About Us

Ever wondered what work could be like without the soul-crushing commute, the "just checking in" meetings, and that one coworker who keeps microwaving fish in the break room? Yeah, we have too.

Our Story

Hi, I'm Ric Pratte, and I'm the founder of Thrive Remotely. Like you, I've spent my fair share of time in the traditional work world. But for the past decade, I've been living the remote work dream – and trust me, it's not just about working in your sweats (though that's definitely a perk).

As a career entrepreneur who genuinely loves getting shit done, I discovered something fascinating when I switched to remote work: I hadn't just been tolerating the traditional office environment – I'd been surviving it. The meaningless meetings, the productivity theater, the office politics... it was all just background noise we'd learned to tune out.

From Local Roots to Global Reach

Before Thrive Remotely was born, I founded AVL Digital Nomads in Asheville, NC. What started as a small local community for remote workers exploded into something amazing: 3,100+ members, 40 organizers, and 20 monthly events drawing 500 attendees. (Yeah, we were surprised too!) It’s the organizers and members who shaped and created its success.

The success of ADN sparked something bigger. Under the banner of United Digital Nomads, we helped launch similar communities in seven other cities. But we knew we could dream bigger, reach further, and help more people truly thrive in their remote work journey.

Why Thrive Remotely?

We're not here to debate return-to-office policies or teach companies how to manage remote teams. Nope. We're laser-focused on you – the individual remote worker who wants to do more than just survive working from home. You want to thrive.

Think of us as your slightly irreverent guide to making remote work actually work for you. We're talking about the whole package: career growth, work-life harmony, and finding joy in the daily grind (coffee helps too).

What We're About

Our evolution from United Digital Nomads to Thrive Remotely isn't just a fancy rebrand – it's our commitment to helping remote workers crush it on their own terms. Through our newsletter and community initiatives, we're:

• Building connections that go beyond Zoom squares

• Sharing real talk about remote work (the good, the bad, and the "oops, forgot I was on mute")

• Creating resources that actually help you succeed (no corporate buzzwords, we promise)

Join Our Community

Whether you're a remote work veteran or just dipping your toes into the virtual water, you're in the right place. We're building something special here – a community where remote workers don't just work, they thrive.

Welcome to the future of living. Welcome to Thrive Remotely.