A big thank you to Uber for sponsoring this post!

Say hello to Kevin, a fellow Arizona native, road trip enthusiast and ASU grad who recently shared with me his story of how he became an Uber driver-partner!

Kevin and I met up for coffee at The Normal Diner, a favorite local restaurant, and became quick friends after finding out we had mutual friends. He was kind enough to share his story of giving up his full-time career in engineering to focus on spending more time with his family, something he says Uber has helped him to accomplish. Kevin is also a big fan of Phoenix and shared with me a few of his favorite restaurants, stores and coffee shops that he’s discovered while driving for Uber!

If you’re not familiar with Uber, it’s a ride request app that’s available in over 500 cities around the world. I’ve used it from San Francisco to New York, and in lots of cities in-between. Scott and I found ourselves requesting rides during our honeymoon, and I used it while exploring The Big Apple on my own. It’s our preferred method of transportation while exploring a new city, as it’s fast, safe and affordable!

Talking with my Uber driver-partners about their life stories has always been one of my favorite things about using Uber, and chatting with Kevin felt no different.

Kevin’s story starts with such a simple wish – wanting more time to spend with his young son. A former engineer, Kevin decided to give up his full-time career for a life of flexibility.

“Being able to work whenever I want – that’s the ultimate thing that drew me to Uber.

Today, two years into his time with Uber, Kevin not only enjoys the flexibility of making his own schedule, which includes working evenings so he can spend time with his son during the day, but has also been able to explore other passions – like tuning pianos, a job he said he fell into and has been able to pursue further in large thanks to Uber.

“It (Uber) is the one thing that has allowed me to spend more time with my son and still build my business.”

Throughout his 3,000+ rides, Kevin has been able to explore the Phoenix Metropolitan area from end to end – from Apache Junction all the way to Glendale, his riders throughout his time have helped him to explore and discover the area like he has never done before.

“Every night is a road trip where I get to explore Phoenix!”

Curious as to what his favorite places are that he’s discovered during his short and long rides? I’ve got you covered –

• Joe’s Farm Grill
• Desoto Central Market
• Changing Hands Bookstore
• The Coffee Shop
• First Fridays
• Green
• Barnone
• The Vig
• Grand Central Coffee
• Culinary Dropout

If you’ve been reading my blog for any amount of time, you’ll know that Kevin and I have quite a few favorite places in common – including The Coffee Shop where Scott and I used to spend our college days writing papers, snapping photos and sipping coffee together.

“Driving for Uber has really expanded my view of the city,” Kevin shared – a common bond that I found between us, as being an Uber rider has expanded my own view of some of my favorite cities.

While there are also many other benefits to being an Uber driver-partner, one of Kevin’s favorites are the Local Perks – which are exclusive deals from local businesses available to Uber driver-partners only. All they have to do is show their Uber Driver app at participating locations to claim their perks, something that Kevin has used while having new tires put on his car at a local tire business. Sounds like a local and safety perk wrapped up into one!

Once our coffees were gone, it was time to say our goodbyes as Kevin prepared for his next drive. I’ve got my fingers crossed that he’ll be my Uber driver-partner for my next local ride! Kevin’s story is incredible and just the thought that he’s able to spend more time with his son brought tears to my eye. I already knew that I was thankful for this ride request app, but his story truly gave Uber a whole new meaning!