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DEL.ICIO.USHome Depot’s Blake finds Atlanta an easy sell
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Compared to other places he’s lived and worked, Home Depot CEO Frank Blake finds it easy to recruit people to move to Atlanta.
“Recruiting for Atlanta is easy,” Blake said in an AJC editorial boarding meeting this morning. “I have not had a person yet where moving to Atlanta is an issue.”
Some might mention traffic problems, but Blake will then mention Boston, New York or Washington D.C., cities where there are bridges you need to cross.
Blake also is impressed with the working relationship between local governments and the business community. He serves on the board of the Atlanta Committee for Progress, a blue-ribbon panel of business leaders who help advise Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin on her key initiatives.
“The business community and political community sit down and talk about challenges facing the region,” Blake said, adding that executives are asked: “What do you think you need to attract jobs. I’ve seen it more in the Atlanta area (than in other places he’s lived, such as upstate New York).
Blake also repeated one of his favorite quotes, which he said holds great truth on a personal and professional level. “If your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near.”
For Home Depot, that means looking forward. And he’s relied on two of the founders — Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank — to help spread that forward-looking message.
“Both Bernie and Arthur, every time they go into a store, they tell store managers and associates: ‘This is not a trip down memory lane. Your best times are ahead of you,’” Blake said. “The organization has to believe that. “
But that doesn’t mean Blake has turned his back to the company’s origins — including the creed that Marcus and Blank (who he called “phenomenal”) practiced for Home Depot’s first 25 years in business.
“Reconnecting to our culture is a critical part of our future,” Blake said. “It’s more reconnecting with that culture and showing it’s continuing relevance to our company.”
Comments
By Interested Bystander
July 2, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this
How would Blake know that “Atlanta is an easy sell” when Home Depot is laying off hundreds of workers at a clip. They aren’t hiring many folks at the SSC, and if they are, they should start with locals. We don’t need to import people to take jobs; we have enough unemployed people here. Do us a favor Frank and hire local.