For Jacob Sheridan, CEO of TPA Stream, a downtown Cleveland location for his cutting-edge health care administration software company simply makes sense. Housed in the Global Center for Health Innovation downtown, TPA Stream is close to the action, while offering a location that is attractive to its current employees and future prospects. It’s also centrally located and easily accessed.
“The location is fantastic for our team members who live on the east and west sides of the city,” says Sheridan. “Being in a vibrant urban environment with other technology companies in close proximity also creates the industry cluster we are seeking.”
This gives TPA Stream a leg up on recruiting efforts for fresh, new talent who want the big city amenities downtown has to offer — amenities that are very similar to other major markets in the U.S.
It currently has 17 employees, but TPA Stream is planning to double in size by the end of 2019. Sheridan expects the company to be one of the top technology employers in our region in five years.
Certainly, downtown’s vibrant and changing urban landscape will help attract that new talent, Sheridan notes, especially with its access to downtown housing and close proximity to the nearby neighborhoods.
“Having the options of a walkable environment with everything at your fingertips is what our team enjoys most,” he says. “We get a lot of compliments about our office space.”
But it’s not just about attracting new talent. TPA Stream’s location in the Global Center for Health Innovation has also helped the company connect with its industry in more ways than anticipated.
“Other companies in health care and technology are constantly in our building, which brings great connections and other networking opportunities to us without having to travel far,” says Sheridan. “Being in the Global Center for Health Innovation has really enhanced our relationships in the industry and helped to expand our business quickly.”
BioEnterprise, which is leading the strategy, programming, marketing and communications and tenant engagement for the Global Center, is also committed to revitalizing the center and helping its tenants connect, says Sheridan. The company has played a key role in connecting TPA Stream with other health care technology companies in the area. And it’s helped position TPA Stream for its role as one of the “thought leaders” in the health care technology industry sector, he adds.
The fact that downtown plays host to conferences like the Medical Innovation Summit and Blockland Solutions Conference is another reason Sheridan loves downtown. Conferences like these and others help raise awareness of TPA Stream while enhancing Cleveland as a destination for prospective talent. The Conferences also align Cleveland as a major competitor to other cities and major high-tech markets.
“These conferences also put Cleveland on the map for new and emerging technology sectors that create critical clusters,” Sheridan explains. “These tech clusters become very attractive ‘hubs’ for a multitude of job opportunities that give prospective talent options for growth and development in their careers.”
The city’s economic development department and local politicians were also key influencers in attracting TPA Stream to downtown, Sheridan says.
“And we can’t thank them enough for their support,” he adds. “We are very enthusiastic about our future here in Cleveland.”