Name: Jared Dudas

City: Dallas

Neighborhood:  Northeast Dallas – The Village

Company/Title: Dallas Cowboys, Group Sales Account Executive

When did you move here? From where?
May 2016, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Where else have you lived?
Arlington, Texas, for an internship; State College, Pennsylvania, for an internship; Athens, Ohio, for college

What made you Say Yes to Dallas?
My job offer with the Dallas Cowboys drew me here. I was fortunate enough to have an internship with the team while still in college and got a taste of the city and how great it is before I moved permanently. Once I got the full-time offer, it was a no brainer — I knew this was the place for me.

How did you choose where to live in the Dallas Region?
I wanted to be close to other young professionals but still somewhat centrally located. I actually had my living situation all squared away before making the move down here with my roommate at the time. If I were to move again, I would consider Addison or Carrollton.

How has your opinion of the Dallas Region changed since moving here?
Before moving here, I didn’t realize the Dallas Region is so large. The city is growing and expanding like crazy, which is awesome!

Tell us about your city/neighborhood. What do you like best? What makes it different?
I like The Village area because it’s centrally located and has all of the amenities of living in the Uptown area while still remaining affordable. It’s unique in the sense that it’s really its own community within the area.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to move here?
Do it! There’s something for everyone here, regardless of your background, interests, etc.

What is your passion, and how does Dallas help fulfill it?
I’ve always been a big sports guy, and Dallas has so much to offer in that aspect, especially with my job. I also love meeting new people and trying new things. Dallas gives you so many opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.

What would you miss most about the area if you had to leave?
The weather and the social scene. There’s never a shortage of things to do here, especially when the weather is nice.

Where do you go on weekends or days off?
Anywhere and everywhere. I’m a big foodie, so I love trying new restaurants and exploring different parts of the city. You can usually find me in Uptown, Deep Ellum, or Lower Greenville.

Where do you go to experience culture? Why do you like it?
Deep Ellum. I love the unique restaurants and bars. There’s so much to do, and it’s amazing to see how the community has been revitalized.

What is your favorite restaurant?
Definitely Gloria’s! There are a few locations around town, but I frequent the one on Lower Greenville.

What is your favorite festival/event?
State Fair of Texas

Where do you like to shop? Why?
NorthPark; it has everything you could need and then some. Plus, it’s only a stone throw from where I live.

Who is your local hero? Why?
Tony Dorsett, who is also a Pittsburgh native, made the move to Dallas when he was about my age after being drafted by the Cowboys. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Tony a few times and love talking with him about our shared experiences.

Do you travel often? Is it easier or harder to do here?
I travel a fair amount for both business and pleasure, and I find that flying in and out of Dallas is a great experience. Having both DFW and Love Field here as hubs for two major airlines presents a lot of options and flexibility.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?
Moving to Dallas is one of the best decisions I ever made to start my career. I would highly recommend Dallas to any young professional looking to relocate to a new city. The opportunities for growth here are endless!

Photo Credit: Meredith Mills

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Names: Blair Flowers Butler, Ellen Flowers, Janie Flowers

City: Dallas

Neighborhood: M Streets and Uptown

Company/Title:  The Perennial Style, fashion bloggers; Blair in commercial real estate, Janie in engineering, and Ellen in blogging

When did you move here? From where?
August 2007, from Dothan, Alabama

What made you Say Yes to Dallas?
As three sisters born within three-and-a-half years, it’s no surprise we were basically raised as triplets. We’ve been through so much together over the years, and we’re lifelong best friends. We always danced in recitals together, joined the same cheer team, left for boarding school together, traveled together – so when Blair decided to enroll at SMU, it was only a matter of time before Janie and Ellen followed.

Though we never dreamed of staying in Dallas after college, we’ve absolutely fallen in love with the city and region.

How did you choose where to live in the Dallas Region?
The Dallas Region is made up of so many different neighborhoods and suburbs. Janie and Ellen both rent in Uptown, and Blair owns a home in the M Streets. There are so many great areas – each with their own personality and charm – to consider when looking to rent or buy.

Some of our favorite neighborhoods to consider if you’re moving to Dallas: Uptown, Knox-Henderson, M Streets, Devonshire, Highland Park, or Victory Park.

How has your opinion of the Dallas Region changed since moving here?
One of the most common misconceptions about Dallas is that many people consider the city and region to be just like what they saw in the original Dallas TV show. While you will find guys rocking a pair of cowboy boots with a tuxedo, big Texas curls and turquoise jewelry, or friends heading out to their ranches to hunt on the weekends – Dallas also has a sophisticated, urban feel that radiates glamour everywhere you turn.  Dallas is constantly expanding, growing, and changing, and we don’t see it stopping anytime soon!

What is your passion, and how does Dallas help fulfill it?
When we first graduated from SMU, we all got heavily involved in the Dallas young professionals scene. With Blair in commercial real estate, Janie in engineering, and Ellen in blogging, we were able to expand our professional networks as well as our social circles. With volunteer organizations such as the Dallas Regional Chamber Young Professionals, Salvation Army Echelon, Red Cross YPA, and Young Texans Against Cancer, we were able to volunteer with a number of great causes, as well as meet so many wonderful people our age in the city and region. We also joined the Dallas Slipper Club and Cotillion Club, where we made so many new girlfriends, gave back to great charities, attended galas, and co-mingled with the guys groups Young professionals can join so many wonderful organizations in Dallas, making it easy to make great friends who share the same interests.

Tell us about the work environment here.
What we love most about Dallas is that it’s a city and region of opportunity. The area is home to a range of companies from Fortune 500 to nonprofits – and of course, fashion as well. Dallas constantly ranks as one of the top 10 cities for job opportunities, as well as job growth. Additionally, Dallas millennials are making about $800 more than the average US millennial household. What we find so inspiring about the city and region is the drive of the people here. Being surrounded by so many go-getters keeps us motivated, and we love following the success of so many of our fellow Dallasites – especially fellow SMU grads Amber Venz and Baxter Box of rewardStyle.

What is your favorite outdoor activity, and where is your favorite place to do it?
We love taking advantage of outdoor activities. To unwind after a day of work, we love running on the Katy Trail, which spans from Victory Park through Uptown to Highland Park. It’s a great trail for exercise, plus we always run into so many friends along the way! We also love swinging by Klyde Warren Park during the week for one of their free workout classes – or a bite to eat at a food truck or Savor.

Do you travel often? Is it easier or harder to do here?
Dallas is home to two major airports that offer easy and affordable flights to SO many places. As three sisters who previously drove HOURS from our hometown just to catch a flight, having direct and affordable flights right around the corner makes traveling (and travel blogging) SO simple! As for transportation, driving in Dallas is fantastic – very little traffic, easy to navigate, and parking is simple. For those of you that have lived in other major cities, you’ll understand why this is so important. 

Anything else you’d like to tell us?
Aside from the hustle and bustle of the city and region, Dallas has a small-town feel. Now you may wonder how a city and region as large as Dallas can feel small, but as the years go on, it’s amazing how everyone seems to be connected. We rarely meet a “stranger” in the city and region, as we can always seem to find a common factor with everyone – whether it’s where they went to college, who they’re friends with, what neighborhood they live in, where they go to church or which pilates studio they frequent. Because we grew up in Dothan, Alabama, it’s nice to find a big city and region that still has that welcoming charm – not to mention the same Southern hospitality, with a slight Texas twist.

Name: Adam Morrisey

City: Dallas

Neighborhood: State Thomas, Uptown

Company/Title: PwC, Senior Associate

When did you move here? From where?
May 2016, from Cincinnati, Ohio

Where else have you lived?
Columbus, Oxford, and Cincinnati, Ohio

What made you Say Yes to Dallas?
After graduating from college, I wanted to move to a bigger, more exciting city, but waited before deciding where to relocate. I maintained a short list of cities, including Dallas, that I was interested in exploring. A work mentor from Ohio made the move to Dallas and knew I was interested in moving to a bigger city. He found projects for me on a trial basis in the Dallas Region to see if it would be a good fit. I enjoyed my Dallas experience and made the move full time. I’ve been very happy with my decision. It’s a rare opportunity to live in a city that is so large yet still growing and improving rapidly.

How did you choose where to live in the Dallas Region?
Being a young transplant, I naturally gravitated towards Uptown, Knox-Henderson, Deep Ellum, and Lower Greenville. It was great to have options, but after exploring the areas and apartments, I landed in the State Thomas neighborhood of Uptown.

What is the one thing that you could have done to make your move easier?
I could have joined more community groups sooner, but I have no regrets. It’s amazing what happens when you reach out to new people in a new city. I’ve enjoyed creating meaningful relationships.

How has your opinion of the Dallas Region changed since moving here?
When I talk with old friends, they always ask, “How is living in Texas?” I remind them that Dallas does not represent the entire state. I have been impressed with the business environment, the mix of people, and the culture (food, art, nightlife). It has been great to sustain a balanced lifestyle in a big city, given the cost of living comparable to other major cities.

Tell us about your city/neighborhood. What do you like best? What makes it different?
I like State Thomas because it’s close enough to Uptown action but quiet and residential. In addition, we have about a half-dozen bars, coffee shops, and restaurants perfect for watching sports, casual drinks, or take-out food.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to move here?
If moving to Dallas is something you’re considering, do it — you’ll be happy you did. One of the things I’ve enjoyed most is starting in a new place with a more limited network. It’s been fun and rewarding to make friends and relationships with people from different places.

What is your passion, and how does Dallas help fulfill it?
It has been great to be immersed in a culture with so much geographical and educational diversity. I’ve enjoyed going to college football games in the area, and having access to big-city amenities like restaurants, museums, and sporting events. Access is key here — I’ve been to pretty much every major city and found it is easier to get around in Dallas.

Tell us about the work environment here.
Businesses are positively impacted by the growth in the area, as there are a lot of new opportunities. Additionally, Dallas boasts one of the most well-rounded industry portfolios of all the major cities, so there is something for everyone.

Where do you go and what do you do on the weekends or days off?
I often go to Parliament (State Thomas) and Bowen House (Uptown on Boll Street). I also frequently eat at Pho Crimson in West Village, but I have a seemingly endless list of restaurants I want to try. I like to go to outdoor bars (Katy Trail Ice House, Truck Yard, etc.), sporting events (Mavericks, CFB), or the parks. On Sundays, I like to explore and try coffee shops, new restaurants, or taco places.

What is your favorite restaurant?
Pho Crimson in West Village.

What is your favorite outdoor activity, and where is your favorite place to do it?
Running in Griggs Park or the Katy Trail.

Where do you go to experience culture? Why do you like it?
Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. I enjoy the access and ease-of-use of both, and each boast work from talented and famous artists. Both are must-sees.

Where do you like to shop? Why?
I often shop in West Village, and I like to go to NorthPark Center on Sundays. NorthPark is probably the most impressive mall I’ve been to.

Who is your local hero? Why?
Dirk Nowitzki. I’ve become a Mavericks fan since moving to Dallas. It was fun to have season tickets, especially when Dirk scored his 30,000^th point.

How do you interact with your community?
I often attend black tie charity balls, which benefit various organizations. They are fun networking opportunities.

Do you travel often? Is it easier or harder to do here?
I’ve never had a connecting flight since moving to Dallas, and it’s easy to get reasonable flights from one of the major airports. I’ve even flown to a European destination direct from DFW International Airport.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?
I love the construction in the area. It’s a visible sign of growth and commerce. They say the “crane” is the state bird.

Photo Credit: Chase Mardis