Mike Rikard
National Scouting Coordinator for the Boston Red Sox
I am a true Triangle native. I grew up in Durham and have deep family roots in the area. It was a natural choice for my wife, Amber, and I to settle here and raise our three children. We moved to the Bedford neighborhood in North Raleigh. We love having so much here that is important to us – extended family, local church, a great neighborhood, and good schools. I would tell newcomers to realize that the Triangle has great cultural diversity with a reasonable cost of living. It has the activity options of a big city without the traffic problems. There is also the opportunity to live in areas that have a small town feel to them. For the sports enthusiasts, like myself, there are great college athletics events from three major universities.
I am the National Scouting Coordinator for the Boston Red Sox. Baseball runs in my family; I played collegiate ball at UNC Greensboro, my father played in the minor leagues, and my uncle played in the majors. My job keeps me on the road for many months at a time, traveling coast to coast. I think this gives me a unique perspective on the many benefits the Triangle has to offer.
My top tip for success is to work hard. If you put in the time and effort, you should be able to achieve your goal. Our favorite thing to do in the Triangle is to go to Duke Basketball games. We are huge Duke fans – our family has been Duke season ticket holders for over forty years. We have a lot of favorite restaurants! In Raleigh, we like Beasley’s Chicken and Honey, Gonza Tacos y Tequila, and Angus Barn for date night. In Chapel Hill, we like Mediterranean Deli on Franklin Street. In Durham, we like Nanataco on University Drive. For barbeque, we like to go to the Firepit BBQ & Smokehouse in Wake Forest.
