An inbound call center will provide technical support for BellSouth's
high-speed DSL lines, creating 187 jobs.
Danny Carter - Business Editor
ALBANY - CallTech Communications LLC, which predicted it would hire 166
employees to man its new Albany office, exceeded its expectations before
the first telephone even rang.
Trevor Friesen, director of operations for CallTech, said 187 people -
nearly all from Southwest Georgia - have been hired in anticipation of
the company's Albany start-up on June 3.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, CallTech announced plans in March to set up
business in Albany in a 21,000-square-foot facility that is part of the
former Wal-Mart building at 2707 Dawson Road.
The inbound call center initially will provide technical support for
BellSouth's Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service.
The company chose Albany over several competing cities and was given a
$1 million grant from OneGeorgia Authority to help finance technical
equipment needed by the call center.
Friesen said the staff includes 155 to 160 telephone agents with the
remainder of the staff including janitors, human resource personnel,
technicians and supervisors.
The jobs pay $8 an hour and up.
"We're built out and functional at this point," Friesen said. "We've got
our certificate of occupancy. The last thing we're doing is setting up a
few of the 150 to 175 computers we need."
Friesen said Wednesday the fourth training class for employees is under
way. New employees go through eight days of training, he said. That is
followed by research and handling simulated calls.
Friesen said the company will initially operate 7 a.m.-1 a.m. daily but
will soon go to a 24-hour operation.
Tim Martin, president of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, said
contractors have finished the remodeling of the building, a parking lot
on the back of the property has been paved, and equipment has been
arriving almost daily.
"They could not be more pleased," Martin said. "It's been pretty
exciting out there."
Jeff Innis, who recently arrived in Albany, is manager of the local
CallTech plant.
