Editors’ note:

This is part of an on-going series of posts on the Valley’s creative movement and its counterpart the central valley brain drain. We’re tracking down former Valley residents (with a preference on educated “creative class”-types) and finding out what they’re doing, why they don’t live in the Valley, and what it would take for them to move back.

If you are part of the brain drain and would like to participate, answer the questions you see below and send them to valley.notes@gmail.com. We know using our network alone will have an inherent bias.

Please give us ideas on how we can improve this series.

Brain Drain Chronicles: Sarah, 27

Name (first name OK):
Sarah

Age:
27

Where did you attend high school?

Clovis High, Class of 99

What is your educational background?

BS Electrical Engineering, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo


What is your current occupation?

I integrate satellite payloads for Northrop Grumman, as an RF Test Engineer

Where and how long did you live in the central valley?

I lived in Clovis for 19 years.

Where do you live now?

I live in El Segundo, CA

Why do you (don’t you) live in the central San Joaquin Valley?

I got recruited by Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach 5 months before I graduated from Cal Poly.

What are the secondary reasons?

My chosen specialty of aerospace engineering isn’t readily offered by the Central Valley companies.

What are the top 5-10 adjectives that come to mind when you think of the central valley?

Home,
Hot,
Reasonable,
Foggy


If you do not currently live in the central San Joaquin Valley, what changes/acts of God would need to occur in order for you to move there?

Job-loss,
Starting a family

If you do not currently live in the central San Joaquin Valley, what price would make it worthwhile?

If a major aerospace company started satellite production in the valley.
Standard of living remains stable.