Virtual-Agent Services Opens Seventh Center in Neguac

February 25, 2003 (Schaumburg, IL) – Virtual-Agent Services (VAS) announced today the establishment of its seventh community-based customer contact center in Neguac, New Brunswick, Canada. Neri Basque, Executive Vice-President of Operations for VAS made the announcement with New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord and Neguac Mayor Richard Breault.

VAS’ award winning business model, the Distributed Workforce Concept, focuses on community contact centers located throughout rural New Brunswick.  The concept reverses the traditional contact center consolidation model by locating small centers in areas with untargeted, high quality, work-ready labor markets and networking them together with a common telephone system. This allows the strategically located centers to operate as one large virtual center awarding them single office economies of scale.  With utilization of the Distributed Workforce Concept, VAS is able to bring the work to skilled local people rather than requiring people to travel long distances to obtain work.  This creates a wonderful opportunity for those in the area with limited career prospects as well as assuring VAS’ clients that they are receiving top quality service from experienced employees. 

“By embracing innovation and investing in people, we are creating jobs and wealth and contributing to the economic diversity of rural New Brunswick,” Premier Lord said. “Our plan for prosperity and positive business environment continues to strengthen the knowledge-based economy to every region of the province, including rural New Brunswick.” 

“The Village of Neguac fits well with our strategy to build a strong presence in rural areas of the province,” added Neri Basque, Executive Vice-President of Operations. 

“In order to meet the growing demands of our U.S.-based customers, we are building our presence throughout New Brunswick to provide our clients with the support they require to be successful,” said VAS’ President, Camastro. “We have been very pleased with the progress in our existing locations and we look forward to equal success in Neguac.” 

The Distributed Workforce Concept was voted Gold Best-in-Class in the 2002 4th Annual Users Choice Awards by VAS’ clients as well as featured in the February issue of Lodging Magazine.  In addition, the company’s President, Robert Camastro, was named to Fast Company Magazine’s Fast 50 Champions of Innovation for his work with the concept.  

Virtual-Agent Services is a unique provider of contact center solutions for today’s demanding customer care industry.  Focusing on a high quality workforce and ideal locations throughout New Brunswick, Canada, VAS utilizes the award-winning Distributed Workforce Concept to offer clients superior service and value.  Located in the Chicago area and servicing a wide range of industries including financial, retail sales, travel and hospitality, and utility services, VAS provides a variety of support options that include inbound sales and customer service, customer account maintenance, credit management, and travel reservations.