The August 2013 Issue of TAS Trader

Startel

Enter Your TAS in Our Facebook Photo Contest

By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD

Take part in our Facebook photo contest to promote your TAS – and possibly see your photo featured in a future issue of TAS Trader.

Author Peter Lyle DeHaan

Here’s how:

  1. Take a picture of your TAS, such as your staff, operations room, or building.
  2. Post it on the TAS Trader Facebook page, along with the name of your TAS and a link to your website.
  3. While you’re there, be sure to like TAS Trader.
  4. Ask your employees and friends to “vote” for your TAS. All they need to do is like your photo or comment on it. (If they do both, it counts as two votes!)
  5. The photo with the most “votes” (comments and likes) will appear in the next issue of TAS Trader. Runners up will appear in future issues.

If you don’t have a photo to submit, you can play still along by voting (like and/or comment) for your favorites. Vote early and vote often!

Check back next month for the winner, with more to follow.

(By posting your TAS photo, you grant us permission to use it.)

Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is the publisher and editor-in-chief of TAS Trader. Check out his latest book, Sticky Customer Service.

Previewing the 2013 CAM-X Convention

By Bill Tucker, 2013 Convention Chair

cam-x

I am pleased to invite you to join us in Bermuda for our forty-ninth annual CAM-X Convention and Trade Show at the Fairmount Southampton, September 24–27, 2013. There are a few of us still around who attended our last Bermuda convention in 1986. It’s amazing to think of how the business has changed! What hasn’t changed is the value each attendee takes from such a conference.

Bermuda is a real treasure parked in the Atlantic almost an equal distance from the United States and Canada. Over the years Bermuda’s seven larger islands and many smaller islands have hosted the likes of Babe Ruth, Albert Einstein, and Harpo Marx. Some, like Canadian industrialist K.C. Irving, moved to Bermuda to escape taxes.

The Fairmount Southampton is a spectacular property, and every room has a view. Perched on one of the highest points of land in Bermuda, the property includes a fabulous beach and one of the best executive par three golf courses in the world. The hotel provides a ferry service to downtown Hamilton.

Yes, the location is great, but the real reason we attend CAM-X conventions is the content. We have an excellent program planned, with John Ratliff as our opening keynote speaker. His topic is also this year’s theme: “Connect with Culture.” I am equally pleased that John Whitehead will be our closing keynote speaker. In between them, industry leaders will share their ideas on social media, video, employee recruitment, and retention. I’m particularly looking forward to Mary Stewart’s panel, “Hiring and Retaining Good Employees.” We are also putting together a special program to provide an opportunity to connect with fellow industry players and enjoy the sites and culture of Bermuda.

Bermuda is easy to get to, with direct flights from Toronto, Boston, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and other cities. There are also cruises ships from the US that make regular trips to Bermuda. (Although you can sail to Bermuda at only 635 nautical miles from Newport and 720 nautical miles from Nova Scotia, September is not the recommended month for sailing to Bermuda.)

Mark your calendars and plan to join us!

—-

2013 Cam-X Convention Schedule of Events

Tuesday, Sept 24
10:00-3:00 pm      Taxi Rally / Amazing Race
6:00-8:30 pm        Opening Reception (poolside)

Wednesday, Sept 25
8:00-8:45 am        Networking Breakfast in Exhibit Hall
8:45-9:00 am        President’s Welcome
9:00-10:30 am      “Culture Creates Your Competitive Advantage,” John Ratliff
10:30-10:45 am     Coffee in Exhibit Hall
10:45-noon           “Let’s Socialize! Social Media Panel,” Kevin O’Connor; panel: Kate Swift, Nancy O’Connor
Noon-1:00 pm      Lunch in Exhibit Hall
1:00-2:00 pm        AGM
2:00-2:30 pm        30 Minutes of Fame
2:30-2:45 pm        Coffee in Exhibit Hall
2:45-4:30 pm        “Hiring & Retaining Good Employees,” Mary Stewart; panel: Michelle Matte, Julie Sparkin, Rob Leguerre, Jen Ferby
4:30-6:30 pm        Rum Tasting
Silent Auction Open
 

Thursday, Sept 26
8:00-8:45 am        Networking Breakfast in Exhibit Hall
8:45-9:00 am        ATSI President Welcome
9:00-9:45 am        “Culture Integration,” Scott Lyons
9:45-10:30 am      Video: “The Wave of the Present,” Pat Taggart
10:30-10:45 am     Coffee in Exhibit Hall
10:45-11:15 am     Vendor 30 Minutes of Fame
11:15-noon           “The Power of Trust and Credibility: How to build it and its impact on employees and customers,” Paul Roy
Noon-1:00 pm      Lunch in Exhibit Hall
1:00-1:15 pm        NAEO Update
1:15-1:45 pm        Personal Story, Don Swift
1:45-2:00 pm        SNUG Update
2:00-2:30 pm        Personal Story, Casey Smit
2:30-3:00 pm        Personal Story, Pat Vos
3:00-6:00 pm        Free Time
6:00-7:00 pm        Cocktail Reception
7:00-10:00 pm      Gala Dinner and Silent Auction

Friday, Sept 27
9:00-10:00 am      Vendor Time
10:00-noon           “At 50 This Is What I’ve Got For You So Far…Life’s Lessons! Stolen, Borrowed, Recognized, and Made Up!,” John Whitehead
Noon-2:00 pm   CAM-X Awards Luncheon

News

Professional Teledata Acquires Rights to eOn Millennium, eQueue
Professional Teledata and eOn Communications Corporation entered into an agreement for Professional Teledata to acquire eOn’s Millennium and eQueue product lines, as well as development rights for the eConn IP PBX. Professional Teledata will also be designated as the exclusive eOn authorized provider of sales and service for these products. Professional Teledata, a longtime eOn business partner and reseller, is ideally positioned to capitalize on the deal. Alan Hartmann, Professional Teledata vice president, said, “We see this agreement as a natural progression of our business model, while at the same time significantly increasing our customer base.”

Amtelco Releases miSecureMessages Android Update
The miSecureMessages Android app update to version 2.0.4 is now available for download from the Google Play Store. The update improves security with complex passcode capability: Passcodes now allow more than four digits to be entered and accept letters and other characters. The ability to search for contacts by name also has been added. Ease and efficiency has improved by adding options to delete multiple threads. Users can now choose several threads or “select all” and hit delete. As pagers become obsolete, Amtelco’s subscription-based miSecureMessages paging and messaging application ensures HIPAA and HITECH compliance, thereby maintaining the security of Protected Health Information (PHI).

1-800 We Answer Moves Headquarters
1-800 We Answer moved its corporate headquarters to the heart of midtown Manhattan. After a period of growth, Robert Porter, president and CEO, realized a long-time goal to move his corporate headquarters to a modern facility designed to accommodate his streamlined operations. With room for 100-plus employees, the 7,000-square-foot space is located on Herald Square, 131 West 35th Street. Porter, who designed the space, praised his staff, saying, “Moving a business is never an easy task; however, with the great team of employees I have and with everyone pulling together and contributing, we were able to successfully move our operations center with practically no downtime.”

Sound Telecom Taps Award-Winning Agent for Trainer Promotion
Sound Telecom has promoted top performer Melinda Howard to a pivotal training position. Sound Telecom is committed to creating career paths for its employees by mentoring, developing, and promoting talent from within. “When Melinda expressed an interest in pursuing a career path in training, I was thrilled,” said Brian Gabriel, Sound Telecom’s COO.

Not only is Melinda now a part of Sound’s training team, but she won the SuperAgent award for July – her fifth win this year. “Her performance is exemplary,” stated Cheryl LaBaw, Sound Telecom’s director of customer relations. “Everything about Melinda exemplifies our mission to be professional, friendly, and courteous.”

VoiceNation Celebrates Milestones
VoiceNation celebrated their fourth anniversary of live answering service, having taken their first live answering call on July 4, 2009. Earlier this year they served their 50,000th customer. “This is a significant milestone for us. We appreciate the fact that our customers have entrusted VoiceNation to help grow their business and act as an integral part of their team,” stated Jay Reeder, president of VoiceNation. VoiceNation claims to be the first in the industry to offer Instant Activation, which enables businesses to choose an answering service plan, complete the online setup wizard, and have a live receptionist answering their calls in their company’s name within seconds.

Sound Telecom Hires Andrew Tillery as New Marketing Director
Andrew Tillery has been hired as the marketing director for Sound Telecom as they continue to integrate traditional, social, and digital media marketing. “Andrew is charged with conveying Sound Telecom’s story in a compelling way – using words, audio, video, and images – that draws our community and audience in,” said Michael LaBaw, CEO of Sound Telecom. “Andrew combines a passion for developing and distributing our message with a strong work ethic.” Tillery brings keen insight and experience to his responsibilities as marking director, including content and social media planning and development, blog and website strategy, branding and traditional marketing tactics, and marketing analysis.

—-

[Posted by Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD for TAS Trader.]

Save