Call center jobs are often a stepping stone for workers looking to learn skills that can be parlayed into making a living in the future. They do this because of the nature of the job; call centers are willing to train workers (who learn a variety of skills, including sales, listening skills and expertise with popular customer support applications). Virtually nowhere is this type of confidence-building and learning a profession more necessary than in a prison environment.
Call center services outsourcing company Televerde recently announced the opening of a new contact center at the Indiana Women's Prison. This latest addition joins the company's existing operations in Indiana at the Rockville Correctional Facility (opened in 2015) and the Madison Correctional Facility (opened in 2019), further expanding its nationwide network to eight prison-operated centers. With this expansion, Televerde now provides career opportunities to 127 women across its Indiana operations.
For more than 25 years, Televerde has employed more than 3,500 incarcerated women in Arizona, Indiana and Florida, and the company claims that approximately 94% of those employed eventually advance into career positions in sales, marketing, and technology fields. The women employed as part of Televerde's prison workforce development program are compensated fairly and receive on-the-job training in the art of sales and marketing, business acumen, in-demand marketing technologies (Salesforce, Eloqua, Marketo, et al.), IT, and other areas in business.
At the beginning of its program at the Indiana Women’s Prison, Televerde initially began with a pool of nine candidates, though the company stated that it has plans to expand its workforce rapidly. This move aligns with Televerde's commitment to providing opportunities for incarcerated women, equipping them with the skills and experience necessary to thrive in today's digital economy, said the company.
“Our partnership with Indiana Correctional Industries (ICI) and the Indiana Department of Corrections (DOC) continues to strengthen because of their commitment to ensuring the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals," said Chris McGugan, CEO of Televerde, in a statement. "The launch of our new Televerde contact center at the Indiana Women's Prison signifies more than just the growth of our operations. It's a powerful demonstration of how strategic collaboration can fuel social transformation and business performance. We're eager to assemble another high-performing Televerde team in Indiana, poised to drive exceptional business outcomes for our clients."
Edited by
Alex Passett
