Customer care company to locate training facility in Albany

N.E.W Customer Service (NEW) today announced plans to locate a training center on the campus of Albany Technical College, creating up to 120 jobs this year in Albany for a potential total of 240 jobs over a two-year period.

“Companies like NEW are realizing the possibilities that stem from telework,” said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “It’s a great opportunity for employees to save on commuting costs and for employers to save on overhead, not to mention easing road congestion and the sting of high gas prices.”

Sterling, Va.-based NEW is expanding its contact center operations to Albany. The company expects to create approximately 120 work-at-home jobs in the first year, expanding to as many as 240 jobs over two years depending on applicant interest.

NEW’s Albany-area employees will service NEW’s DIRECTV account, delivering technical troubleshooting to customers via phone. Employees will undergo a six-week company-paid training program at Albany Technical College.

“We selected Albany, hands down, because of the generous welcome and outstanding support provided by local leadership,” said NEW’s senior vice president of customer experience, Ray Zukowski. “Our extensive research indicated that Albany is a good fit for our company due to the well-educated work force and the residents’ desire to work in the customer care field. We are excited to be a part of Albany and offer this unique work environment to the community.”

“NEW choosing Albany further emphasizes all of the positive qualities that make us attractive for future economic development,” said Bobby McKinney, chairman of the board and interim president, Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission. “This is great news and a great opportunity for many people in Southwest Georgia.”

Brian Marlowe was project manager for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, which assisted with the company’s expansion.

NEW is a leading provider of extended service plans, buyer protection services and product support, providing coverage to more than 150 million consumers worldwide. Founded in 1983 with headquarters in Sterling, Va., NEW provides award-winning, post-sale consumer care for leading retailers, consumer service providers, wireless carriers and financial services firms. For more information, please visit NEW at www.newcorp.com.

Interested job candidates can meet with NEW representatives at a hiring event on May 20 at 9 am and 6 pm at the Georgia Department of Labor, Albany Career Center (1608 S. Slappey Boulevard) and May 21 at 9 am and 2 pm at the Albany Technical College, Manufacturing Technology Center (1704 S. Slappey Boulevard, Building E). Virtual job fairs are also available on the website at www.newhomebasedccr.com.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.