WHEELING — A few years ago, Vicki McCoy was a housewife looking for a job to earn some extra money.
She decided to become a telemarketer and fell in love with it, ending her housewife days. Now, McCoy, a Cameron resident, is the training manager for Global Contact Services’ new Wheeling office. It is scheduled to open Monday, Jan. 15, in Center Wheeling on the third floor of the Wonder Bread Building, 2200 Main St.
An open house for the public and to recruit new workers is scheduled through 7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13. People should use the entrance facing Main Street, as the new elevator is not ready for use.
GCS has temporarily operated out of the Horne’s Building in downtown Wheeling since October while the new office space was being renovated. About 70 people already are employed, but about 120 more are anticipated to be hired during the next month or so.
GCS solicits business from the existing customers of companies such as Bank of America, Wachovia, AIG, Verizon, Wells Fargo and Washington Mutual. The calls are automated.
“There’s a lot of opportunity to move up in the company,” McCoy said.
Wheeling resident Anna Kraft, the human resources manager for the Wheeling GCS office, said new employees will receive classroom and hands-on training. Day and afternoon shifts are expected to be available. The base pay rate, including during the training period, is expected to be $7.50 an hour, Kraft said.
Those who hold licenses to sell insurance are expected to start at a higher rate. GCS also has a program to help new employees get licenses to sell insurance. Such a license, however, is not necessary to work there, McCoy said.
“You don’t have to be computer literate or be a good typist,” McCoy noted.
GCS was granted a $100,000 revolving loan by Wheeling City Council to help with costs related to moving into the new office. The Wonder Bread Building is owned by Just Us Inc., which is partly owned by Mayor Nick Sparachane, who has a 20 percent share in Just Us.
GCS employs 1,500 people at offices in other West Virginia cities such as Mount Hope, Huntington and Summersville, according to the company’s Web site. Other offices include those in Kingsville, Texas; Pulaski and Saltville, Va.; Salisbury, N.C.
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