About a year ago, Executive Arrangements was retained by the Cleveland Clinic to introduce and acclimate Mario Ellis, their new Senior Director of Compensation and Retirement Benefits, and his family to Northeast Ohio. Mario 
relocated in April 2016, and his two daughters, 11 and 13, and his parents followed suit in June 2016. Mario and his family relocated from Boise, ID, and Mario originally hails from Chicago.
EA recently chatted with Mario to see how he and his family are adjusting to their new home…
What did you think of Cleveland prior to your visit with EA? Prior to our move, I didn’t have any real impression of Cleveland. I had heard a few negative news stories, but I knew that every major city will have some negative press so I wasn’t too concerned.
How have your opinions changed since you relocated? Now that our family is settled in Solon, we’ve been impressed by the smooth transition to life in Cleveland. It’s been a very manageable city to make home. We were looking for a diverse, suburban neighborhood with great educational opportunities, and Solon fit the bill. I’ve been pleased with the wonderful exposure to the arts and sports that my girls have received through Solon’s highly-ranked schools. The only negative surprise that I’ve encountered in Northeast Ohio is the property taxes as they are a bit higher than some of the other places that our family has lived.
Can you share one specific about how EA helped with your Northeast Ohio education and acclimation? Being an employee of the Clinic definitely provided me with a great network of local resources, but it was nice having EA as a secondary network to turn to when necessary. The tour provided by EA was an excellent overview of neighborhoods of interest.
Legacy Village
What are your favorite places or activities that are unique to our region that all newcomers should know about? As a big arts and culture consumer, I have been enjoying all of the museums and theatre options available in Northeast Ohio…Playhouse Square’s Broadway Series in particular. Another highlight for us is all of the concerts available at Blossom Music Center (EA Note: an amphitheater located in Cuyahoga Falls that features concerts ranging from Zac Brown to Rod Stewart to the Cleveland Orchestra!). We enjoy dining at Fleming’s and local pizza joints. My girls love Bahama Breeze and the restaurants at Legacy Village.
Any words of wisdom for those relocating to Northeast Ohio? Use EA’s services! Also, tapping into all of the school options is important before buying. There are many desirable school systems in the area. You just need to speak with the schools to make sure that the school district will meet your family’s objectives. The public school options are nice so that any family can provide their children with a good education while living a bit more comfortably.
Does your company need help recruiting and retaining top talent to Northeast Ohio? EA can introduce your recruits and new hires to Cleveland, Akron, or Canton and help them see NEO as home. Call us at 216.231.9311.