Even with our deserved reputation for cold grey winters, Executive Arrangements routinely woos candidates from warm sunny states where most residents don’t even own a snow shovel! We all do high fives when we hear a sun belt resident has said yes to the offer/relocation as the ideas and insights that these smart, well traveled, hard working newcomers bring to our town keep Cleveland thriving. Meet newcomer Matt Eddleman, who relocated from Atlanta, Georgia to Cleveland in 2024.
Q1: What brought you to Cleveland?
A: I was promoted to President and CEO of The Austin Company, an international design-build firm headquartered in Cleveland that focuses on industrial manufacturing facilities, with specialties in aerospace, food & beverage, and life sciences.
Q2 Where did you settle in Cleveland and how did you choose the neighborhood?
A: I settled in Chagrin Falls; a charming village that has a small town feel within a larger metropolitan area. Mike Pierce, the former president of Austin, resides there, and his recommendation, coupled with my visits, solidified my appreciation for the area. It’s a peaceful and welcoming place, with lots to do and good restaurants.
Q3. Have you had time to pursue your hobbies & interests outside of work in CLE yet?
A: The food scene in Cleveland is outstanding – many nice restaurants both around Chagrin and throughout the city. I enjoy cooking and have entertained out of town guests that are visiting here for business, which has been nice. I also enjoy the live music venues as well. The Agora is one of my favorites, but I’ve been to Music Box Supper Club, Temple Live at Cleveland Masonic, Rocket Mortgage Field house, House of Blues, Jacobs Pavillion and Beachland Ballroom. All great spots.
Q4: As a lifelong resident of Georgia, what were the biggest surprises about relocating to Cleveland?
A: I was prepared for a horrific winter – not even sure I would make it through. Even though many people told me that this past winter was much worse than recent years, I found it to be much better than I had anticipated. Many days I would drive along Chagrin River Road and the views were absolutely spectacular.
Q5. When I read The Austin Company’s story in the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History it seems a unique Cleveland story and not many companies make it to 150 years. Why do you think it has flourished for so many years?
Samuel Austin established the company in 1878, and it has thrived in an ever-evolving landscape of architecture, engineering, and construction. Credited with creating the modern-day design-build (a very popular approach to designing, engineering and constructing a facility) that is known as The Austin Method®. This approach was revolutionary in the construction industry when Samuel Austin and his son Wilbert created it in 1904 but has been one of the major differentiators for the company as all employees, architects, engineers, construction managers, and even craft labor are all employed by Austin and on the same payroll. Austin’s single source for all our client’s facility needs means that the lines of separation between design and construction are blurred and seamless; there is no blaming another company, as we are all one company.
Below are some of the projects that show how The Austin Company has shaped some of Cleveland’s most iconic structures and companies.
Attracting A players to your organization is the key to differentiating yourselves from your competitors and many times, Executive Arrangements is the difference between a candidate saying yes or no to the job offer/relocation. EA’s unique niche in the talent attraction pipeline is to woo and then onboard candidates and their families to the Cleveland/Akron market by providing customized orientations to show that no matter what your lifestyle, hobbies, passions or interests are, they can happen easily here. Getting your candidate to a YES and then insuring their entire family is educated, connected and acclimated is what we do more than 100X each year. Call us with your new out-of-town candidate to see the dramatic difference we can make in the process.