Tales from Savannah’s Remote Workers
Everyone loves Savannah. Tourists, historians, beach goers and sand gnats – Savannah is well liked and loved. The charm and pull of its walkable squares, laid back lifestyle and close proximity to the beach also make it a great place for people to call home. As the tech world adopts distributed teams as the norm, more and more people can choose to live where they want. And Savannah is a popular destinations for these ‘remote workers’. Meet a couple of Savannah’s remote workers and hear why they love Savannah so much and how they make it work.
Name: Kevin Lawver
Title: CTO of Planted
What do you do??
I’m the CTO of Planted. We’re a hybrid recruiting platform that helps connect talent with startups and make the whole process of finding a job and hiring less painful for everyone. I spend my days solving problems, and helping the team be more efficient, happier, and better at what they do.
Why do you live in Savannah?
We moved here in 2008 for a job with a startup. We were ready for a new adventure, and moved here without doing a whole lot of research about Savannah or even coming down for a visit first. We figured we’d be here for a year or two and then move somewhere else. Little did we know…
We live here because we love Savannah. We not only live here, we explicitly chose to stay here when we could have left, because we couldn’t bear the thought of leaving. Savannah got its hooks into us with the beach, the food, the people, and all the opportunities to be a part of the community.
What do you like most about Savannah?
Savannah is the perfect-sized town for someone with a little bit of extra time, energy and an idea or two, to create a lot of trouble. It feels like the perfect mix of culture, community, energy and opportunities to make things better for us. We have tons of creative folks always looking to do something crazy, and there’s always some way to get involved.
What do you like best about remote working?
Just one thing? I don’t waste time commuting. Thinking through how much time and money I used to waste in the car, in traffic, trying to get to work, then parking, then all the other nonsense, it just seems silly. Now, I can work when I want, where I want, how I want. I’m more productive, more flexible, and can bake bread whenever I want, all while getting more done, because I’m wasting less time on things that don’t matter… like commuting.
Name: Laura Fulayter
Title: Sr. Technical Recruiter
What do you do??
I’m a Sr. Technical Recruiter for a national staffing firm. We work with multiple clients from start-ups to fortune 50. Our primary hubs are Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado, North Carolina, San Francisco and TX, and I’m looking to add SAV/JAX/CHS to that list!
Why do you live in Savannah? What do you like most about Savannah?
I moved here from Minneapolis in October after travelling here in Feb 2017. I had always intended to move from MN, but could never decide on a place. Savannah immediately felt like home. I love to walk with a cup and see the architecture and trees in the city, and also hike and bike in the multiple parks and beaches within short drives. There is a fun quirk to Savannah that I am drawn to. I’m also fascinated by the number of, and support for, small businesses here, and can’t wait to contribute to that culture!
What do you like best about remote working?
Working remotely allows me to focus and structure my daily work as I need. There are fewer distractions and interruptions, so I get more done in less time. I can also get a change of scenery when needed. I don’t have a commute time and can dive right into my day. In terms of what I do, I can add a new and fresh perspective from a regional point of view and diversify our client base, and talent pool. I always love to have more options for our Tech/Creative professionals when they are ready for their next venture in order to make the perfect win/win.
Name: Charles Gerrior
Title: Sales Engineer Manager at Recurly
What do you do??
I manage a team of sales engineers for Recurly, a SaaS company that provides a subscription billing platform used by over 2,000 companies including CBS, Twitch, and LootCrate.
Why do you live in Savannah? What do you like most about Savannah?
Because it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than San Francisco! My wife and I have family in Jacksonville, Charleston, and Chapel Hill, so it’s nice being closer to them as well. What drew me to Savannah was its sense of history, natural beauty, and slightly off-beat character.
What do you like best about remote working?
No commute, not having to wear headphones to listen to music, having my dogs around, and the flexibility to work from anywhere.
Name: Jennifer Campbell
Title: Virtual Math Teacher at Georgia Connections Academy
Name: Eric Shaumburg
Title: Founder of Eventrio and 7pt5 Design
What do you do?
I’m originally from KC and started Eventrio in the basement of the first Google Fiber House in what’s known as the “Startup Village.” KC is OK, but it’s a city wanting to be something it just never is going to be. I moved away to DC for a bit and came back at the same time my now girlfriend was moving to KC from NYC. After spending a year together in KC, we both missed the excitement of the bigger cities, but were also still kind of worn out by them, so we bonded over a need to experience different cities & countries. So now we live in Airbnb’s and have spent time in St. Louis, Nashville, Asheville, and now Savannah. It’s our favorite so far, and we’re thinking of getting a place here, after we experience Europe. What I love most about it is it has a vacation beach town vibe with the practical necessities for everyday life. I also love the architecture, the trees and the nightlife. I also love the idea of getting a to-go beer and being able to walk around by the water – that would never happen in a place like KC. We’ve met some really cool people here, and the neat thing is most aren’t native. People come here because they want to be here, not because of some cyclical self-convincing. Like working remotely, it’s all about creating value…Savannah has a lot of value. I think we’ll see more entrepreneurs head this way.
