The Roach Motel—“the bugs check in but they don’t check out.”

I know you think this is going to be a negative piece about Birmingham, but hang in there.

One of the biggest obstacles Birmingham companies face is recruiting high level employees from out of state.

I find most people from other parts of the country either know nothing about Birmingham or remember Birmingham from the ‘60’s. And that’s not surprising since every national TV news story about Birmingham begins by showing videos of dogs and hoses.

I attended a UAB luncheon recently and I asked the speaker if UAB had a difficult time hiring top notch scientists and doctors. The response was that UAB has a unique recruitment strategy.

When UAB identifies a potential superstar rather than try to hire him/her directly, they offer a consulting position. Then after the candidate has had an opportunity to work at UAB and spend some time here, an offer is made.

UAB claims this strategy works time and again.

And it’s not surprising since Birmingham is pretty and clean; we are friendly and generous; and it’s a great place to raise our children.

Ironically Birmingham natives are generally negative about our city, but transplants love it.

I have many friends who moved here from out of state and were asked to transfer elsewhere.  They quit their jobs to stay.

Yes, Birmingham IS like the Roach Motel—the people check in but they don’t check out.

David Sher’s goal is to create a conversation on how to fix our fragmented and dysfunctional local government.

David Sher is a partner in Buzz12 Content Marketing and co-CEO of AmSher Receivables Management. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (ONB), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).