The Village of Bolgheri in Tuscany

Randy Eastburg is the owner of Valley Ridge Roofing and Construction in Flower Mound, Texas. Away from his professional responsibilities, Randy Eastburg enjoys travel and has spent time in Tuscany.

A region in central Italy, Tuscany has a rich history stretching back to ancient times. Famous for its art, wine, and olive groves, Tuscany is the birthplace of the Renaissance movement, the revival of the classical influence in art. Tourists flock to the Tuscany region throughout the summer months to tour architectural landmarks, experience the Tuscan countryside, and sample local wines.

The small village of Bolgheri, located approximately six miles from the sea, is a charming example of Tuscan life, culture, and cuisine. The village’s only entrance is lined with ancient cypresses that inspired a famous poem by Carducci, entitled In Front of San Guido. 

At the end of Cypress Avenue, visitors find themselves in front of the Castle of Bolgheri, a fortification that has been owned by the Gherardesca family since the year 1200. One of the country’s most respected wine zones, the Bolgheri area is home to numerous estates that produce noteworthy wines.

Rangers Sign Cuban Prospect Juan Pablo Martinez

Randy Eastburg has presided over Valley Ridge Roofing and Construction since 2010, during which time he has helped the Texas-based company grow from 20 to 60 residential and commercial roofing contracts per month. An avid sports fan, Randy Eastburg counts the Texas Rangers as his favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) team. 

The Rangers had a relatively quiet offseason after missing out on the Shohei Otani sweepstakes, but the team recently made a splash by signing 21-year-old Cuban outfielder Juan Pablo Martinez to a contract that included a $2.8 million signing bonus. A recent defector from his native country, Martinez established residency in the United States in November and was granted free agency status by MLB on February 20. The New York Yankees and Miami Marlins were rumored to be in contention for his services, but the Rangers were favorites given it had more money available in its international bonus pool. 

Martinez recorded a .333 batting average to go along with 25 walks and 30 strikeouts in 264 plate appearances during his final season in Cuba. He also stole 24 bases on 29 attempts. Since being signed by the Rangers, he has been ranked as the team's third-best prospect as well as the 60th best on Baseball America's league-wide top-100 rankings.

Stars 2017 First-Round Pick Represents Finland in Olympics

Drawing on more than 20 years of business ownership experience, Randy Eastburg oversees day-to-day operations at Valley Ridge Roofing and Construction and has helped the company generate more than $7 million in revenue in the past year. When he isn't working, Randy Eastburg enjoys following his favorite National Hockey League (NHL) team, the Dallas Stars.

The Stars already have an impressive defense core consisting of John Klingberg, Esa Lindell, and Dan Hamhuis, among others, but it also has a highly-regarded prospect who could significantly improve the club in the near future. Dallas drafted defenseman Miro Heiskanen with the third overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and the 18 year old has had an inspiring season with HIFK of Liiga, the top Finnish professional league. He leads the team's defensemen in scoring with 22 points, despite playing 17 fewer games than the team's next highest-scoring blueliner, Ryan O'Connor.

One of the reasons he missed so many games was because he played for Finland at the 2018 Olympics. Despite the team losing 1-0 to Canada in the quarterfinals, Heiskanen scored one goal in five games and registered an even plus-minus rating. Moreover, he represented Finland in the Under-20 World Junior Championships, where he served as alternate captain and had two assists in five games.