Comcast to open call center

Thursday, November 15, 2007

By MARIAN ACCARDI

Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com

Regional facility will bring about 200 jobs to area

By next September, a new Comcast Corp. regional call center in Huntsville will house about 325 workers and handle an average of 400,000 calls a month from residential cable, high-speed Internet and digital phone customers regarding billing, repair and sales.

Comcast executives announced plans Wednesday for the 37,000-square-foot, 303-seat call center at 7027 Old Madison Pike. The center, which will serve a five-state region, will mean about 200 new jobs for the area.

The project represents a $17 million investment by Comcast, said Virgil Caudill, regional vice president of Comcast's Delta region, which includes Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Louisiana and West Virginia. The expansion is an effort to improve customer service, he said.

Comcast has about 500,000 customers in the Delta region.

Philadelphia-based Comcast, the nation's largest cable provider, now has about 200 employees in Huntsville, with 100 of those taking calls from Alabama and Mississippi customers with questions about billing, repair and sales for video services. Those agents will move from Comcast offices on Max Luther Drive to the new call center, which is expected to open in January.

Employees here now handle an average of 130,000 calls a month.

Calls from Kentucky, Louisiana and West Virginia will start coming into the regional center as early as February, and all calls should be routed there by the end of September, according to James Price, the call center's director. Price was previously senior area manager with Comcast of Northern Virginia.

The company expects the center will be fully staffed by midsummer.

Comcast is already recruiting and hiring for the center and will hold a job fair today from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Research Park. Prospective employees also can apply online at http://comcast.com/careers.

"We're looking for customer account executives, trainers, recruiters, a regional operations manager and human resources director," Price said.

He expects 75 people to start the first training class Dec. 17.

The starting salary is about $10 an hour, and wages and benefits are based on education and experience. Employees also can earn sales commissions.

Customer account executives will receive an incentive package including medical, dental, prescription benefits, 401(k) and complimentary Comcast services.

Caudill noted that Comcast did not ask for any tax incentives from the city or state for the project.



Comcast to open call center Thursday, November 15, 2007 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com Regional facility will bring about 200 jobs to area By next September, a new Comcast Corp. regional call center in Huntsville will house about 325 workers and handle an average of 400,000 calls a month from residential cable, high-speed Internet and digital phone customers regarding billing, repair and sales. Comcast executives announced plans Wednesday for the 37,000-square-foot, 303-seat call center at 7027 Old Madison Pike. The center, which will serve a five-state region, will mean about 200 new jobs for the area. The project represents a $17 million investment by Comcast, said Virgil Caudill, regional vice president of Comcast's Delta region, which includes Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Louisiana and West Virginia. The expansion is an effort to improve customer service, he said. Comcast has about 500,000 customers in the Delta region. Philadelphia-based Comcast, the nation's largest cable provider, now has about 200 employees in Huntsville, with 100 of those taking calls from Alabama and Mississippi customers with questions about billing, repair and sales for video services. Those agents will move from Comcast offices on Max Luther Drive to the new call center, which is expected to open in January. Employees here now handle an average of 130,000 calls a month. Calls from Kentucky, Louisiana and West Virginia will start coming into the regional center as early as February, and all calls should be routed there by the end of September, according to James Price, the call center's director. Price was previously senior area manager with Comcast of Northern Virginia. The company expects the center will be fully staffed by midsummer. Comcast is already recruiting and hiring for the center and will hold a job fair today from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Research Park. Prospective employees also can apply online at http://comcast.com/careers. "We're looking for customer account executives, trainers, recruiters, a regional operations manager and human resources director," Price said. He expects 75 people to start the first training class Dec. 17. The starting salary is about $10 an hour, and wages and benefits are based on education and experience. Employees also can earn sales commissions. Customer account executives will receive an incentive package including medical, dental, prescription benefits, 401(k) and complimentary Comcast services. Caudill noted that Comcast did not ask for any tax incentives from the city or state for the project. © 2007 The Huntsville Times © 2007 al.com All Rights Reserved.