By Rory McClannahan
Journal Staff Writer
You won't find any Martha Stewart housewares or blue light specials at the new Verizon Wireless Customer Service and Wireless Data Technical Support Center at Coors and Central.
What you will find is 800 employees providing service to Verizon's customers.
The company Wednesday dedicated its 197,000-square-foot building, which at one time was going to be a Super Kmart.
"This is more than a facility," said Tony Heyman, Verizon's regional vice president, "This is an expression of Verizon's commitment to Albuquerque and our commitment to being the best wireless service provider."
As part of that commitment to the community, Verizon donated $25,000 through its HopeLine Program to Enlace Comunitaro, a nonprofit organization that works to curb domestic violence.
The center started operations in November after about nine months of construction. While 800 people are currently employed at the center, Heyman said more than 1,700 will work there by the end of 2007.
The center answers inbound service calls from Verizon customers and provides technical support for the company's wireless data customers.
Kmart started construction on the building in 2001 but stopped in 2002 due to financial difficulties. The retail company scrapped plans for the store after filing bankruptcy, and the shell of the unfinished building stayed empty for nearly four years.
To attract Verizon to locate in Albuquerque and in the building, the Bernalillo County Commission approved $22 million in industrial revenue bonds and the city of Albuquerque chipped in $700,000 in infrastructure improvements in the area, which included a new stoplight on Central to access the building. The state also contributed $1.9 million to help Verizon train 400 new employees.
Not only does the service center have work space for 1,500 people, it also features 11 training rooms.
Jenny Weaver, public relations manager for Verizon, said new employees have to go through four to six weeks of training before they begin taking calls. But those employees get paid for their training.
"The best part, though, is that they have benefits from day one," Weaver said.
Employees also have a cafeteria and a fitness center staffed with trainers at their disposal.
"We are trying to make this a pleasant place to work," Weaver said.
The New Jersey-based Verizon Wireless serves about 57 million customers nationwide.
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