Troy Morris, team lead at Pramerica, tells us why he chose Ireland as a place to live and work, and what it’s like experiencing four seasons in one day.
Where are you from?
I’m from Brooklyn, New York, the city that never sleeps.
How long have you been in Ireland?
I have been living in Ireland for 14 years.
Why did you move here?
I worked in IT for Prudential, Inc. – Pramerica’s parent company – in the US. When I learned that Prudential was establishing an IT operation in Letterkenny, I was very interested in joining the team because my wife is from Derry and we always talked about moving back to Ireland.
What work do you do?
I am the lead for voice technologies and also the team lead for the IT campus support team. My team handles all end-user desktop, voice, network and remote access issues and provides first-level support for Pramerica.
How would you describe your working environment?
It’s great. I have an awesome team that is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done and a management team that is extremely supportive.
What do you like most about your job?
I enjoy the interaction with people and the ability to get a task completed no matter how big, small or complex. I also enjoy working with new technologies in order to provide our businesses with innovative solutions to meet their needs.
Was it difficult to adjust to living and working in Ireland?
The weather took some getting used to. Anytime you experience all four seasons in one day you know that something is not right. Brooklyn is larger and it’s a bustling place to live so it took a while to get used to the small town environment here, but I have quickly adjusted and really enjoy Letterkenny.
What surprised you about moving to Ireland?
I had visited before I moved here, so I had a fair idea of what to expect before I arrived. I would have to say the friendliness of the people has made living here an enjoyable experience.
How does your working life help to make you feel at home here?
Well, I have a great job and really like what I do, so that’s half the battle. I spend most of my day at work, so it really helps that I enjoy my job and that I work for a company that values a work/life balance.
What do you like most about your adopted home?
Co. Donegal is a fantastic place. The people are friendly and there are some amazing places to visit and see such as Horn Head, Fanad, Culdaff and Giants Causeway.
