The announcement of the addition of new jobs is good news no matter what the location. For Montgomery, Alabama, the news is that ER Solutions plans to begin hiring 200 more workers, thereby increasing the number of employees at its call center to 500.

An accounts receivable management firm, ER Solutions will have an employment open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 12 at its offices at 2400 Presidents Drive in Executive Park. The first round of new hires will begin work on August 1.

According to Robert Cutrone, president of the company’s outsourcing division, ER Solution’s decision to expand its Montgomery operations so quickly is the direct result of the workforce driving the operations.

Cutrone noted that the Montgomery market is one that will continue to give the company the workforce that it needs. Applicants need no formal training and few unique skills, but must have the ability to listen. It is a priority for the call center to employee agents that can listen to what the caller is asking.

This move not only extends the workforce for the call center in Montgomery, it also creates flexibility for some veteran workers. ER Solutions does not plan to expand its current building to accommodate more workers.

Instead, certain veteran employees will be allowed to work from home. Such initiatives have cut commuting costs and improve employee retention for other company locations.

Typical customers for ER Solutions include banks and other lending institutions, telecommunications firms and utilities. The Montgomery positions will primarily handle phone calls outsourced by other businesses.

Cutrone noted that it was important for the company to keep its operations in the United States.

 

"We continue to look for cities like Montgomery that offer an American work force," he said.

Charles Jinright and Todd Strange, both Montgomery civic leaders, praised ER Solutions for their decision to expand its operations. Jinright, president of the Montgomery City Council noted that the expansion reflected better on the community than a new industry.

"When a business expands, that tells you that you are doing something right," Jinright said.

"We have a labor force here that speaks volumes about what we can do in this community," added Strange, chairman of the Montgomery County Commission.

ER Solutions shared the type of jobs and its plans for the expansion, but did not disclose information on the pay ranges for the newly created positions.

Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMC (News - Alert) and has also written for Market Drive News. To see more of her articles, please visit Susan J. Campbell’s columnist page.