Middle Tennessee has become a thriving hub for families and individuals looking for a better quality of life, with people moving from all over the country to settle in its growing communities. While many come for the small-town hospitality, their expectations for modern amenities—especially reliable internet service—remain high.
For Cruz Barragan, a successful entrepreneur and United Communications customer, Middle Tennessee offered the perfect balance of opportunity, lifestyle, and connectivity.
Cruz Barragan’s journey reflects the values of hard work, innovation, and family. Originally from Mexico, Cruz spent his childhood and early adult years in Michigan and Florida before embarking on a 15-year career in the automotive industry. As a mechanical engineer, Cruz worked on large international corporate projects.
In 2020, Cruz and his family were ready for a change of pace. That year, the Barragans made the move to Franklin, Tennessee, drawn by the area’s welcoming atmosphere and thriving community. A key factor that made the transition easier for them was the high-speed fiber internet provided by United Communications. Cruz recalls how important reliable internet was to him, especially while working remotely for an automotive company.
“When I first moved to Franklin, one of the requirements was to have reliable, fast internet because I was working for a company in the automotive industry,” Cruz shares. “Our HOA just signed up with United, and it was one of the first companies that was able to invest in the infrastructure to bring in high-speed internet into our community.”
This infrastructure set the foundation for Cruz’s personal and professional life in Middle Tennessee. Just a year after moving to Franklin, Cruz and his wife, Crystal, decided to take a bold step—leaving the corporate world behind to launch their own home remodeling and construction business, BlueBridge Improvements, LLC. Their mission: to bring customers’ renovation ideas to life through reliable, high-quality service.
Reliable Internet Powers Business Success
Since its launch, BlueBridge Improvements has built a strong reputation for servicing homes, offices, and businesses throughout Williamson County. With Cruz handling much of the administrative and project management work and Crystal overseeing marketing, communication, and networking, the Barragans have created a business that thrives on efficient planning, precise execution, and seamless communication.
For Cruz, working from home is critical, and United’s reliable internet allows him to stay connected with his teams and clients. “Being part of the construction and remodeling industry requires me to be at home for a lot of planning and scheduling, so having a home office allows me to communicate with our dedicated teams remotely,” Cruz explains. “The internet is paramount for what I do on a daily basis.”
Whether he’s managing multiple projects at once or sending architectural plans, Cruz relies on United’s connection to keep everything running smoothly. “The reliability is unparalleled,” he says. “In the past five years since I’ve used United, I haven’t had any issues at all and probably can count on one hand how many times the service has been unavailable. Even when an outage happened, we were notified, and it was restored very, very quickly, which I’ve never experienced before from another service provider.”
Meeting the Needs of a Busy Family Life
Beyond business, the Barragans also depend on United’s high-speed fiber internet for their family’s daily activities. Cruz and Crystal have two children: a fifteen-year-old son and an eighteen-year-old daughter who just began her first year of college. Attending an out-of-state school remotely, Cruz’s daughter relies on United’s fast and consistent bandwidth to attend classes and participate in video discussions—all without interruption.
Despite having three family members working and studying from home, Cruz is very happy with United’s internet speeds. Whether it’s for work, school, or entertainment—like gaming or streaming documentaries—the Barragans enjoy a seamless experience. For Cruz, the reliable connection United provides makes balancing his responsibilities as a business owner and father much easier. The contrast between United’s customer-focused approach and the service that the Barragans experienced in larger metropolitan areas stands out to him.
“Our experience with United has been a night and day difference from other service providers in a much larger city where I came from,” Cruz shares.
Aligning with United’s People-Centered Approach
Cruz also feels a personal connection to United Communications beyond just the technology. As a small business owner, he resonates with United’s commitment to community values and people-centered service.
“We feel that we resonate with the values and principles of United and feel they align with us as small business owners here in the area,” Cruz says. With roots firmly planted in Williamson County, the Barragans appreciate being part of a company that is just as dedicated to the community as they are.
For Cruz Barragan, United Communications has become more than just an internet provider—it’s become a partner that supports his family, his business, and his vision for a better way of life in Middle Tennessee. With reliable, high-speed internet, the Barragans can focus on what matters most: creating a successful future and staying connected every step of the way.
Learn more about United’s commitment to customers and discover if our fiber service is available at your home or business.