By Jeff Knapp
July 9, 2004
With Dell Inc.'s announcement that the world's largest computer maker will build its sixth U.S. sales center in the Oklahoma City area came the confirmation that Francis Tuttle Technology Center will coordinate and assist in training for the new positions that the center will require.
With the first class of 30 students slated for August 9, and the expectation that those new employees will be answering customer calls by September 1, the pressure is on for both Workforce Oklahoma and Francis Tuttle.
"Workforce Oklahoma has established a command center for a team comprised of staff responsible for contacting, scheduling and providing assessments to qualified applicants. The team will also facilitate "Invitation only" job fairs/interview sessions once assessments have been completed. We knew that once the official announcement was made, the demand would progress quickly, and have made preparations to handle it," said Workforce Manager Sandy Payne. "Francis Tuttle has worked proactively with us to prepare for the quick turnaround."
The center will hire several hundred employees almost immediately, and will eventually employ thousands, according to comments by Dell officials.
Francis Tuttle Industrial Coordinator Clark Jermain said "We have been preparing for about two months, and will continue to be involved with training and support until Dell is at full strength."
Jermain and others at Francis Tuttle have assisted in establishing training facility requirements and locating adequate space, as well as proposing a facility layout. The company will temporarily be located at the Hertz Financial Center, 3Northwest Expressway, but plans to build a permanent sales center next year at an undetermined site in the metro area, according to Dell officials.