July 7, 2007
Nacogdoches, TX, September 5, 2007:Etech a global business process outsourcer headquartered in Nacogdoches, recently awarded over $129,000 in tuition reimbursement to East Texas students for the school year ending June 1, 2007. Etech has reimbursed over one-half million dollars of tuition to college students over the past four years. The majority of the reimbursement benefit was paid to students attending Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. Students attending Angelina College and Texas Bible College in Lufkin have also received tuition reimbursement.
According to job satisfaction surveys conducted at Etech, the tuition reimbursement plan is one of the greatest benefits offered to Etech employees. To participate, employees must go through a three part process which includes enrolling for classes and submitting their bill showing tuition and fees that are paid; attending and passing classes while maintaining either a full-time or part-time schedule at Etech; and submitting their grades showing they completed and passed their classes. Once this process is completed, reimbursement recipients attend a party and receive their checks.
Several Etech leaders started with the company while still students enrolled in classes at SFASU or AC. Patrick Reynolds, an Account Leader managing a program for AT&T, is one of those leaders. Reynolds joined the company in 2000 when it was still known as Berry Direct. He has been very successful with the company and showed promise as a leader even during his time as an agent on the phones when he excelled and was seen as a mentor by many of his peers. Since then, Reynolds has moved through several positions and campaigns and went to India as a pioneering leader to start the first of many outbound sales teams in Etech’s Gandhinagar facility. Reynolds stated, “I never knew that this would turn into a career for me when I joined the company seven years ago. I was looking for a job to help support myself while attending SFASU and the tuition reimbursement program was the benefit that sealed the deal for me.”
In each of the five communities housing an Etech office, there is an institution for higher learning. This is one of the requirements Etech has when looking for new communities into which it can expand. Matt Rocco, Chief Operating Officer for Etech explained, “Because of the nature of the type of work that we are support for our customers, we employ a good amount of part time workers that can work nights and weekends. This type of schedule works well for many students. We are fortunate to have schools like Stephen F. Austin State University and Angelina College in East Texas. These schools provide so much to our communities and they provide very talented students to employers such as Etech. One of our twelve leadership commitments is to develop others to their fullest potential. Helping students reach their educational goals is one of the ways we can accomplish this. Ultimately, by investing in these students now we are securing a great future for them, for Etech and for our communities. We believe the investment is well worth it.”
Veronica Ellison, Assistant Director of Human Resources for Etech stated, “We have formed a wonderful partnership with the Career Services and Student employment departments at SFA and Angelina College. The students who participate in our tuition reimbursement program have proven to be some of our best and most loyal employees. We look forward to each new semester and the new applicants we will meet. Like Patrick Reynolds, many students come here for tuition reimbursement and the opportunity to earn a decent wage – but end up taking advantage of our internship programs, opportunities for advancement and leadership training and turn it into a wonderful career.”
About Etech Global Services
Etech is privately owned and has provided Business Process Outsourcing services since 1997. A Tier One preferred provider for several Fortune 500 companies, Etech has a diverse clientele in the telecommunications, yellow page publishing, national mortgage, and credit card industries.
Etech is a certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) and a designated Corporate Plus member with 1500+ team members in facilities in the U.S. and India. Maintaining high standards of quality, customer service and sales skills makes Etech the first choice in providing inbound and outbound sales and service, internet chat, web chat, email fulfillment, and business process outsourcing services.
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