From College Grad to Tech Professional: My Central Virginia Story
Moving to a new region as a young professional is no easy feat, but with a little support, it can be one of life’s most exciting experiences. Tucked between the state’s western mountains and eastern coast, Central Virginia brims with opportunities for community engagement and professional development.
Brianne Heisel, a native of Southwest Virginia, relocated to Charlottesville for college in 2009 and eventually settled in the area as a partner of engineering and product delivery with WillowTree. Ahead, she shares why the region is her ideal place to call home.
In This Article
What initially attracted you to Central Virginia? What did you learn to love most about the area?
I was always interested in the University of Virginia (UVA). When I was a senior in high school, the community college offered a class in joint-connection with UVA and their engineering school. I got to present my final project on campus, and I knew right then that I wanted to be at the school. As a first-generation college student, the opportunity to go to UVA – one of the best schools in the country – wasn’t much of a question for me.
One of my favorite things about Central Virginia is that you can get a bigger city feel through things like farmers markets, live concerts, the downtown scene and general walkability, but you can just as quickly drive out of town and be in a rural setting with quiet mountains and beautiful foliage. It’s the best of both worlds.
What did your career look like post-graduation, and what convinced you to settle in Central Virginia?
When I graduated in 2013, I secured a full-time position in Southwest Virginia within my discipline as an electrical engineer, so I moved back there for two years. Then, I relocated to Frederick, Maryland, with my husband for about three years after that. I transitioned into systems engineering and supported some big Department of Defense contractors.
My husband and I decided we were ready to start a family, and the two places we considered moving to were Richmond and Charlottesville. The schools within Virginia are really good, and that drove our decision for any future children we wanted to have. (We now have two.) Proximity to UVA was important to us as well. My husband is also a UVA alum, and we’re both huge sports fans and like to support the school in various ways.
Through tenure and promotion, I was able to move into project and product management, which led to my role at WillowTree in Charlottesville. We moved back in 2018 and have been here since.
What professional opportunities have allowed you to stay involved with UVA?
I serve on UVA’s [Club of Atlanta] scholarship committee, which is a full-scholarship program for first-generation college students. Being able to share my experience with students of similar backgrounds is something I really love. I also sit on the school’s Industry Advisory Board for Systems Engineering.
How do you suggest young professionals get connected in Central Virginia?
There are so many cohorts out there if you know how to find them. You can look on social media event pages; there’s always something going on, whether it’s markets, fairs or live music. You can also find other opportunities targeted more toward young professionals, like Common House, which requires a membership but offers networking and socializing events for folks in similar places of life.
What are some of your favorite restaurants and bars?
Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie, a pizza and burger restaurant in North Garden, is one of those hidden-gem spots. I’m also a big fan of Now and Zen, a sushi place in downtown Charlottesville. There’s lots of various breweries around the area, but I really like Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery in IX Art Park. It’s a fun place to go and socialize.
What else is unique about living in Central Virginia?
There’s a ton of hiking in the area. The Rivanna Trail is probably the most well-known; it runs a marathon’s distance around Charlottesville. We’re also really close to views of Humpback Rocks and Skyline Drive. Carter Mountain is a great spot to gather and listen to music. It’s a place for any type of group – a bachelorette party or a family can go there and have an equal amount of fun.
Any advice for young professionals considering relocating to Central Virginia?
Don’t be afraid to take some risks, especially on the professional side. There are lots of opportunities at variously sized corporations, and a lot of them turn out well. On the personal side, there’s so much to go out and do. Seek things out and find your own micro-communities within the broader Central Virginia community.
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