hospitality in a traffic jam.
#5 in the U.S. for high-tech GDP growth (Milken Institutue 2017-2018)
#1 City in America for Economic Opportunity (YELP)
“Best Place to Start a Career” (WalletHub)
Top East Coast City Attracting Millennials (Inc. Magazine)
The opportunities to work in technology in the Charleston region are practically endless, so dig in. We’ll help you find your place, connect with companies, and find the job that fits you.
