Upstarter Profile

As an Arkansas native, Amanda Taylor had never heard of Greenville — she had never even been to South Carolina.

Amanda had enjoyed a 20-year career with AT&T, working her way up from a call center representative. Now, she was applying for a management role in the external affairs division, a job that she and her husband, Mark, knew would require them and their two young girls to move.

One of the roles she applied to was in Upstate South Carolina. Toward the end of the interview process, AT&T brought her to Greenville so she could experience the area and make sure it was a good fit for her family.

“The most beautiful place I’ve ever seen”

On the heels of a long travel day from Arkansas, Amanda checked into her downtown Greenville hotel room and set off on foot to explore the city. It was a comfortable late-October evening, and she found the climate to be similar to Arkansas — mild, with all four seasons.

“It was beautiful,” she recalls. “I sat at a little bistro table on the sidewalk and had an amazing bowl of pasta, and the leaves were turning, and the streets were bustling with pedestrians. And I looked around and I was like, ‘Is this a Norman Rockwell painting? Because this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.’”

The next day, Amanda met her soon-to-be-supervisor and they strolled through Greenville’s Falls Park on the Reedy River, with its gushing waterfall that flows through the heart of downtown. They walked out on the award-winning pedestrian bridge overlooking the falls, and her boss shared how the park had helped transform Greenville’s downtown into a bustling, vibrant area where families and visitors can visit world-class restaurants and shops.

Considering a move: Arkansas to Greenville

Her husband flew in later that day to see it for himself, and they spent the day driving around Upstate SC together.

“I remember seeing everybody, all the communities, having all their Halloween decorations out, and it was just a different atmosphere here,” Amanda said. “Everybody really celebrated the seasons. It was a vibe.” Where they lived back in Arkansas was a rural college town. In Greenville, they felt that same sense of small-town community, though with the restaurants and opportunities of a bigger city.

“It made us excited for the possibilities and a new adventure, and it gave us a rush. We were ready for that opportunity and then we made the leap.”

Amanda and her husband packed up their home and young daughters in Arkansas and moved to Greenville in 2019. Since then, her family has plugged right into their community.

“The people are really warm and welcoming here. My girls are truly finding themselves and their people. I have a budding artist who has big dreams, and she can see herself in various arts programs, and we have great school systems here in the state — we are really blessed to see where they will be and the young women they will become.”

Settling in a good community

Amanda and her husband found a home in Simpsonville, a buzzing community only 20 minutes from downtown Greenville. The family-oriented community is home to a growing art scene, anchored by the CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park and the Simpsonville Art Center. Some of Amanda’s favorite restaurants are Stella’s Southern Bistro, Sidewall Pizza Company, Willy Taco, Exchange Coffee Co. and Ice Cream Station. The community is also home to a handful of parks — on weekends, Amanda’s kids like taking their dog Cookie to the local dog park.

Finding family-friendly things to do

With 16 state parks within a two-hour drive, her family has lots of opportunities for hiking in the mountains, enjoying the lakes and exploring the outdoors. Many more getaways, such as the beach or the amenities of Charlotte and Atlanta, are within a three-hour drive.

Her family also likes participating in Upstate SC’s variety of festivals. Every season brings something different, like the Greenwood Barbecue Festival, Fall for Greenville, the Gaffney Peach Festival, Artisphere and the Euphoria food festival.

Helping bridge the digital divide

In her current role as Regional Director with AT&T, Amanda works with South Carolina elected officials and other stakeholders throughout the Upstate to advance AT&T’s public policy, economic development and community engagement activities. She advocates for policies and initiatives that help bring new technology, jobs and infrastructure investments to the region and improve the quality of life for all residents.

Having a skilled, local fiber-optic workforce in South Carolina is integral to helping communities expand their network infrastructure and bridge the digital divide. AT&T offers a variety of career opportunities in fiber-optics, technology, sales, customer support and other areas. AT&T also works closely with industry partners, local leaders and educational institutions to deepen the talent pipeline.

As part of her work, Amanda spends a good amount of time on the road and sees many parts of Upstate South Carolina, from the bustle of Greenville and Spartanburg to the scenic charm of small Southern towns.

“It’s pretty amazing, from Oconee County down to the Lowcountry, we are growing leaps and bounds in South Carolina, and we have amazing things to offer — and the special sauce really is our people.”