Final Update from #CLE

I thought it would be fun and interesting to make a video to explain my transition from Cleveland to Boston. So I set up my camera at three iconic places in CLE at Christmas time, plus a 4th with deep meaning to me personally.

https://youtu.be/JGCzcZ1Yvik

Without going into all the details, a few words about what’s next:

I’m running the sales and marketing efforts for Symphony Employer Solutions, a New England-based Payroll and HRIS service provider.

Symphony is in the Boston area, has been in business for 20 years, has several hundred clients, and includes a financially conservative management team led by one of the early leaders of College Pro Painters back in the day. The staff are life-long New England’ers, neighbors and community members trying to make a difference for clients.

The focus will be on mid-market employers with 50-500 employees, in a few industry verticals.

The business model includes a client service model developed around modern HR and Payroll technology and the services needed by mid-market HR and payroll departments.

The technology is quite simply amazing, awesome, and absolutely best in class.

One of my favorite things about Symphony is that they don’t use voice mail during regular office hours. We answer the damn phone!

I’m going to be working through Health Insurance Brokers in New England. I’ve already met several influential brokers, a savvy group also focused on the under-staffed and over-regulated mid-market employers.

With ADP and Paychex opening up brokerage lines of business, and new disruptors like Zenefits grabbing market share, competition for group benefits in the mid-market is heating up.

Meanwhile, Boston and New England in general has a rich history in business and is a thriving economy. So I’m optimistic about my prospects. If things go well, it could be a great way to spend the next 5-10 years of my business life.

On a personal level, I grew up in NH. My mother and one sister still live in the area. I’m getting reconnected to Northfield Mt. Hermon School, the prep school I was fortunate enough to get financial aid to in Western Mass. NMH was founded by DL Moody at his birthplace.

Growing up in Jaffrey, NH, I also have lots of friends to reconnect with.

We already found a great church in Hopkinton where we land first.

So that’s it. Diane and I are signing off from Cleveland. After 10 years in Phoenix Arizona, we came to CLE during the winter of 1995 when I was with ADP. We raised our two children there. But they are grown and gone, Zach now a Captain in the US Army and Kelle a teacher in Cambodia. We love the people of Northeast Ohio, so sweet and genuine, authentic and caring, committed to living out lives filled with family, friends, hard work, and fellowship. There’s a part of us that’s sad to be leaving. But we look forward to making a difference with a new set of friends and colleagues in New England.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2017.