Brandon Miracle worked hard for the life he has now. A lot of the answers on how to get there seemed to have been planted in him since his earliest days.
The story begins right after his high school. Miracle picked up the knack for drafting at Claiborne County High, prompting him to try and take his talents into the professional world through a new website: Monster.com. Hours after he uploaded his résumé, he was contacted by a staffing agency and swiftly hired for a CAD position at a manufactured housing company.
After 11 years of computer work, the housing bubble began to burst and Miracle worried about stability now that his wife, Beth, and two children, Dane and Briar, were in the picture.
Quickly realizing he needed to pivot from his current career, he was grateful for a job offer from his brother-in-law: a managerial assistant role at Food City. Having bagged groceries at the local Food City during his teenage years, he felt at home at in the store setting and he found confidence in the unknown through his experience leading the way at his previous job.
“During this time, I was privileged to work with some great mentors and I really soaked up everything I could about retail management and operations.” Miracle said. “I went from ‘who’s this new guy with no experience’ to the go-to guy because I wanted to know everything, and I had a lot of drive.”
While this new change in career was good, Miracle found little time to lean into his passions, mainly within his faith. For a retail worker of a store open seven days a week, it can be hard to fit church into that busy schedule and he soon started seeking options that might provide some balance. Miracle took a job as a manager of a Hobby Lobby in South Indiana, but he got immensely homesick during the four years employed there.
Quickly, he received his next sign in the form of another full-circle moment.
“One day, I saw on social media that one of my former store managers was now working for Food City.” Miracle said. “I reached out to him and asked him how he liked it. He told me he wished he’d made the switch years ago and that I should apply. A few interviews later, I found myself moving my family back home and I was once again working for Food City!”
Back home, Miracle joined Food City in Morristown, before receiving an opportunity to relocate to a store location in his hometown of Tazewell. He’s happier than ever. He’s found a new gift in servitude through the company’s own initiatives with the Race Against Hunger charity drive, as well as a personal investment in the School Bucks Program.
Through the Race Against Hunger charity drive, his store set a record and raised over $11,000 for the community’s food pantries. Through the School Bucks Program, Brandon was able to present Midway Elementary School with a check for $5,700, more than doubling the county’s total award over the previous year. Brandon, as well as both of his children, are alumni of the school.
“I take pride in running a great store and always have.” Miracle said. “But I’m enjoying being a part of the community that I grew up in, that I live in, that my kids grew up in. It just means more.”
Miracle seems content where he is, giving back to his community as well as spending time with the people that call it home.
He still has a full plate even when he’s not working. He’s a deacon at his church, leading worship and even playing in his own bluegrass-gospel group, “Old Time Ring,” where he sings and plays guitar. He also enjoys time with his wife and children, taking Briar to whatever sport practice is in season. He seems grateful to end up right where he started.
“My journey was a big circle to get back where I started.” Miracle said. “But I’m very thankful that I closed the loop.”
Adam Delahoussaye is a freelance writer for the KnoxTNToday who loves telling stories about music, arts and culture in and around his hometown. Have a story for Adam? He can be reached at email or text 865-919-5059 with your story idea.
