“It feels great to be back. It’s really exciting to see the growth around town – and be a part of it.”
After graduating from UNC Greensboro, April Albritton’s career path moved her around the country for 10 years. In 2023, April was recruited to become the Chief of Staff for the City of Greensboro. She boomeranged back home to take on this new role and be on the frontlines of continued development for the city, all while enjoying Greensboro’s growing social scene.
For over two decades, Greensboro native Justin Smith has been lighting up the Sunset Hills neighborhood with DIY Christmas Balls. His commitment to helping neighbors hang these sparkling orbs has untied the community – transforming the area into a sought-after attraction and collecting donations to help local families.
Barry and Ashleigh Johnson both grew up in Greensboro, but they went to different schools, had different friends and followed different paths. After graduating from Wake Forest and living in Virginia Beach, Ashleigh briefly moved back. And that is when they met… and made an instant connection.
However, the timing wasn’t right. They were focused on their careers. Barry had started building his barber shop, Dezign Lounge on Battleground Avenue, and Ashleigh was on her way to law school at Washington & Lee University. After working as an attorney in Miami and London, she was ready for a change and wondered: What if?
Ashleigh had lived all over the East Coast, furthered her education and had countless adventures. But still, she thought about Barry and their life together. Luckily, Barry, now the owner of a thriving business, was thinking about his future too. Ashleigh followed her heart back to Barry… and Greensboro. She realized she wouldn’t be giving up big city amenities for love. She found her hometown had grown into everything she was looking for, with one important difference: this is where she’d start her family.
Now’s the time to make your move back – or help someone else do the same.
Ethan James, a proud alumnus of UNC Greensboro, has carved a niche for himself in the digital world as the creator of the popular YouTube channel, “The Honest Carpenter.” With over 950,000 subscribers, Ethan shares his expertise as a professional tradesman, offering valuable insights and tutorials to a wide audience eager to learn.
After spending several years honing his craft in Raleigh, Ethan returned to his roots in Greensboro, drawn by the city’s burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through the support of Boomerang Greensboro, he established a studio at the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship. This move has not only allowed him to expand his audience but also provided a supportive environment to further grow his business.
As a proud Dudley Panther, NC A&T Aggie, and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Davida Robinson’s Greensboro roots run deep. After leaving home to pursue her career, Davida’s return to Greensboro landed her a position as Operations Leader Trainer for Toyota North America at its first battery plant in North America. She is now on the frontlines of the groundbreaking megasite, where they’re shaping the future while redefining corporate-community collaboration.
Beyond Toyota’s $14 billion investment in the megasite, the company is also partnering with NC A&T to establish a STEM lab for K-12 learners. Davida is passionate about giving back and staying connected—she serves on the Shirley T. Frye YWCA Greensboro board, frequents Broadway shows and concerts at the Tanger Center, and loves exploring local festivals and markets.
She’s especially proud to serve on the YWCA board alongside her childhood friend, Endya Frye—a full-circle moment that reminds her just how special it is to be home.
Alan Mitchell’s story comes full circle—with a global edge and a hometown heart. Born and raised in Greensboro, Alan ventured far to build an impressive career. After earning his degree in business management from Appalachian State and an MBA in marketing from Vanderbilt, he headed to the Bay Area, where he led marketing teams at Google and helped open the company’s first North Carolina office in Durham.
But when it came time to choose a place to grow his family and deepen his impact, Alan boomeranged back to the Triad.
Since returning, he’s continued to shape brand strategy for some of the world’s most recognizable companies—earning recognition in the Triad Business Journal’s 2023 “40 Under 40” and helping grow revenue by 20x at The Variable. In 2024, Alan launched a new brand strategy firm—Ricochet Growth Partners—alongside fellow Greensboro boomerang Phoebe Murray, with a mission to help companies sharpen their purpose and scale with clarity.
Alan also gives back as a board member at the Greensboro Science Center and a champion for the region’s creative and economic growth.
Alan says, “Greensboro offers something rare—true community, deep local pride, and a sense of balance that supports both your career and your personal life. It’s a place where people show up for each other and work hard to put this region on the map.”
From Google to Greensboro, Alan’s return is more than a homecoming—it’s a bold bet on the Greensboro’s future. And it’s already paying off.
A proud graduate of NC A&T State University, Tristan left Greensboro after college, spending time in Apex and Fayetteville. But when the pandemic reshaped how many of us think about life and priorities, Tristan began to feel the pull of home. She returned to Greensboro in search of stability, connection—and a future she could build on her own terms.
Boomerang Greensboro helped her find both. Through the program, Tristan was connected to a job with Guilford County and introduced to the City of Greensboro’s First-Time Homebuyers program, which helped her purchase her very first home. It was a full-circle moment—proof that Greensboro had grown, and so had she.
Now, Tristan is continuing to shape the future of Guilford County. She recently accepted the role of Economic Development Manager for the City of High Point, where she’s helping drive growth, investment, and opportunity across the region.
Alejandra Thompson de Jordan’s journey from the bustling streets of New York City back to her hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina, is a testament to the enduring pull of home and the possibilities it holds.
A proud native of Greensboro, Alejandra’s academic pursuits took her through esteemed institutions: classical guitar at UNC School of the Arts, business administration and marketing at Emory University, and fashion design at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Her professional trajectory soared as she climbed the ranks at L’Oréal, eventually becoming Assistant Vice President of Marketing, and later serving as Director of Marketing at Chanel.
Despite her success, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 prompted a reevaluation. Concerned for her family’s well-being, Alejandra, then pregnant with her second child, and her husband, Andrew Jordan, decided to temporarily relocate to Greensboro. What began as a short-term stay evolved into a permanent move, as they rediscovered the charm and comfort of their hometown.
In Greensboro, Alejandra embraced new professional and personal opportunities. She assumed the role of Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Thompson Traders, her family’s business specializing in artisan-made metal sinks and fixtures. Additionally, she co-founded ESTAS Beauty, a skincare brand focusing on scar care, inspired by her own experiences.
The family’s new residence, the historic Worsham House in New Irving Park, became a symbol of their renewed connection to Greensboro. The 1972 home, rich with character and history, provided the space and tranquility they sought, contrasting sharply with their previous life in Manhattan.
Alejandra’s return to Greensboro not only marked a personal homecoming but also signified a commitment to contributing to the community that shaped her. Her story exemplifies the “boomerang” phenomenon, where individuals return to their roots, bringing with them a wealth of experience and a renewed appreciation for home.
A Greensboro native and Page High alum, Jeff Fusaiotti is thrilled to be back in his hometown after a few years living in Charlotte. When he was ready to move back, Boomerang Greensboro connected Jeff with First Bank, where he now serves as Chief Audit Executive. Jeff takes pride in working for a company that fosters a culture of care and supports community initiatives, including aiding Western NC after Hurricane Helene.
Now living in his old neighborhood, Jeff and his family are enjoying more time together and with friends—and cheering on his two kids, who now attend Page High School, just like he once did. Being home also allows him to focus on his nonprofit, Hands for Hearts, which he cofounded in memory of a close friend to support children with congenital heart defects through events like its annual Casino Night.
For Jeff, Greensboro isn’t just home—it’s where family, work, and community come together in a way that feels just right.
For Sarah (Nudelman) Schivaone, Greensboro has always been home, even when life took her to New York. After years of building her legal career in the big city, she and her husband decided it was time to return to Greensboro. Family, community, and the opportunity for their daughter to attend B’nai Shalom Day School, just as Sarah did, made the decision clear.
Now an attorney at Brooks Pierce, Sarah has embraced life back in Greensboro. She is able to balance a fulfilling career with family life. From reconnecting with old friends to getting involved in professional, civic, and philanthropic organizations, including Leadership Greensboro and the Jewish Foundation of Greensboro, Sarah has found that coming back wasn’t just about the past – it was about giving her family the best future.
After graduating from Greensboro Day School in 2010, Elijah studied film, cinema, and video studies at Wesleyan University and launched a career in digital media that took him across the country. He built an impressive résumé, working with the NBA, Fox Sports, and eventually Crooked Media in Los Angeles, where he served as director of digital development. But when the pandemic hit and remote work became the norm, Elijah and his then-fiancée, Daixi, began to imagine a different kind of future—one with more balance, more space, and closer connections to family.
They made the leap and returned to Greensboro, a decision that gave them the flexibility to grow personally and professionally in a city that had grown up right along with them. Today, Elijah still works remotely for Crooked Media, and he and Daixi—now married—are raising their toddler in the community that shaped him.
Elijah sees Greensboro not just as a place to live, but as a place to invest in. He’s passionate about supporting local talent, building community, and giving back to the city that gave him his start. His Boomerang story reminds us: sometimes the best path forward is the one that leads you home.
After building a career in construction across cities like Wilmington, Orlando, Durham, and Charlotte, Jackson and his wife had established their lives in Charlotte. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected changes. His father, David Hoggard, reached out, requesting Jackson’s assistance in transitioning into a leadership role at Double Hung, the historic window restoration company David founded in 1997.
Now serving as the Operations Manager at Double Hung, Jackson has embraced the company’s mission of preserving architectural heritage through sustainable practices. Double Hung specializes in restoring original windows in historic residential and commercial buildings, emphasizing craftsmanship, authenticity, and environmental responsibility.
Under Jackson’s leadership, Double Hung continues to serve the Southeast and beyond, undertaking projects that adhere to the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Historic Rehabilitation. Their work ensures that historic structures retain their original charm while meeting modern performance standards.