Paragon to add 150 jobs to its growing call center

With its second expansion in less than two years, the marketing company will employ close to 400 people.

By KENT FISCHER

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 22, 2000

NEW PORT RICHEY -- A local marketing company is looking to hire about 150 new employees to staff its growing call center, the company's second large expansion in the past 18 months.

Paragon Marketing Inc. opened its Pasco call center three years ago with a handful of employees, company president Anthony Solazzo said Thursday. When the latest round of hiring is complete, Paragon will employ nearly 400 people.

Large companies hire Paragon to operate their customer-service centers. The company also conducts marketing as well as some telemarketing for other companies. Existing clients include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, General Electric Financial Assurance, Eddie Bauer and Spiegel MasterCard.

Paragon Marketing, 7 years old, was recently named the third-fastest-growing call center company in the nation by Call Center Magazine, Solazzo said.

The company moved to New Port Richey from Clearwater three years ago. A privately owned company, Solazzo would not reveal Paragon's annual revenues.

"We're going through a period of expansion with new clients," said Solazzo, saying the list includes BMG Direct, a mail-order music company. "It may require us to build a new facility."

The company currently leases 16,000 square feet of office space in the Pasco Executive Center office park on Little Road. The company began an earlier hiring of about 100 new employees in April 1999.

This most recent round of hiring will add to the center's customer service representatives, Solazzo said. Pay will start at about $7 an hour, and the hours are flexible. Paragon offers its employees a 401(k) plan, subsidized health and life insurance as well as paid vacation.

The company is conducting interviews for the jobs. Applicants can apply in person and expect an immediate interview, Solazzo said.

"We want to treat our clients' customers with a lot of TLC," Solazzo said. "We've been very happy as an employer here in Pasco."

-- Kent Fischer can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6241 or (800) 333-7505, ext. 6241. His e-mail address is kfischer@sptimes.com.

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