Events Calendar
In This Section
Reports on consumer confidence, GDP tug at stocks
Facebook creates dual-class stock structure
Consumer group warns about toy hazards
Americans gloomy on economy heading into holidays
Banks earn $2.8 billion in third quarter; insurance fund in the red
Akron, Summit County jobless rates increase
Home prices rise for fourth month in a row
Most Read Stories
2 men shot during party in Fairlawn
Cancellation of Christmas not an option
Akron man killed in crash on his street
Several people hurt in Akron crash
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Akron Children's Hospital CEO, wife announce $1 million gift to support research
Police: Pennsylvania man killed misbehaving puppy before Steelers game
Akron Circle K store robbed for second time this month
KSU suspends basketball player
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Blogs:
Pets:
A Dog Named Christmas – Pet for the Holidays
The Heldenfiles:
Viewing Notes
Patrick McManamon:
Of pass interference and alleged "fake" injuries
Akron Zips:
No. 1 Akron to play Stanford next
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Audio: Mangini disputes Poteat call, accuses Lions of faking injuries
Kent State Sports:
Flashes travel to Florida Atlantic
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeye Football – Present and Future
Varsity Letters:
Gulley to visit Central Michigan in December
All Da King's Men:
The Onion, By Any Other Name…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Glaring Contradictions
Akron Law Café:
Don't Try to Have Fun if you are Depressed
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
What Automotive Thing Are You Thankful For?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Faye Dunaway to be Evicted?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Monique asks how to get tickets for the Polar Express.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why I am Glad I live in NEO
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Betty Lin-Fisher
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 06:20 p.m. EDT, Oct 30, 2009
The Akron call center of Teleperformance USA will shut down and more than 300 people will lose their jobs on Dec. 31 unless the company can find a new client.
The international company came calling in Akron three years ago, promising 600 full- and part-time call center and technical support jobs — or the equivalent of 400 full-time jobs.
SR. Teleperformance Group of Paris started taking calls for its Teleperformance USA operations at 150 E. Market St. in April 2006.
This summer, the company said it would cut 250 jobs, or half its staff, in August.
Mayor Don Plusquellic's office received a fax Thursday from Teleperformance USA saying it would ''conduct a mass reduction of force and site closure'' on Dec. 31.
The company said it would continue to ''pursue alternative clients for the Akron location with the objective of retaining the work force.''
''There is no guarantee that the company will be able to do this after the current client's business is reduced,'' the letter said.
There are 303 employees at the facility, according to the fax. The fax said that the Akron call center's client was consolidating its operations in fewer locations.
Teleperformance USA spokesman Mark Pfeiffer confirmed the information on Friday.
Akron Deputy Mayor David Lieberth said Friday that the city knew there was a possibility the company would close the center.
''We had heard basically a month or six weeks ago that they had lost their principal client or that the principal client was terminating its call center business. We had some hint that this was imminent and then [the fax] came yesterday,'' Lieberth said.
The company leases all three floors and 52,000 square feet at a former Ohio Bureau of Employment Services building for a 24-hour-a-day operation. The building was renovated and is owned by a group of investors who include Akron historic building renovator Tony Troppe and Jill Bacon Madden. Earlier this summer, Madden restored a building across town on South Main Street that houses her husband's PlusOne Communications, also a call-center firm. Bob Madden also was a vice president of national accounts and consultant for Teleperformance when the company came to Akron, but no longer works for Teleperformance.
Bacon Madden said she has not yet heard from Teleperformance about the closing, but hopes the company can shift some of its client work to Akron.
''We can all cross our fingers and hope that they're able to find another client to service that location to save the jobs,'' she said.
The company is in the middle of a five-year lease of the building, she said.
''Where there's an if, there's always some degree of hope. We've all got to hold onto that,'' she said.
In the August news release detailing the layoffs, Teleperformance said the center had provided customer-care services on behalf of a major cable communications service.
The company has said it could not identify the client for confidentiality reasons. Three years ago, when the company arrived in Akron, company officials said they would be taking customer-service calls and offer technical support for Cox Communications of Atlanta.
Bob Madden, now chief executive of PlusOne, said he thinks his former employer Teleperformance — a multibillion-dollar company — can find another client to save the Akron call center.
Madden said his PlusOne operation at 1115 S. Main St. in Akron is doing well and ahead of track in hiring employees.
''I don't anticipate a slowdown,'' he said.
He has about 300 full-time employees and will be hiring another 300 in the next three months. He said more information can be found at the company's Web site at http://www.plusone.us.com.
People may apply online or at the building office, he said.
If Teleperformance isn't able to get another client and closes the Akron call center, that shouldn't be taken as a sign that Akron isn't good for call centers, he said.
The outsourcing business is complex, but there are always new clients, he said. Madden said that for confidentiality reasons, he couldn't discuss whether any of his clients were competitors of or formerly with Teleperformance.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at
330-996-3724 or blinfisher@
thebeaconjournal.com.
The Akron call center of Teleperformance USA will shut down and more than 300 people will lose their jobs on Dec. 31 unless the company can find a new client.
The international company came calling in Akron three years ago, promising 600 full- and part-time call center and technical support jobs — or the equivalent of 400 full-time jobs.
SR. Teleperformance Group of Paris started taking calls for its Teleperformance USA operations at 150 E. Market St. in April 2006.
This summer, the company said it would cut 250 jobs, or half its staff, in August.
Mayor Don Plusquellic's office received a fax Thursday from Teleperformance USA saying it would ''conduct a mass reduction of force and site closure'' on Dec. 31.
The company said it would continue to ''pursue alternative clients for the Akron location with the objective of retaining the work force.''
''There is no guarantee that the company will be able to do this after the current client's business is reduced,'' the letter said.
There are 303 employees at the facility, according to the fax. The fax said that the Akron call center's client was consolidating its operations in fewer locations.
Teleperformance USA spokesman Mark Pfeiffer confirmed the information on Friday.
Akron Deputy Mayor David Lieberth said Friday that the city knew there was a possibility the company would close the center.
''We had heard basically a month or six weeks ago that they had lost their principal client or that the principal client was terminating its call center business. We had some hint that this was imminent and then [the fax] came yesterday,'' Lieberth said.
The company leases all three floors and 52,000 square feet at a former Ohio Bureau of Employment Services building for a 24-hour-a-day operation. The building was renovated and is owned by a group of investors who include Akron historic building renovator Tony Troppe and Jill Bacon Madden. Earlier this summer, Madden restored a building across town on South Main Street that houses her husband's PlusOne Communications, also a call-center firm. Bob Madden also was a vice president of national accounts and consultant for Teleperformance when the company came to Akron, but no longer works for Teleperformance.
Bacon Madden said she has not yet heard from Teleperformance about the closing, but hopes the company can shift some of its client work to Akron.
''We can all cross our fingers and hope that they're able to find another client to service that location to save the jobs,'' she said.
The company is in the middle of a five-year lease of the building, she said.
''Where there's an if, there's always some degree of hope. We've all got to hold onto that,'' she said.
In the August news release detailing the layoffs, Teleperformance said the center had provided customer-care services on behalf of a major cable communications service.
The company has said it could not identify the client for confidentiality reasons. Three years ago, when the company arrived in Akron, company officials said they would be taking customer-service calls and offer technical support for Cox Communications of Atlanta.
Bob Madden, now chief executive of PlusOne, said he thinks his former employer Teleperformance — a multibillion-dollar company — can find another client to save the Akron call center.
Madden said his PlusOne operation at 1115 S. Main St. in Akron is doing well and ahead of track in hiring employees.
''I don't anticipate a slowdown,'' he said.
He has about 300 full-time employees and will be hiring another 300 in the next three months. He said more information can be found at the company's Web site at http://www.plusone.us.com.
People may apply online or at the building office, he said.
If Teleperformance isn't able to get another client and closes the Akron call center, that shouldn't be taken as a sign that Akron isn't good for call centers, he said.
The outsourcing business is complex, but there are always new clients, he said. Madden said that for confidentiality reasons, he couldn't discuss whether any of his clients were competitors of or formerly with Teleperformance.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at
330-996-3724 or blinfisher@
thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Orrville, Oh
Posted 08:11 PM, 10/30/2009
Reality demands: Fathers disqualified for affirmative action with white skin, Union workers, consumers, taxpayers, and Americas grandchildren’s children; fund 300 Akron residents; paying; with welfare checks; food stamps; housing vouchers, and Medicaid; with money; derived ; from wages or independent business profit!
Akron, OH
Posted 09:34 PM, 10/30/2009
Please fellow Akronites remove your phone numbers from the Federal DO NOT CALL Registry ASAP!
North Hill, OH
Posted 11:31 PM, 10/30/2009
Why has anyone blamed the mayor yet for this business losing a client? I know it's coming...it's CLEARLY his fault. The whiners must be off tonight.
Posted 10:46 AM, 10/31/2009
maybe they should take over Akron's 9-1-1 call center.....
