Published: June 27, 2008 09:28 pm         

Alorica ready to open with 200 employees

TERRE HAUTE — AT&T Mobility customers the world over will soon get their help from a Wabash Valley resident as Alorica’s newest call center plans to begin accepting live calls in August.

The 44,000-square-foot facility at 1800 Fort Benjamin Harrison Road next to Big Lots hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday afternoon, with 200 recently hired employees cheering along in their red Alorica T-shirts.

“So far, a lot of these guys bought shirts on their own,” commented human resources manager Andrea Resnik.

Another 300 employees will be processed into the site before the end of July, she said, adding that workers go through an eight-week training program before working with customers.

The Terre Haute facility will handle tech support and customer service calls for just one customer.

“Who is your client?” she shouted to the room full of red-shirted workers.

“AT&T!” the crowd cheered back.

“Do you love Alorica?” she yelled.

“Yes!” they shouted back in unison.

“We want to make sure the employees are comfortable and love to come to work,” she said. “We’re a fun place to work.”

Applications for the remaining 300 positions still are being processed, she said, and applicants can go online at www.aloricajobs.com or come to the site in person.

A high-school degree or equivalent is required and employees need good people skills and problem-solving skills. Entry-level pay is $9 per hour.

Steve Witt, executive director of the Terre Haute Economic Development Corp., told the gathering that they’re responsible for Alorica coming to town.

“If it wasn’t for you, Alorica wouldn’t be here,” he said, noting Vigo County’s strong work force as an attraction to industry.

Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett echoed those comments, adding “I’m an AT&T Mobility customer myself,” and that he might be talking to them on a more regular basis from now on.

Resnik also introduced site director Travis Vickers to the employees.

Vickers, a Terre Haute native and Indiana State University alum, was most recently employed by Consolidated Communications in Charleston, Ill., before joining the Alorica team.

“I was employee number one for this location,” he said, noting that when he first arrived in the building it was completely empty. “We started with absolutely nothing,” he said, describing having to install electrical wiring, carpet and other fixtures.

Nationally, Alorica has recently experienced a corporate growth rate of about 380 percent, according to information provided at the announcement of their coming to Terre Haute.

The company employees about 7,100, with other contact centers in Kansas, Florida, Texas, South Dakota, Utah, Oklahoma and two in the Philippines for a total of 13 locations.

Brian Boyce can be reached at (812) 231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.