UP headquarters moving to Dallas?

[Omaha Cowboy]

Forum member daveoma wanted a thread created..

He has heard a rumor that UP is considering a company HQ move from Omaha to Dallas. This seems very unlikely.. But who knows...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[debradomayer]

Forum member daveoma wanted a thread created..

He has heard a rumor that UP is considering a company HQ move from Omaha to Dallas. This seems very unlikely.. But who knows...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Years ago there was a rumor they were going to relocate their HQ to St Louis, mid 80's. That was when UP acquired Missouri Pacific and the rumor was then that if UP were to move their HQ from Omaha that they would lose the "land grant" they had where they owned every other parcel of land that the rail lines were on. Not sure how true that is/was. Reportedly the land grant was given by the Federal Government as incentive to build and expand the railroad.

[Bob from Omaha]

UP headquarters has moved before. Land grant was in the 1800's and has nothing to do with where the headquarters is or was. I fail to see the connection between the headquarters location and land grant.

Here's the wiki story in full:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_Corporation

Here's the relevant data:
Union Pacific was located in New York City from the company's re-founding in 1969 until Drew Lewis became CEO in the mid-1980s. He relocated the corporate headquarters to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Later the headquarters was shifted to Dallas, Texas, before relocating the corporate headquarters to Omaha to join the Union Pacific Railroad headquarters.[

[Bob from Omaha]

Forum member daveoma wanted a thread created..

He has heard a rumor that UP is considering a company HQ move from Omaha to Dallas. This seems very unlikely.. But who knows...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Years ago there was a rumor they were going to relocate their HQ to St Louis, mid 80's. That was when UP acquired Missouri Pacific and the rumor was then that if UP were to move their HQ from Omaha that they would lose the "land grant" they had where they owned every other parcel of land that the rail lines were on. Not sure how true that is/was. Reportedly the land grant was given by the Federal Government as incentive to build and expand the railroad.

FYI the land grant was 10 miles either side of the tracks & was to be used to finance the system and build towns along the route.

[Brad]

Here's the relevant data:
Union Pacific was located in New York City from the company's re-founding in 1969 until Drew Lewis became CEO in the mid-1980s. He relocated the corporate headquarters to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Later the headquarters was shifted to Dallas, Texas, before relocating the corporate headquarters to Omaha to join the Union Pacific Railroad headquarters.[

Interesting, I thought the corporate headquarters was in Salt Lake City, UT?

[gUPest]

Not Dallas... Houston.

[Louie]

Not Dallas... Houston.

What's the likelihood?

[Garrett]

Losing another of the Fortune 500s is devastating image wise

[nebraska]

Omaha is becoming another Blah on the map. Any of hundreds between nowhere and somewhere you'd rather be. If sprawl is the game, then offer something worthwhile. Denver at least has mountains. Dallas has better weather.

If Omaha wants to succeed, we need to up the game. We need to distinguish ourselves. Make people say "Omaha? I've been there and loved it." not "Omaha? I flew over it a couple of times." Our airport needs to look fancy, not like all the other 1970s airports. Our hotel game needs to step up, we're being overrun with national chains. Our restaurant game needs to step up, we're being overrun with national chains. Our retail game needs to step up, we're being overrun with national chains. I can go to MacysTargetWalMartDillardsKrogerAlbertsonsChipotleMcDonaldsWendysBucaDiPeposCVSWalgreensBarnes&NobleBedBath&BeyondDSWPierOneImportsBestBuyMenardsLowesHomeDepot or whatever the regional equivalent is in any city in America (even Hawaii).

Steady is not good enough when all the other major metros to the south of us are growing faster. Steady is not enough when all the major metros east of us are more interesting. Steady is not enough when all the metros west of us are more fun. Steady is good enough for my grandma.

I love Omaha and am happy to call it my hometown. But its soul is dying.

[Guest]

Omaha is becoming another Blah on the map. Any of hundreds between nowhere and somewhere you'd rather be. If sprawl is the game, then offer something worthwhile. Denver at least has mountains. Dallas has better weather.

If Omaha wants to succeed, we need to up the game. We need to distinguish ourselves. Make people say "Omaha? I've been there and loved it." not "Omaha? I flew over it a couple of times." Our airport needs to look fancy, not like all the other 1970s airports. Our hotel game needs to step up, we're being overrun with national chains. Our restaurant game needs to step up, we're being overrun with national chains. Our retail game needs to step up, we're being overrun with national chains. I can go to MacysTargetWalMartDillardsKrogerAlbertsonsChipotleMcDonaldsWendysBucaDiPeposCVSWalgreensBarnes&NobleBedBath&BeyondDSWPierOneImportsBestBuyMenardsLowesHomeDepot or whatever the regional equivalent is in any city in America (even Hawaii).

Steady is not good enough when all the other major metros to the south of us are growing faster. Steady is not enough when all the major metros east of us are more interesting. Steady is not enough when all the metros west of us are more fun. Steady is good enough for my grandma.

I love Omaha and am happy to call it my hometown. But its soul is dying.

I couldn’t disagree with a post more. I find the content to be utterly false and completely ridiculous.

By the way, this is a RUMOR only regarding UP LEAVING Omaha. Get a grip.

Sheesh

[RockHarbor]

Omaha is technically growing faster than it has ever before since the early 1900's, so Im sorry, its soul is not "dying", imo.

Also, each section of the country has its own true perks & charms. I talked to lady from beautiful Orange County (Southern CA) whos son & daughter-in-law were transferred to KC in the 1980's, and she visits them every year. She loves KC and is very impressed, and has wanted to buy a loft downtown. She also says she loves all the greenery back there, and thinks its beautiful... (People out here comment on the greenery back there, if they have visited.) So, the Midwest cities are great the way they are. (Midwest cities are also all plugged into the same stuff as NYC & LA anymore -- the same web, and 24/7 cable. That has changed things in the Midwest a lot, imo.)

Also, whatever happens w/ people coming or going, Omaha has always rebounded into something bigger & better. Think: Enron. When they left, Omaha was not in the best shape economically, and there was even a funny billboard in town on the subject. (I almost am glad they moved out of Omaha and took their immature & unprofessional shenanigans to Houston before it all climaxed into national news.) Look at Omaha now.

This post made me look at the company's website. The top guy looks to be very involved with the Omaha chamber of commerce, Henry Doorly Zoo, ect.

In general: If a leader of a company in any city has a restless heart, and/or has passions or pursuits that threaten to take him/her far away, then they should probably go get a top position in another company in another city that could really use their skills/talent, imo -- not move an entire company w/ them, yanked along w/ their personal desires & whims, imo. Do they not think about, or care, about uprooting younger families and pulling their kids out of their schools, leaving best friends behind, all the heartache & tears? Not to mention affecting the well-being of an entire city. All in the name of what? Better winter weather for yourself? Better golf for yourself? More skyscrapers & concert & theater for yourself (reference to Con Angra & Chicago)? Gosh, selfish -- if you ask me.

Also, I dont think of Dallas or Houston as great "train cities", like the Midwest cities, ones on the original gritty tracks, cities that were really in the heart of the epic & sweeping "Manifest Destiny" history of the United States. So its almost like Mary K suddenly moving her headquarters to Omaha or Denver. Im sorry, its just better in Dallas, and Dallas helps add to the mystique. Same thing w/ UP, imo. UP looks much better, and makes more sense, in great "train & track cities" like Omaha, Chicago, St Louis, KC, ect, to me...

Anyways, whatever...

[Cermak]

d

[Cermak]

That Conagra move still is frustrating. Their stock price is lower now than when they were in Omaha. They probably would of been just fine staying in Omaha. Chicago is not this magic wand that some want to think it is.

[bigredmed1]

That Conagra move still is frustrating. Their stock price is lower now than when they were in Omaha. They probably would of been just fine staying in Omaha. Chicago is not this magic wand that some want to think it is.

If wifey wants you to move to Chicago, your magic wand will make it happen for some reason. So glad none of my friends ended up going there. Illinois is in so much red ink, they actually have a bill in their legislature to tax private retirement plans to pay their debt on their underfunded state pension plans. Imagine having worked your backside off for 20 years in some grain mill in Iowa, and building up a nice nest egg only to find that because CAG is based in Chicago, that your 401K is going to get 20% taken off the top so that the pols in Illinois can avoid having to be responsible and cutting the pensions?

[hatwate]

That Conagra move still is frustrating. Their stock price is lower now than when they were in Omaha. They probably would of been just fine staying in Omaha. Chicago is not this magic wand that some want to think it is.

If wifey wants you to move to Chicago, your magic wand will make it happen for some reason. So glad none of my friends ended up going there. Illinois is in so much red ink, they actually have a bill in their legislature to tax private retirement plans to pay their debt on their underfunded state pension plans. Imagine having worked your backside off for 20 years in some grain mill in Iowa, and building up a nice nest egg only to find that because CAG is based in Chicago, that your 401K is going to get 20% taken off the top so that the pols in Illinois can avoid having to be responsible and cutting the pensions?

I couldn’t find the IL bill that u are talking about but unless the bill is different than most it would not tax out of state recipients, only those that live in IL. IL does not currently tax pension, SS, or 401k distributions. The out of state recipients pay according to the states in which they live.

[bigredmed1]

That was in the news last week.

[Louie]

That was in the news last week.

No, they do not have a bill in their legislature like that. That was just a policy that was suggested by a budget watchdog group called Civic Federation. It is not sponsored by any legislators nor is it supported by any member of their congress. It's just hot air right now.

[Bob from Omaha]

That Conagra move still is frustrating. Their stock price is lower now than when they were in Omaha. They probably would of been just fine staying in Omaha. Chicago is not this magic wand that some want to think it is.

If wifey wants you to move to Chicago, your magic wand will make it happen for some reason. So glad none of my friends ended up going there. Illinois is in so much red ink, they actually have a bill in their legislature to tax private retirement plans to pay their debt on their underfunded state pension plans. Imagine having worked your backside off for 20 years in some grain mill in Iowa, and building up a nice nest egg only to find that because CAG is based in Chicago, that your 401K is going to get 20% taken off the top so that the pols in Illinois can avoid having to be responsible and cutting the pensions?

I would simply say that if you worked your backside off for 20 years in some grain mill in Iowa your 401K is not going to have 20% taxed by Illinois...or any other state than Iowa. That's not how it works. I don't know if there is or isn't such a bill but let's try not to scare Iowa mill workers. Ok?

[TitosBuritoBarn]

That Conagra move still is frustrating. Their stock price is lower now than when they were in Omaha. They probably would of been just fine staying in Omaha. Chicago is not this magic wand that some want to think it is.

If wifey wants you to move to Chicago, your magic wand will make it happen for some reason. So glad none of my friends ended up going there. Illinois is in so much red ink, they actually have a bill in their legislature to tax private retirement plans to pay their debt on their underfunded state pension plans. Imagine having worked your backside off for 20 years in some grain mill in Iowa, and building up a nice nest egg only to find that because CAG is based in Chicago, that your 401K is going to get 20% taken off the top so that the pols in Illinois can avoid having to be responsible and cutting the pensions?

I would simply say that if you worked your backside off for 20 years in some grain mill in Iowa your 401K is not going to have 20% taxed by Illinois...or any other state than Iowa. That's not how it works. I don't know if there is or isn't such a bill but let's try not to scare Iowa mill workers. Ok?

Indeed, not how that works at all. If that were a thing Illinois politicians would be ALL OVER IT. Get a company to domicile in Illinois so it can tax all the people who live in other states and don't even work for the company anymore? They'd go from red to black in like a month!

[damonhynes]

Also, I dont think of Dallas or Houston as great "train cities", like the Midwest cities, ones on the original gritty tracks, cities that were really in the heart of the epic & sweeping "Manifest Destiny" history of the United States.

You've never been to Ft. Worth or Baytown, TX! Trains out the ying-yang. Omaha? The UP shops are gone, replaced by MP's North Little Rock. The UP CB yard is a shell. UP routes most stuff via Blair, BNSF through Louisville.

East Saint Louis is hollowed out, train-wise. Even Atlanta's rail lines are rationalized to the point that Norfolk Southern is building their HQ where trains ran.

[gUPest]

Spring, TX, just north of Houston, is the location of UP’s current Southern Region HQ operations. Also, now that NS is moving to Atlanta, UP is the only one of the big four Class I’s not HQ’d in the south. Moving to Houston not only puts UP closer to a major operational hub, it also puts UP closer to its current competitors, which will be beneficial for talent recruitment and talent relocation (think merger).

[RockHarbor]

Spring, TX, just north of Houston, is the location of UP’s current Southern Region HQ operations. Also, now that NS is moving to Atlanta, UP is the only one of the big four Class I’s not HQ’d in the south. Moving to Houston not only puts UP closer to a major operational hub, it also puts UP closer to its current competitors, which will be beneficial for talent recruitment and talent relocation (think merger).

I honestly hate when I see "talent recruitment" and "talent relocation" terms used in the corporate world. The big mural, painted beautifully, and everything perfectly proportional looking, on a large scale, on the side of a brick building in downtown, takes "TALENT." Somebody that has smarts or skills to do a job proficiently does not warrant or deserve that word, imo. Everybody just wants to "pat themselves on the back" to feel special. Honestly, truly talented people are often "socially off" because they are so pulled into their own world, thus their talent gets impressive -- especially artistic people and musicians. And, corporations don't have "socially off" as an attribute they want to hire, so they can please quit using that special word for ordinary people in the workforce. It is more "skills" they mean.

[hatwate]

Spring, TX, just north of Houston, is the location of UP’s current Southern Region HQ operations. Also, now that NS is moving to Atlanta, UP is the only one of the big four Class I’s not HQ’d in the south. Moving to Houston not only puts UP closer to a major operational hub, it also puts UP closer to its current competitors, which will be beneficial for talent recruitment and talent relocation (think merger).

I honestly hate when I see "talent recruitment" and "talent relocation" terms used in the corporate world. The big mural, painted beautifully, and everything perfectly proportional looking, on a large scale, on the side of a brick building in downtown, takes "TALENT." Somebody that has smarts or skills to do a job proficiently does not warrant or deserve that word, imo. Everybody just wants to "pat themselves on the back" to feel special. Honestly, truly talented people are often "socially off" because they are so pulled into their own world, thus their talent gets impressive -- especially artistic people and musicians. And, corporations don't have "socially off" as an attribute they want to hire, so they can please quit using that special word for ordinary people in the workforce. It is more "skills" they mean.

As a survivor of what I think was the last merger/move to Houston they probably need to think long & hard about that. Also UP is laying off people, not recruiting.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Spring, TX, just north of Houston, is the location of UP’s current Southern Region HQ operations. Also, now that NS is moving to Atlanta, UP is the only one of the big four Class I’s not HQ’d in the south. Moving to Houston not only puts UP closer to a major operational hub, it also puts UP closer to its current competitors, which will be beneficial for talent recruitment and talent relocation (think merger).

I honestly hate when I see "talent recruitment" and "talent relocation" terms used in the corporate world. The big mural, painted beautifully, and everything perfectly proportional looking, on a large scale, on the side of a brick building in downtown, takes "TALENT." Somebody that has smarts or skills to do a job proficiently does not warrant or deserve that word, imo. Everybody just wants to "pat themselves on the back" to feel special. Honestly, truly talented people are often "socially off" because they are so pulled into their own world, thus their talent gets impressive -- especially artistic people and musicians. And, corporations don't have "socially off" as an attribute they want to hire, so they can please quit using that special word for ordinary people in the workforce. It is more "skills" they mean.

As a survivor of what I think was the last merger/move to Houston they probably need to think long & hard about that. Also UP is laying off people, not recruiting.

Agreed...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[RockHarbor]

Lol... If you're combing humanity for a girl that can belt out notes like Christina Aquilara, or play the piano like Beethoven, or can act like Streep or Pacino that's a true move of "talent search" and "talent recruitment", imo -- not looking for a manager of an IT dept for XYZ Company.

It's almost like a "model scout" claiming they are a "talent scout." Yes, it takes the right looks & skill to walk/pose right, but is that "talent?" I dont think so.

There are sharp, intelligent people of ordinary job knowledge, experience & skills in every city & region, and no company needs to run off to Minneapolis or Houston, or wherever, for extraordinary "talent recruitment", imo. I'm not convinced the Chicagos or New Yorks have any more supposed "corporate talent" than Omaha does.

If a white collar worker who sits at a computer in a cubicle has "talent", and is recruited by a corporate "talent scout", does the hard-working garbage man or the miner have "talent?" What about the janitor? An air traffic controller? A flight attendant? The smiley cashier at McDonalds? Do they have to be "pat on the back" with such a "talent" term about their job? NO. I just feel it gets ridiculous, and cheapens the word "talent."

On route, I used to drive by some corporate "Talent" company. Great building, but it always made me roll my eyes. Unsure what it is all about, it just seems like it is all about, other than doing whatever work they do within, people feeling the need to "call the shots" in the city, to feel special and in-control. Annoying. (It's like a night club that only lets certain people in -- and the guarder at the door doesnt look like "anything special" himself, so who cares what any of them think. If he looked anything like Kyle Chandler, I just might.)

People who truly have authentic talent, and know it, dont need that approval, imo. They are too busy working on & performing their craft, and maybe/hopefully putting it to use out there -- not whipping up "talent" cliques & organizations & networks. Who does that, who is truly talented?

An "art club" or "author club" or "photography club" or "poetry club" or "chess club" is a group, but it is about bonding w/ people of like-interest & skill and continually improving yourself along w/ others -- nothing wrong with that. Shows like "American Idol" put talent to the test w/ a good & fair ole' fashioned contest that unfolds -- something everyone loves.

[obvious2677]

Also, I dont think of Dallas or Houston as great "train cities", like the Midwest cities, ones on the original gritty tracks, cities that were really in the heart of the epic & sweeping "Manifest Destiny" history of the United States.

You've never been to Ft. Worth or Baytown, TX! Trains out the ying-yang. Omaha? The UP shops are gone, replaced by MP's North Little Rock. The UP CB yard is a shell. UP routes most stuff via Blair, BNSF through Louisville.

East Saint Louis is hollowed out, train-wise. Even Atlanta's rail lines are rationalized to the point that Norfolk Southern is building their HQ where trains ran.

Spent a LOT of time in North Little Rock at Jenks. Oooooof. That place is... a disaster, to say the least.

I also spent some time at recruiting events for and with UP. They were sending technical recruiters to the south to recruit engineers away from the mega oil corps and engineering firms with global presences and big, glamorous offices to send them to places like.... North Platte and Little Rock. Nothing against NP or LR, but there is no desire for young talent to go there.

[damonhynes]

I also spent some time at recruiting events for and with UP. They were sending technical recruiters to the south to recruit engineers away from the mega oil corps and engineering firms with global presences and big, glamorous offices to send them to places like.... North Platte and Little Rock. Nothing against NP or LR, but there is no desire for young talent to go there.

This is also why TD Ameritrade spent a lot of (TIF) money in Southlake (DFW), TX to open a counterpart to their Omaha operations, also why they have a relationship with the Univ of Michigan. No one wants to come to Omaha to work. I'll eat a junebug if TDA's headquarters is still in Omaha in ten years. Speaking to friends who still work there, TDA in DFW is wagging the dog, now.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I also spent some time at recruiting events for and with UP. They were sending technical recruiters to the south to recruit engineers away from the mega oil corps and engineering firms with global presences and big, glamorous offices to send them to places like.... North Platte and Little Rock. Nothing against NP or LR, but there is no desire for young talent to go there.

I'll eat a junebug if TDA's headquarters is still in Omaha in ten years.

I hope you enjoy eating insects. When the time comes, you might look into grilling them over an open fire...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[damonhynes]

I also spent some time at recruiting events for and with UP. They were sending technical recruiters to the south to recruit engineers away from the mega oil corps and engineering firms with global presences and big, glamorous offices to send them to places like.... North Platte and Little Rock. Nothing against NP or LR, but there is no desire for young talent to go there.

I'll eat a junebug if TDA's headquarters is still in Omaha in ten years.

I hope you enjoy eating insects. When the time comes, you might look into grilling them over an open fire...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Dipped in (a lot of) chocolate :-)

[Omaha Cowboy]

I also spent some time at recruiting events for and with UP. They were sending technical recruiters to the south to recruit engineers away from the mega oil corps and engineering firms with global presences and big, glamorous offices to send them to places like.... North Platte and Little Rock. Nothing against NP or LR, but there is no desire for young talent to go there.

I'll eat a junebug if TDA's headquarters is still in Omaha in ten years.

I hope you enjoy eating insects. When the time comes, you might look into grilling them over an open fire...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Dipped in (a lot of) chocolate :-)

...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[BRoss]

TDA in DFW is wagging the dog, now.

This is simply not true. Southlake is just another (much smaller) location.

[damonhynes]

TDA in DFW is wagging the dog, now.

This is simply not true. Southlake is just another (much smaller) location.

I got people on the inside that are saying it.

[Guest]

TDA in DFW is wagging the dog, now.

This is simply not true. Southlake is just another (much smaller) location.

I got people on the inside that are saying it.

He said she said. Unless these “people on the inside” are on TDA’s board of directors, they have ZERO idea what’s going on..

Just another baseless rumor at this point.

[daveoma]

TDA in DFW is wagging the dog, now.

This is simply not true. Southlake is just another (much smaller) location.

I got people on the inside that are saying it.

He said she said. Unless these “people on the inside” are on TDA’s board of directors, they have ZERO idea what’s going on..

Just another baseless rumor at this point.

I have a source at TD Ameritrade who says their facilities in Omaha and in Southlake, TX are over capacity--partly because they sold one of the brand new buildings they built in Old Mill. I'm not sure if they'll to expand in Omaha or Southlake, but I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to relocate their headquarters to the DFW area now that the Ricketts are playing a minimal role on the board of directors.

It's also my understanding that they kept an old Scottrade building in St Louis, so maybe they'll expand some of their operations there.

[Guest]

TDA in DFW is wagging the dog, now.

This is simply not true. Southlake is just another (much smaller) location.

I got people on the inside that are saying it.

As someone also on the inside, I can tell you there is no merit behind this. IF HQ were to move, it would be where all the execs live - Jersey City.

daveoma is right. Both facilities in Omaha and Southlake are over capacity. I hear plenty of people who would like to transfer down to Texas to escape winters, but that's about it. And some people are jealous that they did some things better in Southlake than they did here (they learned some lessons from HQ).

We also have offices in St Louis, Chicago, and Columbia. We're going to see St Louis expand more due to space limitations elsewhere.

So as others have said, no, HQ is not moving to Southlake.

[Guest]

Also no, Southlake does not "wag the tail" either. Omaha still calls the shots and most things are much more limited down there.

[ryankorth]

TDA in DFW is wagging the dog, now.

This is simply not true. Southlake is just another (much smaller) location.

I got people on the inside that are saying it.

As someone also on the inside, I can tell you there is no merit behind this. IF HQ were to move, it would be where all the execs live - Jersey City.

daveoma is right. Both facilities in Omaha and Southlake are over capacity. I hear plenty of people who would like to transfer down to Texas to escape winters, but that's about it. And some people are jealous that they did some things better in Southlake than they did here (they learned some lessons from HQ).

We also have offices in St Louis, Chicago, and Columbia. We're going to see St Louis expand more due to space limitations elsewhere.

So as others have said, no, HQ is not moving to Southlake.

If out of space, maybe this would be an opportunity for Lanoha to make a deal with TDA as a tenant for the proposed high rise downtown. Having a TDA sign 9n top of that proposed building would look good.

[almighty_tuna]

TDA in DFW is wagging the dog, now.

This is simply not true. Southlake is just another (much smaller) location.

I got people on the inside that are saying it.

As someone also on the inside, I can tell you there is no merit behind this. IF HQ were to move, it would be where all the execs live - Jersey City.

daveoma is right. Both facilities in Omaha and Southlake are over capacity. I hear plenty of people who would like to transfer down to Texas to escape winters, but that's about it. And some people are jealous that they did some things better in Southlake than they did here (they learned some lessons from HQ).

We also have offices in St Louis, Chicago, and Columbia. We're going to see St Louis expand more due to space limitations elsewhere.

So as others have said, no, HQ is not moving to Southlake.

If out of space, maybe this would be an opportunity for Lanoha to make a deal with TDA as a tenant for the proposed high rise downtown. Having a TDA sign 9n top of that proposed building would look good.

Bwahaha! Someone's got jokes around here. You can nope the |expletive| out of that idea.

[obvious2677]

I also spent some time at recruiting events for and with UP. They were sending technical recruiters to the south to recruit engineers away from the mega oil corps and engineering firms with global presences and big, glamorous offices to send them to places like.... North Platte and Little Rock. Nothing against NP or LR, but there is no desire for young talent to go there.

This is also why TD Ameritrade spent a lot of (TIF) money in Southlake (DFW), TX to open a counterpart to their Omaha operations, also why they have a relationship with the Univ of Michigan. No one wants to come to Omaha to work. I'll eat a junebug if TDA's headquarters is still in Omaha in ten years. Speaking to friends who still work there, TDA in DFW is wagging the dog, now.

The big difference between TD and UP... UP was recruiting mechanical, electrical and operations engineers for field work. The best places you could go were California, Oregon, Chicago, Utah... but those were also the places where they had life-long employees basically parked and were unwilling to move. Their demand was in Little Rock and North Platte. They were going to southern engineering schools - Oklahoma, Texas, A&M - and trying to lure kids away from the abundant oil offers. The recruiting strategy was a waste of time - they could have been going to UNL, Mines, South Dakota, University of Arkansas, etc. where the kids aren't being pursued by big-dollar corporations to keep the kids in their hometowns.

I just looked through my organization's top 25 people in Texas - all except 3 went to college there (most common - UT, UT Austin and A&M; three outliers - Cornell, Missouri S&T, Illinois). I also looked at our top 30 employees - more than 65% of them currently reside in the same state they went to college in.... despite our company having 200+ offices and the ability to work from any of them (only 4 are in Omaha, despite our company being HQ'd here). Personally, I think it's becoming more and more prevalent that people are less willing to move away after college and re-start their lives.

I doubt that UP moves HQ's in the next decade.

[Strangerthings2]

How many employers are there at the Omaha HQ?