Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Thomas.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Valerie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My current claim to fame is being the founder and President of the VAL Group, here in Birmingham, AL, The VAL Group, is a very unique service to address a recruiting challenge for the city. I moved to Birmingham in 2010 with my husband, Steven, who was recruited to be the director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital Burn Center. When he returned home after his first visit to Birmingham and told me he was interested in the position, my response was, “Wait, That’s Bull Connor and the dogs!” During the recruiting process, I found I was very skeptical about the possibility of enjoying living in Birmingham and nothing during the process assuaged my concerns.
I was reluctant to leave San Antonio, but I decided to be optimistic and take the jump—I threw myself into getting to know the city and totally changed my mind! I concluded that “The Magic City” is one of the nation’s best-kept secrets and decided to change that by forming The VAL Group, bringing the expertise of an extensive corporate background to the table for my potential new residents. Between, Steven, a surgeon and a soldier, and my IBM career we clocked ten relocations, making ME a “certified” expert in how to move a family and adjust quickly to enjoy a new community!
So, when UAB Hospital and Children’s Hospital identify a physician that they want to recruit they contact us to reach out. We make sure they see and touch their “quality of life” priorities during the recruiting visit to eventually say yes to the offer.
I started my professional career in Marietta, GA with IBM for over thirteen years, first as a systems engineer and relocated to Arlington, Virginia as a marketing representative, (I was even an Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader for two seasons 85-87) I later pursued nonprofit management and development as corporate relations director for United Way of San Antonio (TX), executive director of Pitt County’s Domestic Violence Center (NC), director of development at the Allentown Art Museum (PA), manager of major gifts at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network (PA), and director of development for the National Trauma Institute (TX).
I’m also very active in the Birmingham community, serving on the board as Treasurer of the UAB Women’s Club, Create Birmingham, Vice President of Maranathan Academy, Red Mountain Theatre, Advisory Boards for the Alys Stephens Center and Pepper Place Market, and is a member of The Women’s Network.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes, I am very fortunate that I had the resources available to invest in the start-up of my business. The biggest challenge was going “door-to-door” to schedule introductory meetings with the department heads throughout the hospital systems to offer my service. There are many silos in the hospital, so there was no one person to say, Yes, start using this service.
Plus, many departments have their favorite realtor that offers to show candidates the city at no charge. But, you know the saying “you get what you pay for”… Our service is based solely on making sure that the candidate understands that what’s important to them is here in Birmingham. Sometimes that means we spend the day touring horse farms, meeting with violinists, touring schools for special needs children, introducing the candidate to the Imam at the local mosque, etc. We are not focused on house shopping or buying. We introduce the diversity and quality of neighborhoods. So, just getting department heads and administrators to understand the value of paying for the service was the most challenging, but ultimately we have been very successful!
Please tell us about the VAL Group.
So, when UAB Hospital and Children’s Hospital identify a physician that they want to recruit, they contact us to reach out, sometimes even to convince the candidate and spouse to make the visit. We make sure they see and touch their “quality of life” priorities during the recruiting visit to eventually say yes to the offer. We tailor our recruitment itineraries to include airport pick-up, neighborhood and school tours, museum visits, and lunch/dinner at any of our fabulous chef-owned restaurants, based solely on the visitor’s needs. At every turn, we demonstrate Southern hospitality while offering visitors the red-carpet treatment.
After the candidate accepts the position, we provide a Transition service to get them successfully relocated to their new neighborhood smoothly. If they want to rent (which we encourage), we facilitate apartment, loft, or house rentals through the local relationships we have developed. We also have a partnership with Realty South and have a team of the VAL Group relocation realtors that our clients can interview and choose to work with for their home purchase. We try to do everything to make sure the transition to Birmingham goes as smoothly as possible. This full process usually develops a long term friendship with our clients, many of whom we continue social contact with even today!
In the City of Birmingham, I am considered one of the cities biggest ambassadors. I live and breathe the city and all of its amenities. Birmingham has a rich local, small business vibe and a wonderful food scene with multiple Beard Award recognized and awarded chef-owned restaurants and bars. I dine out or pick up (Curbside now) almost daily and I’m known for being 90% Birmingham Inside and out… shopping at the Farmers Market, using local creams lotions and wearing clothes even eyeglasses purchased locally!!
Moving to Birmingham was our 10th move and out of all the places we’ve lived, this is the first city where I know where almost everything I eat or buy comes from… I know the farmer… I know the person who made the candle, etc! After living so many places, I place a tremendous value on the ability to do that! Who would have thought that Birmingham would be the city that I just can’t leave!!
I am proud of our authenticity. I advocate for people to come move their family to Birmingham and I walk the walk. We don’t live way out in the suburbs. We live in the city, walk everywhere, enjoy the cultural activities, venues and The People!!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I have to say starting the VAL Group and having it be success! Relocating to Birmingham was the first time I moved and didn’t have a corporate position of some sort. I was so skeptical that we would stay that I decided not to even look to work here. I started with IBM in 1980 and since then, I’ve had many positions that gave me the responsibility to make sure everything went smoothly and in a high-quality fashion. In other words, when I cam to B’ham, I was ready to do something for myself.
I was in a meeting with the CEO of the University of AL Health System and he was discussing the challenges with recruiting physicians. At the time, I was president of UAB Women’s Club and he asked me if women in the club would volunteer to host the trailing spouse on the first visit, instead of having a realtor do that (he had discussed several examples of problems that he’d experienced that year). I stated that yes, it was possible and we actually developed a model, but I eventually came back to him and told him if you use volunteers, you will have a different problem (can’t control the message, etc.) I suggested I had the skill set to provide a professionalized service. He was interested… I went away, got an attorney to set up the incorporation, did a business plan, funded the business, and launched in April 2014!
The proudest and most exciting moment was when the Chief of Radiation Oncology’s secretary called and asked for our help and we got the first check! (I almost didn’t cash it) We’ve recruited every physician since. When I look at their org chart, most of the staff now have a relationship with us!! I feel great about supporting our health care system bring the physicians to our city that we need to take care of our friends, neighbors and our children! It’s amazing!!
Contact Info:
- Address: The Pizitz
120 19th Street N
Suite 806 Birmingham, AL 35203 - Website: www.thevalgroup.org
- Phone: 205-873-3444
- Email: ValerieT@thevalgroup.org
- Instagram: theVALgroup
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