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PERFORMARK, Inc.
December 4, 2004
EDITORIAL
Star-Herald
Welcome to the Valley
Performark Will Add to Valley's Growth
Officials, including the chairman and CEO of Performark Inc., were welcomed to Scottsbluff Thursday with a ribbon cutting ceremony, open house and handshakes.
The Minnesota-based company chose to open another location based on the diligent work of many individuals. Instead of outsourcing their expansion, like many other companies have done, Performark chose to stay in the nation, something that says volumes about its leadership.
"We are so pleased to be here," said Joe Lethert, chairman and CEO of the company. "We looked at a number of communities but loved this community. We thought this was the best place for us to do business."
Lethert made special mention during the event to thank and recognize the work of TCD Director Rawnda Pierce. He described her as the "sales force" behind their decision to choose Scottsbluff. He said when they first began looking at expansion, they knew they wanted to be located closer to a major airport than Scottsbluff. But thanks to Pierce's perseverance, the final decision was made to come to Scottsbluff.
The new business is located near the airport and is in a building that had been empty for years, mainly because of out-of-state owners. Pierce said once TCD was able to negotiate a sale to local owners, they had a building that could suit a number of businesses.
Performark Inc. is an Internet marketing resource for several businesses and during the first phase of the project, 50 full-time positions will be created with more expected.
During a recent stop at the business, Gov. Mike Johanns praised the company describing it as excellent and saying he and the state looked forward to a long relationship with the company.
As Pierce said, this new business is an example of what can be accomplished when local people work together to reach a common goal.
We welcome Performark to the valley and thank all those who helped make their coming a reality.
December 2, 2004
Twin Cities Development (TCD) and TEM Development hosted an Open House for Performark, Inc. on Thursday, December 2nd at the newly remodeled building in Skyport Park. The Open House was held in conjunction with TCD's Annual Membership Meeting.
Company officials from Performark's Minneapolis office included Chairman of the Board and CEO, A. Joseph Lethert; Director of the Communications Center, Nina Slattery; Chief Technology Officer/Client Services, Mary K. Dedrick; Executive VP - Administration and CFO, Robbie Dircks; and Director of Infrastructure Systems, Jay R. Eggers. A total of 16 employees from Performark's Minnesota operation were present, as well as the newly hired Scottsbluff employees.
The Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held a ribbon cutting ceremony and presented Mr. Lethert the first dollar earned by the local branch. Company officials, Joe Lethert and Mary Dedrick commented on their decision to locate in Scottsbluff, and a pre-recorded video of Governor Johanns' visit to Performark and announcement of the CDBG Award was played.
Refreshments were provided following the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
November 23, 2004
Scottsbluff Mayor, Fiona Libsack; Councilman,
Dave Boeckner; State Senator, Adrian Smith;
Governor Mike Johanns, and Media Representatives
Nebraska Governor, Mike Johanns, welcomed Performark, Inc. to Scottsbluff and thanked City Officials and other organizations for their efforts to bring the call center to the area. Governor Johanns presented $505,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to Scotts Bluff County to assist the customer service marketing center, who occupies a portion of the newly remodeled Skyport Business Center near Western Nebraska Regional Airport.
Performark, Inc. is an Internet marketing resource for several businesses and plans to employ 50 full-time employees during the first phase of its operations in Scottsbluff.
Twin Cities Development Association, Inc.'s past Board President, Bob Unzicker, thanked Johanns and stated, "Performark is an excellent company and we're looking forward to a long and lasting relationship with them."
Scotts Bluff County officials will loan Performark, Inc.$500,000 for equipment and working capital. The remaining $5,000 will be available to the County for administrative-related expenses. The County will match the State grant with funding from its LB840 fund, half of which will be immediately available to the company. The remaining balance will be available in $125,000 increments and will be awarded based on attaining or creating additional jobs.
An additional $460,000 in equity from Performark, Inc. will help cover remaining start-up costs.
November 16, 2004
Star-Herald
"County OKs Help For Telemarketing Firm to Move Here"
The county board has given its endorsement to help a Minnesota-based telemarketing service get established in Scottsbluff.
Twin Cities Development Director Rawnda Pierce and Jeff Kelley of the Panhandle Area Development District went before the board of commissioners Monday to request the needed signatures for two loan-closing documents, a promissory note and loan agreement, to secure a Community Development Block Grant. Performark Inc., a business-to-business telemarketing service, will be expanding its operations to Scottsbluff by establishing a call center near Western Nebraska Regional Airport.
Pierce explained that by working with the City of Scottsbluff to secure LB840 funds to help establish the new business, it was determined that the county would also need to cosign the documents to receive state funding. Pierce said although as co-signers, there would be responsibilities should Performark Inc. not meet its obligations, she did not foresee any problems or risks.
"The City of Scottsbluff has already put up a guarantee for five years on the project," she said. "We feel this is a very stable company. I don't foresee any problems."
Pierce said the official welcome for Performark Inc. would be held November 22 at the new business site near the regional airport with Gov. Mike Johanns offering congratulatory comments...
November, 2004
A Minnesota-based company has selected Scottsbluff over several in-state and out-of-state communities for their first expansion project.
Performark, Inc., a leading provider of business-to-business web-based and traditional response management services, has established a call center in a newly remodeled building adjacent to Western Nebraska Regionall Airport. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Performark, Inc. provides marketing services by tracking down "highly-qualified leads" for companies that will allow them to "magnify" their business opportunities. Some of their current and/or past clients include Microsoft, Dell, 3M, and Motorola.
The company began working with Twin Cities Development (TCD) in February 2004. They initially received proposals from 88 communities, and Scottsbluff was one of three finalists. Company officials made visits to three cities in Nebraska. Scottsbluff was selected based on many factors, including an available, trained workforce, a proactive business community, and the quality of life expected from a rural community.
The City of Scottsbluff assisted Performark with LB840 funds, and they also received CDBG funding from the State of Nebraska.
Performark, Inc.plans to implement a "phasing process" as they transition business to the Scottsbluff location, hiring 30-40 employees initially, with a maximum of 100 employees expected by the end of 2005.
Governor Johanns plans to formally welcome and announce the company when he visits Scottsbluff/Gering on November 22, 2004.
A grand opening celebration on December 2nd is also being coordinated.
October 28, 2004
Star-Herald
"New Jobs Coming to Scottsbluff"
A Minnesota-based company is in the final stages of expanding in Scottsbluff.
Performark, a marketing service, will be expanding its business-to-business telemarketing services in Scottsbluff by establishing a call center near the Western Nebraska Regional Airport.
Performark provides marketing services by tracking down "highly-qualified leads" for companies to magnify their business opportunities, Nina Slattery, director of communications. Current and past clients include Microsoft, Dell, 3M and Motorola, to name a few.
The company has been working with Twin Cities Development (TCD) since February 2004 on its proposal to expand here. TCD Director Rawnda Pierce said the business is a prime example of the opportunities possible through LB840 funds.
"When Performark was first considering expanding from its Minneapolis facility, 88 communities applied for consideration. We were one of the three finalists that made the final cut. It was a very competitive process, and without LB840 funds to complement state incentive packages, we wouldn't have even made the final cut," Pierce said.
Slattery conducted interviews Monday and Tuesday in Scottsbluff. Performark is planning on a phasing process as the company transitions business to the Scottsbluff center. The company hopes to hire 100 employees by the end of 2005.
"We will start out small and ramp up, implementing more aggressive plans in 2005," Slattery said. "We will hire a maximum of 100 employees because we want to maintain our boutique feel."
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