Erin Lewis did what plenty of young Oklahomans do after graduation: moved to a big city out of state. But ten years into her career in advertising, an unexpected opportunity with the Oklahoma City Thunder called her back to her hometown. From culture to community to championship basketball, Erin talks about why she ultimately decided to move back to Oklahoma in this episode of Why I Moved.
Hi, my name is Erin Lewis. I’m the director of brand influence and brand identity for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Here are a few reasons why I moved back to Oklahoma.
I was born and raised in Norman, Oklahoma and I went to the University of Oklahoma. After graduation, I went to Dallas, where I worked for an advertising agency for nearly 10 years. At the time, I was in the process of selling my home, so that — coupled with feeling a little restless in my job — really provided an opportunity for me to start thinking about what my next steps were and where I really wanted to land.
Career Growth and Opportunity in Oklahoma City
I always said there was really only one brand that I would be really interested in working for if I came back to Oklahoma City, and that was the Oklahoma City Thunder. I didn’t know what there would be here, and I worried what that would look like professionally. I worried if moving back to a smaller market would set me back in my career. I wondered what opportunities there would be. But the OKC Thunder, not only do they have a national impact, they have a global impact and reach.
Why Oklahoma City Thunder Fans Stand Out
One of the things that drew me to my job in particular, and to Oklahoma City Thunder as a brand, was just how unique their fan base was — and even more than that, how the brand connected with the community. When I was living in Dallas, I was in a large city with many different sports teams. While they certainly had fans, it felt like they were lacking a real emotional connection. I don’t find that here with fans of the Thunder. Everyone is vested in seeing this city and this state thrive. There’s a sense of loyalty that means much more than just sport itself.
Big-City Amenities in a Manageable Oklahoma City Lifestyle
I hadn’t experienced Oklahoma City as an adult, and so once I determined it was time for me to move back, I was a little nervous about what there would be to do and if I would enjoy it or if it would feel constrained after being in a large market. That was not the case at all. I was really pleasantly surprised to find all that Oklahoma City has to offer. We have everything that a big city has, so I don’t feel like I’m sacrificing anything at all on my cost of living in Oklahoma. We have professional sports. We have minor league sports. We have college sports. We have music festivals. We have a great food scene. We have a really wonderful art scene and museums. We have it all. I don’t feel like I’m sacrificing anything.
Moving Closer to Family in Oklahoma
Another reason I moved back to Oklahoma is because I was away from my family. It was difficult being away from the nieces and the nephews and the aging grandparents. I was not able to participate in anything other than really big life events. Being able to be back here and be part of life on a daily basis, I really get to enjoy more of those “in-between” moments. It has been really special and really unique.
Affordable Living and the Oklahoma Housing Advantage
Another reason that I determined it was an appropriate time to move back was because I was selling my home. It was pretty obvious to me early on in the process that my money was going to go a lot further if I moved back to Oklahoma. I was actually able to build here and get exactly what I wanted, where I wanted, for much less than I would have been able to do in the Dallas market.
Oklahoma City’s Culture of Connection and Community
Another reason I’m glad I came back to Oklahoma, is that I found that Oklahoma is what I call a connector’s city. This is a city that is full of people who are genuinely thoughtful and vested in seeing this city thrive. This is a city that is eager to connect one person to the next — all for the same goal of bettering this place that we live in and care about.
I didn’t find that in a big city. Coming here and being a part of the community that has been built in Oklahoma City has been beneficial in ways that I didn’t anticipate.
When I say there’s more bang for your buck, I really mean it beyond just the dollar value. There’s so much that being part of this community offers you. I feel known and I feel like I’ve been able to advance my career in ways that I probably wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.
