Keeping Call Center Jobs in the Same Market
Recently we have seen a trend of different call center types in different parts of North America negotiating lease terms one and a half to two years out from the end of their existing lease term.
To accomplish this we have been working with local, county and state economic development groups, and existing landlords by focusing on the financial benefits the area will retain by keeping these large numbers of employees (and their corresponding salaries –thus economic impact) from moving to a different city.
Not surprisingly, by showing the existing city the salaries generated over the term of a new lease vs. the cost of the lease itself, we have received extraordinary financial assistance to offset the remaining cost of the existing lease term from both the EDC’s and landlords.
In short, the salary impact compared to the real estate cost averages 8-1.
This negotiation strategy has assisted us in doing many call center transactions sooner rather than later and given us a head start against our competition.
-Van Power, SIOR
Based in Dallas, TX, Van Power is Chief Operating Officer of NAI Contact Center/Site Selection Services.
About the author
Van Power is Chief Operating Officer of NAI Global's Contact (Call) Center / Site Selection Services Worldwide, and is Chief Operating Officer of NAI Robert Lynn's Corporate Services Divsion in the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas metroplex, He specializes in representing corporate tenants in the site selection, acquisition and disposition of corporate call centers/contact centers, service centers and back-office operations centers worldwide. During his career, Power and his team have completed site selection assignments on over 7 million square feet of contact center space.
Power combines comprehensive office, industrial and build-to-suit market knowledge with integrity, resourcefulness, tenacity, and 25 years of negotiation experience to represent the best interests of his corporate and business clients. He was honored as one of The Dallas Business Journal's Commercial Real Estate "HEAVY HITTERS" every year from 1991-2004. NAI Global named Van to the NAI Global Elite, a group comprised of the organization’s top performers and top producers. Power qualified as a Top Performer at the Elite level based on production in 2009. His transaction experience includes representation of tenants both large and small clients, in assignments ranging from negotiating office, industrial, office-flex and build-to-suit leases to major corporate relocations. He has unique expertise in labor analysis, demographic evaluation, site selection and negotiation of municipal, state and/or provincial incentives for the teleservices industry.
Education
Van Power was an honor graduate, and has a B.A. in Political Science and English,from the University of Mississippi and attended law school at Ole Miss. While attending Ole Miss., Power, while a collegiate athlete, was named to the Who's Who among Students in American Colleges and Universities. In 1983, he was selected as an Outstanding Young Man in America.
Background & Experience
Power previously was Co-Founder and President of Arledge/Power Real Estate Group, where for 14 years he represented corporate clients in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Arledge/Power was recognized by the Dallas Business Journal as winner of its "2001 PACESETTERS AWARD," given to the #1 Fastest Growing Company in the Dallas Metroplex for 2000-2001. Arledge/Power was also honored as a recipient of the 2001 "Dallas 100" Award, recognizing the fastest growing companies in Dallas.
Prior to his real estate career, Power was the International Executive Director of the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) and accrued 14 years of executive management experience in national and international facility planning. Among his accomplishments, Power negotiated facilities for more than 400 local, national and international sporting events. As Executive Director, he was responsible for over 500 employees operating in 48 states and 12 countries including 350 locations worldwide.
Professional Affiliations & Designations
Mr. Power's honors and professional affiliations include selection to the prestigious Society of Office and Industrial Realtors (SIOR) and was named to its Education Committee, Dallas' Real Estate Managers Forum, NTCAR Board of Directors (2005, 2006, & 2007), Executive in the Delta Wildlife Association, Sigma Chi Alumni Association, University of Mississippi Alumni Association, the Dallas Safari Club, Safari Club International, The Dallas Ecological Society, recipient of the Golden Eagle Award from the National Rifle Association (NRA), member of the Dallas Gun Club, a Territorial Marshall for the State of Oklahoma and a Captain of Industry for the State of Mississippi. He and his wife Barby have a 21 year old son, Colt, who plays lacrosse for the "fighting Irish" of Notre Dame. They are also members of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.
Significant Transactions
Abatix
Alorica
Comdata Corp.
Siemens-Rolm
ADC Telecommunications
ECE / Stream
ADP
etalk
Sprint
Allegiance Telecom
GC Services
Valor Telecommunications
AmeriCredit Corp
Omnipoint Communications
White Rock Networks
Business Interiors
Capital One Financial Corp.
RMH Teleservices
Xerox
UPS