Location of Spiegel within Zavata could create 150 jobs

By Genie Collins
Americus Times Recorder - October 25, 2007

AMERICUS - Americus and Sumter County leaders gathered today to announce a major new business locating in the Ted Baldwin Business and Technology Park in Americus.

Pictured cutting the ribbon at the Spiegel announcement are Brad Anderson with Zavata; Ty Turner, Charlene Pennymon, South Georgia Technical College President Sparky Reeves; Tom Scott, chief information office and senior vice president with Spiegel Brands; Rica Askew, Americus Mayor Barry Blount, Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce Chairman-elect Sherrill House, state Sen. George Hooks, Sumter County Commission Chairman Bill Bowen, Payroll Development Authority (PDA) Chairman Paul Hall; Tim Dewey, senior vice president and general manager of Zavata, Inc.; and PDA Executive Director David Garriga. photo by: Genie Collins

 

The Carabella Corp., a division of Spiegel Brands, Inc., chose to locate within Zavata, Inc., because this company has the telecommunications infrastructure and a superior training program at South Georgia Technical College (SGTC), in the facilitating of catalog order sales.

In order to test the local labor force, Carabella Corp. conducted a six-month trial after hiring employees trained at SGTC.

 

According to Americus-Sumter County Payroll Development Authority (PDA) Executive Director David Garriga, the trial run was successful as employees were able to meet stringent sales quotas. In early October, Carabella Corp. committed to establish a full-time operation in Americus, with as many as 150 jobs being provided.
Tim Dewey, senior vice president and general manger of Zavata, Inc., said the company's experience in Americus, so far, has been good.

 

"Zavata is providing more of our own services," Dewey said. "Zavata shares in the collective prosperity of the community."

 

"Americus' Southern hospitality is the Rolls Royce of anywhere I've been," said Tom Scott, chief information office and senior vice president of Spiegel Brands, Inc. "The people are friendly and nice and give great customer service."
He added that his company likes Americus so much, the other call centers under Spiegel Brands Inc. have been closed. The other call center is in Nova Scotia.

 

"We don't take for granted what you've done," Scott said. He said the company wants to be a good community partner.
On the local end of things, the result of Spiegel Brands' location to Zavata was due to many entities working together.

 

"We had high hopes another company would come here," said Americus Mayor Barry Blount. He thanked all local governments, SGTC, the PDA, the Chamber of Commerce and Zavata, Inc. for working together to bring Spiegel Brands to the Industrial Park.

 

"You are worthy of special recognition," said Sumter County Commission Chairman Bill Bowen.

 

"We want to commit the full forces of the state of Georgia to you," said state Sen. George Hooks, D-Americus.

 

"Jobs is what we're looking for," said PDA Chairman Paul Hall. "We want to thank you for your decision to come and have a positive impact on our community."

 

"You are part of the South Georgia Tech family already," said SGTC President Sparky Reeves. "We want to commit our continued support in helping you become as productive as the gnats in Southwest Georgia."