Orlando-based Pinnacle Financial Corp. opened its Tampa call center in February and already plans to expand.
By HELEN HUNTLEY
Published June 8, 2004
Pinnacle Financial Corp., an Orlando mortgage lender, is expanding its new call center in Tampa, creating 160 jobs that will pay an average of $64,000 a year.
The company said it invested $3.5-million in its new facility, which occupies 25,000 square feet of leased space at 3501 Frontage Road, near Tampa International Airport. The call center's workers will take mortgage applications over the telephone from people who respond to the company's advertising.
"We are originating home mortgages in 48 states right there from Tampa," said Jim Gallant, president of Pinnacle's direct marketing division. He said the center opened in February with 40 employees who had worked for JP Morgan Chase, which closed a similar call center in Tampa at the end of last year.
"It was excellent timing for us; I was glad to be able to take some of them," said Gallant, who also worked for J.P. Morgan Chase before joining Pinnacle. Gallant said he expects the call center to employ between 160 and 200 workers by the end of the year. Previous mortgage experience is not required.
Gallant said the company chose Tampa over other potential locations because of the availability of qualified workers, convenience, quality of life and the potential for economic development incentives.
"It was a very easy decision to locate in Tampa with all the assistance we were provided in terms of the site location," he said. "The chamber, the city and the county folks have been terrific, and even Tallahassee got involved."
Gallant said the company's application for tax credits and worker training funds has been approved by the city and county and is pending at the state level. The Committee of 100, Enterprise Florida and Workforce Florida participated in the recruitment effort along with government officials.
Pinnacle (www.pinnaclefinancial.com) provided $3-billion worth of mortgage financing to homeowners last year and expects to provide $4.4-billion this year. The company, founded in 1988, sells its mortgages to investors.
"Pinnacle Financial is a welcome addition to our financial services cluster," said University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft, who chairs the Committee of 100. "The $3.5-million investment in this new facility in Tampa and the job creation for the area is impressive."
