Earlier this year, international recruitment firm Alexander Mann was ready to name Raleigh as its’ first U.S.-based operation center.  But company CEO Roseleen Blair says she was bowled over by persistent overtures from Ohio and Cleveland officials to reconsider, and she did. The company has opened its U.S. operation in downtown Cleveland with about 25 employees, and that could grow to 300. Blair was in Cleveland to talk about why she picked the city.

“Everyone has been incredibly genuine, incredibly authentic and taken us to their hearts. It’s honestly something to be seen, an would encourage anyone to come to Cleveland to have a look. And it’s distinctive, a lot of work has gone into creating some very competitive tax rates to encourage companies to come to Cleveland. And also the relationships that have been built with the colleges have created a very distinctive proposition.”