Verizon Wireless Call Center Celebrates 10th Anniversary in Columbia with Top 10 Milestones
July 24, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – July 24, 2009 – This July marks the 10th anniversary of the Verizon Wireless Call Center in Columbia, located behind Midtown at Forest Acres (formerly Richland Mall) on Forest Drive. During its 10 years in Columbia, the Call Center has hit significant local, national and international milestones. Here is the Columbia Call Center “Top 10”:
1 – Approximately 500 were employed at the Columbia Call Center when it first opened in July 1999.
2 – The Columbia Call Center houses 1600 employees today – an all-time high.
3 – The first customer service call was taken at the Columbia Call Center in November 1999.
4 – During the last 10 years, the Columbia Call Center has handled more than 15 million customer calls.
5 – The Columbia Call Center is the company’s largest. It operates 24/7.
6 – Despite the economic climate in South Carolina, the Columbia Call Center attracted more than 900 applicants for 120 positions at a March 2009 job fair.
7 – The Columbia Call Center is the worldwide home of the Verizon Wireless Global Support Team, which houses national customer service for its U.S.-based Global Voice calling plan customers traveling abroad.
8 – The Columbia Call Center has supported local programs and nonprofits and raised thousands of dollars for organizations, including Sistercare, United Way of the Midlands, Epworth Children’s Home, Cooperative Ministry and the George Rogers Foundation Golf Tournament. In its 10 years in Columbia, the Call Center has donated nearly $180,000 to Sistercare alone!
9 – During the last 10 years, employees have donated 8,200 phones for the HopeLine program, which collects no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories from any wireless service provider and turns them into support for victims of domestic violence.
10 – From January 2004 to June 2009, 1,606 employees in the Columbia Call Center have participated in the tuition assistance program, which covers within an annual cap 100% of an employee’s tuition and required textbooks for approved courses.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 86.6 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 86,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com.
