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Huntersville Today
By the People, for the People
Upsala Family Moves to North Carolina After Years in Minnesota
The Rene family reflects on their time in the Upsala community as they prepare for a new chapter in Huntersville.
Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:30am
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As the Rene family prepares to depart Upsala for a new chapter in North Carolina, their memories of the tight-knit Minnesota community they're leaving behind are tinged with both excitement and nostalgia.Huntersville TodayWendy Rene, along with her husband Andre and their two children Braedan and Kalaeb, are leaving their home in Upsala, Minnesota to embark on a new adventure in Huntersville, North Carolina at the end of June. The family is reflecting on the memories they made and the strong community they found in Upsala, a place Wendy says they couldn't have asked for a better community to call home.
Why it matters
The Rene family's move from Minnesota to North Carolina represents the ongoing trend of families crossing state lines in search of new opportunities, while also highlighting the importance of community and how it can shape one's experience in a place, even if the stay is temporary.
The details
Wendy Rene's journey began in Saint Lucia, where she was working as a sales manager at the Hilton. It was there that she first met Robert 'Obi' Holman, a travel agent and owner of Trade Wind Tours in Upsala, in the early 2000s. This chance meeting eventually led Wendy to Upsala, where she, her husband Andre, and their two children Braedan and Kalaeb have called home for several years.
- The Rene family is set to move to Huntersville, North Carolina at the end of June 2026.
- Wendy Rene first met Robert 'Obi' Holman, the owner of Trade Wind Tours in Upsala, in the early 2000s while working as a sales manager at the Hilton in Saint Lucia.
The players
Wendy Rene
A woman originally from Saint Lucia who has been living in Upsala, Minnesota with her family for several years.
Andre Rene
Wendy Rene's husband, who is moving the family from Upsala to Huntersville, North Carolina.
Braedan and Kalaeb Rene
The two children of Wendy and Andre Rene who are relocating with their family to North Carolina.
Robert 'Obi' Holman
The owner of Trade Wind Tours in Upsala, Minnesota, who first met Wendy Rene when she was working in Saint Lucia.
The takeaway
The Rene family's move from Minnesota to North Carolina exemplifies how families today are increasingly crossing state lines in search of new opportunities, while also highlighting the lasting impact a strong local community can have, even on those who may only reside there temporarily.
