By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
A new customer-experience center is coming to Sherwood, and the company is already interviewing and hiring.
TeleTech, which has more than 41,000 employees, will use the facility to serve its clients in the health-care industry. The center will serve as a contact for customers’ concerns about major health-care providers.
The Denver-based company picked Sherwood over three dozen other possible sites for the new facility, which will hire about 250 people with an average salary between $15-$16 an hour.
Barry Sellers, Sherwood’s economic development director, said the company would like to be open and operating in about a month or so, adding that the firm may not be done investing in Sherwood. “They have other projects that we are a candidate for,” Sellers said.
According to the TeleTech website, “We help companies grow by simplifying and personalizing interactions with their customers.”
Kenneth Tuchman, chairman and chief executive officer of TeleTech said, “The Little Rock area holds great talent and expertise that will help us expand and improve upon the services to our clients.”
The new center will be located in the Wildwood Centre and Medical Tower – the old Heritage building — at Wildwood and Country Club.
“TeleTech’s decision to locate in Sherwood brings with it a significant number of new jobs that will have a positive impact on our local economy for many years,” Sellers said. “We appreciate the company’s decision to establish its first Arkansas location in Sherwood and look forward to adding another great partner to our business community.”
Gov. Mike Beebe, in making the announcement on Monday, said, “The services TeleTech will be providing are vital in our information age, and central Arkansas’ workforce has the talent and dedication required to help the company thrive and prosper here.”
Sherwood Mayor Virginia Hillman added to the accolades, saying, “We are proud to welcome TeleTech to Sherwood and know the company will find the local workforce a great fit for its needs. The addition of more than 200 new jobs will benefit the entire Sherwood business community.
“TeleTech had the opportunity to locate its new operation anywhere across the U.S. and chose Sherwood. This is a testament to the strength of our workforce and our citizens.”
TeleTech, founded in 1982, “is a leading global provider of analytics-driven, technology-enabled services that put customer engagement at the core of business success,” according to its website.
For the Sherwood site, the company is hiring customer service representatives, team leaders, trainers, recruiters, technical assistance and IT specialists, operations managers and facilities staff. Visit www.teletechjobs.com to view job descriptions and to apply.
The TeleTech announcement is a big coup for Sherwood, but not its only recent achievement. Other recent economic development accomplishments or announcements for the city include:
A CVS Pharmacy is going up at the Kiehl and Hwy. 107 intersection.
A new Dollar General store opened April 1 in front of the old Harvest Foods on Kiehl Avenue, and the old grocery store building has been converted to a storage facility.
A new Mapco Express gas station is being built at the intersection of Brockington and Kiehl.
Harp's is building one of its grocery stores near the intersection of Brockington and Hwy. 107.
The Kiehl Avenue Animal Clinic was expanded into an animal hospital near Arby’s on Kiehl Avenue.
ACE Hardware is converting the old Skate Connection rink on Kiehl Avenue into one of its stores.
A 5,300-square-foot retail is being built at the North Hills Shopping Center.