New ARM-CRM Call Center to Provide 300 Jobs to Veterans and Others
A new call center will open in Georgia with the mission of providing work to veterans returning from duty. The business will also provide the ARM industry with an alternative to outsourcing overseas.
Two weeks ago, the ribbon was cut outside of Prosperity America Inc.’s new call center near the military hub of Columbus, Ga. The business is billing itself as an alternative to the overseas outsourcing of debt collection and tele-services jobs.
The call center expects to hire 300 people over the next three years. Chief Executive Officer Fred Landrum said that he hopes to add 25 employees each quarter. By 2012 the center expects to bring in $15 million revenue.
Prosperity’s call center will not only focus on debt collection business, but also on a wide array of tele-services to insure that it can successfully provide jobs in the country. The company plans to offer its clients call center support, customer payment reminders, customer acquisitions and retention.
Interactive Data - Who Are You Searching For?
Social Security Search. Bankruptcy Information. Directory Assistance (EDA). Real Estate Listings. Death Index.
“My background is in debt collections, one of my partners formerly ran outsourcing for debt collection at GE, our roots are very strong in that industry, but we’re not going to limit ourselves to debt collection," Landrum told insideARM.
Landrum elected to locate the call center in Midland, Ga. – close to the massive military base Fort Benning – because he believes America should give back to its soldiers.
“We want to be a source of jobs for Americans and the military veteran community,” he said.
Alhough the call center will be tackling plenty of work outside of the accounts receivable management industry, Prosperity hopes to provide the debt collection industry with an onshore alternative that will provide work for Americans, and especially military veterans.
“Many credit grantors offshore, or send first party collections to call centers in India and the Philippines. We’ll have an alternative to that. We’ll be doing debt collection, but we’ll also represent debt collectors directly as an alternative to outsourcing to an overseas operation,” Landrum said.
Placing the call center near Fort Benning was also a strategic operational tactic for Landrum. He believes that the mission-minded, disciplined and very skilled workforce in Columbus’s pro-military town will make for a successful call center.
“I’m a veteran, and as a veteran I’ve always been of the opinion we need to give something back," he noted. “President Obama even mentioned that the veteran population, as a group, has a higher homeless rate than any other segment of the population and it’s just not something we as Americans should allow to happen. We owe something of a debt to the folks who have put it all on the line -- their lives for our freedom. That’s why I feel there is a special need to recognize these folks. The call center environment enables us, especially with our technology, to employ people that may not even be in Columbus but may be somewhere else. As long as they have access to the Internet and a telephone line, we can provide jobs for them.”
The call center is expected to begin operations on June 1.
<<< Return to Newsletter
Care to Comment?
(Please read our comments policy first.)
Tell us what topics you're interested in and we'll keep you posted. Enter your email address below.
Topics:
Companies:
Related Resources
News
Analysis
Publications
Research
Comments
Comment from Nick Bernardo on May 12, 2009 at 10:36AM EST
Great idea Fred! Drop me a line, I may be able to help with your recruitment through my involvement in veteran-related causes.
Comment from Anonymous on May 12, 2009 at 11:50AM EST
Geez, do you think we will see THIS on NBC Dateline??? Of course not, it's a positive! Congratulations and best of success to you!
Comment from DONALD DALY on May 12, 2009 at 1:26PM EST
At long last, someone interested in something more than the almight buck. I spent 40 mintes on the phone to INDIA yesterday and finally had to demand to be trnsf back to a rep in the USA...minutes later issue was resolved. I just hope the government is NOT giving stimulus money to those outfits who send USA jobs out of the country. A.R.M., ARE YOU SHARING THIS KIND OF INFORMATION WITH THE NEWS MEDIA? IF YOU ARE IT HASN'T HIT THE SYRACUSE, NY NEWSPAPERS OR TELEVISION STATIONS-START HOLLERING!!! :-)
Comment from John Rousseau on May 12, 2009 at 1:35PM EST
Fred, you are the best; I will forward your business info as well as potential clients to my contacts in the Marines and Navy.
John Rousseau collectionguru@gmail.com
(Jim would be proud)
Comment from Drew Coleman on May 12, 2009 at 3:11PM EST
I agree completely with Donald Daly above. Doing the right thing for your customers and American workers, especially veterans, is certainly a worthy cause.
Hopefully some day we will see a positive story like this make the news and show that the vast majority of us in the industry .
Best of success to Prosperity America and your efforts.
Comment from Bill deArmon on May 12, 2009 at 10:07PM EST
Congratulations and kudos Fred, on making this happen. An outstanding idea that should bring outstanding results! This is one of the many things that makes America great!
Comment from tinasilvee on May 13, 2009 at 6:53AM EST
Outsourcing has so many benefits: 1) Cost Savings 2) Time Zone Benefits 3) Quick Turn Around Time 4) Standardizing Business Processes and many more....
http://www.outsourcewebsite.com
Comment from Fred Landrum on May 13, 2009 at 8:36AM EST
Thank you all for your kind comments and wishes. As for benefits, cost savings has to be considered along with productivity and quality. We have the ability to run 24/7. Standardization: Who has more standardization than the U.S. Military? Quick turnaround is a product of commitment, not time zones. All these factors were considered in our business model.
www.prosperityamerica.us.com
Comment from Anonymous on May 13, 2009 at 10:05AM EST
I thought in the spirit of fairness I would look at tinasilvee's website and boy you should all take a look. This is a perfect example example of what Fred is talking about. I don't want to take shots but the site os overblown, repetitive and most importantly from a collectors point of view this lady can't seem to get to the point! In our environment we need to take control of the conversation make our point and complete the call, not chatter on endlessly. Good going Fred and best of luck
Comment from David Lerner on May 16, 2009 at 7:14PM EST
Mr. Landrum, Thank you so much for your contribution to the war on debt. More so, A proud salute to you and your team for the visionary business model. To be able to provide for Americans is a most honorable position. Your understanding of how to maximize effeciency through partners and employees that have been previously trained to adapt and overcome all obstacles, should garner your project noble and prosperous results. Smiles all around I'm sure. The best of luck to you and your Prosperity America team. Go Get 'em!!!!! I am a proud American / I am a proud Bill Collector !$!$!$!