SPEDA announced Oct. 25 that Chicago student services technology company BlackBeltHelp will open a contact center in Somerset and is hiring 15 remote positions as it prepares its new facility.
“We are thrilled to welcome BlackBeltHelp to Somerset and help spread the word about the jobs immediately available,” said SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler. “We continue to grow our workforce opportunities in Somerset-Pulaski County and are grateful this company chose our community to expand its education technology support services, which are increasingly in demand.”
Formed in 2012, BlackBeltHelp provides student services contact center technology 24 hours a day, seven days a week for students, faculty and staff of higher education institutions. BlackBeltHelp solutions reduce administrative burdens and improve operational efficiencies while expanding access and reducing institutional costs. This is enabled by an AI-powered cloud-based platform offering integrated voice, chat, ticket, email and bot technology.
The company supports 4 million students annually and has more than 200 clients.
“This is an exciting time for our company and it’s the perfect time to join a rapidly growing organization,” said Joe Quigley, BlackBeltHelp associate vice president of U.S. operations, who has been a resident in the area for nearly 13 years. “When seeking a location to expand U.S. operations, Somerset was the obvious choice and Chris Girdler and the SPEDA organization have been very helpful throughout the process.”
Somerset Mayor Alan Keck said he is grateful BlackBeltHelp chose Somerset for its business expansion.
“We are excited about the opportunity they are providing for our people and believe they will find Somerset to be a tremendous place to do business,” Keck said.
Pulaski County Judge-Executive Steve Kelley called the announcement “another huge win for Pulaski County.”
“I’m excited to see growth here,” Kelley said. “Thanks to everyone who has partnered in making this venture a reality. I anticipate a long and prosperous partnership with the great folks at BlackBeltHelp.”
When the Somerset facility opens, BlackBeltHelp will employ 20 to 30 positions with the expectation of adding more over time. The 15 remote positions hired now will report to the center when it opens. The company offers paid vacation, sick leave and health insurance options to all employees, who can expect to make up to $13 an hour depending on their level of experience.
A local hiring event will be hosted from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the Pulaski County Public Library. For more information about the event, e-mail careers@blackbelthelp.com.
For more information about careers available with BlackBeltHelp, visit blackbelthelp.com/bbh-careers.