The paths that brought this year’s EA Connects newcomers to Northeast Ohio began in very different places. Some women relocated for their careers. Others moved to support a spouse. Nearly everyone had moved before.
At EA Connects 2026, however, the newcomers discovered their many commonalities, including an unexpected international connection. Three were natives of Brazil, two had lived in both Kuala Lumpur and Borneo at different points in their lives, and two hold dual citizenship.
Every fall, Executive Arrangements hosts a gathering for women who have relocated to Northeast Ohio within the past year. The evening gives newcomers an opportunity to connect with others who understand the experience of starting over in a new city, share their relocation stories, and ask the practical questions that tend to surface only after the boxes are unpacked.
Many Roads to Cleveland
While virtually every woman at the gathering had relocated multiple times, the cities the newcomers most recently relocated from were:
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Houston, TX
- Jersey City, NJ
- Lexington, MA
- Paris, France
- São Paulo, Brazil
The range of places made for plenty of different perspectives, but also a surprising amount of shared experiences.
“Wait, You’re Moving to Cleveland?”
Before arriving, many of the women encountered a familiar reaction when they told family and friends they were moving to Cleveland: “Why Cleveland?”
These days, some of Northeast Ohio’s newest residents find themselves answering that question very differently. They eagerly shared stories about the neighborhoods they have discovered, proximity to Lake Erie, strong schools, accessible amenities, and the low housing costs that often compare favorably with many of the places they previously called home.
The experience of actually living here has given them a very different Cleveland story to tell.
Things Nobody Tells You About Moving
Some of the evening’s liveliest conversations centered on the wonderfully ordinary things that rarely get discussed prior to a move.
Backyard wildlife, for example, was a source of genuine delight for several newcomers who relocated from another country or a very different climate. Longtime Clevelanders may think of deer, chipmunks, squirrels, and skunks as everyday visitors and, at times, nuisances. Yet for many of the newcomers, seeing these animals right outside the window still feels novel, and they find themselves peeking into the yard to see what might show up next.
Then, there was garbage.
One guest wondered how something as simple as garbage could feel so complicated. The answer varies considerably by community. In Shaker Heights, for example, small golf cart-sized collection vehicles travel up residents’ driveways because garbage cans are not placed at the curb. Elsewhere, residents may need to separate recyclables from regular trash. The guidelines can be confusing if someone has relocated from another country and is unfamiliar with typical American holidays. It is easy to put the garbage out on the wrong day or miss trash collection day altogether. The newcomers affectionately joked that it was “competitive garbaging.”
It is a perfect example of why having fellow newcomers to rely on can be so helpful. Sometimes the advice is about neighborhoods or schools. And sometimes, it is simply about when the garbage goes out.
From Newcomers to New Friends
The conversation also turned to recommendations for getting to know a new community. Newcomers wanted to know where locals turn for information about things to do, places to explore and everyday life in Northeast Ohio. Guests and EA team members traded favorite websites, social media accounts, Reddit conversations, and other resources that can help newcomers quickly learn what locals already know.
The EA team also encouraged the newcomers to keep those connections going by planning regular outings together, giving them more opportunities to get to know one another while exploring their new city. The goal is for the connections made that evening to continue long after the event ends.
Several newcomers said one of the surprises has been how often strangers say hello and make eye contact. Whether walking the dog, shopping for groceries, or simply passing one another in the neighborhood, they noticed how often people make an effort to connect, even in small ways.
For the EA team, one of the best measures of a successful newcomer gathering is simple. Guests arrive individually and leave in twos and threes, still talking, exchanging cell phone numbers, and making future plans together.
Once the house is unpacked, the children are in school, and the new hire is immersed in their new job, it can be challenging for the spouse to build a community of their own. This is especially true if they work remotely, are raising children at home, or arrived without a built-in social network.
Building those connections is a key part of Executive Arrangements’ Settling In Services. Quickly learning the daily nuances of a new community can make a tremendous difference in how a family adjusts to their relocation. And often, it is the people you meet who turn a new city into a place that feels like home.
At Executive Arrangements, we help new hires and their families settle into their new community by helping them cultivate relationships. Think of us as community consultants and network experts. Learn how Executive Arrangements helps candidates considering a relocation. Contact us online or call at 216.231.9311.
