Tag: New jobs

Wilderness at the Smokies resort announces multi-million dollar expansion

Posted by Rick Laney – October 18, 2011

Rick Laney addresses the media in front of the existing indoor waterpark at Wilderness at the Smokies, which will soon double in size.

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. –  Following a spring and summer tourism season that resulted in record-breaking attendance numbers at Wilderness at the Smokies resort, the Southeast’s largest indoor and outdoor waterpark announced that it is about to get bigger – considerably bigger.

This week, Wilderness at the Smokies resort will begin construction of its new “Adventure Forest” indoor park, literally doubling the amount of indoor space the resort provides for its guests.  Currently, the Wild WaterDome indoor waterpark provides acres of indoor water attractions for visitors, and the addition of the new Adventure Forest family entertainment center will double the total amount of “under-roof” year-round fun at Wilderness at the Smokies.

“Unlike our other attractions at Wilderness at the Smokies, the new Adventure Forest will be a ‘dry’ park,” said Steve Cruz, General Manager of Wilderness at the Smokies.  “It will feature a three-story ropes course, a multi-level enclosed laser tag arena, bowling, black-light mini-golf, a 7,000-square foot arcade, a ‘Laser Maze,’ a 25-foot tall spring ride, special birthday party rooms, another restaurant and lounge, plus other attractions and activities that do not involve water – all of it indoors and open year-round.

“There is absolutely nothing like Adventure Forest anywhere in this region.  If it were a stand-alone attraction, it would be an amazing addition to the local tourism market – but when combined with the already outrageous offerings of Wilderness at the Smokies resort, it is going to be a premier Smoky Mountain destination.”

Unlike the other attractions at Wilderness at the Smokies, Cruz said the new Adventure Forest would be open to the general public periodically for special events.  Currently, all of the amenities at Wilderness at the Smokies are only open to resort guests.

Since opening in 2008, the $100 million Wilderness at the Smokies resort has consistently added attractions, rooms and other amenities for its guests.  Just six months after opening the Wild WaterDome waterpark, the resort added the $1.5 million, five-story Runaway Canyon waterslide.

In 2009, the resort opened its second multi-million dollar outdoor waterpark, Lake Wilderness – featuring the Cataloochee Creek Adventure River, the Wilderness Rapids Wave Pool, an 18-hole miniature golf course, a poolside restaurant and plush cabanas.  In spite of its long list of major expansions and additions, the new Adventure Forest indoor park is by far the most significant investment the resort has made in the Sevierville area since its grand opening.  With its latest addition, the only other area attraction that has invested as heavily as Wilderness at the Smokies in the local tourism market is Dollywood.

Wilderness at the Smokies resort also sells one- and two-bedroom condominiums ranging from 850 to 1,200 square feet priced from the mid-$300,000s to the mid-$500,000s.  When condominiums went on sale at Wilderness at the Smokies resort in 2007, buyers snatched up $41 million worth of the units in just one day – in only six hours, to be exact.

In the past, the City of Sevierville has estimated in press releases that Wilderness at the Smokies generates about $3 million in sales taxes and more than $500,000 in bedroom taxes every year for the local economy.

Wilderness at the Smokies employs approximately 350 year-round employees and adds around 200 additional workers during the busy summer tourism season.  The addition of the new Adventure Forest indoor park is expected to initially increase overall employment numbers at the resort by about 10 percent (approximately 50 new jobs).

Cruz said, “Wilderness at the Smokies resort is the only local attraction where you get everything a family is looking for in one place.  If you consider that when you book your room at Wilderness at the Smokies, you get access to all of our water attractions and offerings, we are by far the best value out there for families watching their vacation budgets.”

In June 2011, Southern Living Magazine listed Wilderness at number two on its list of the nation’s “Ten Best Pools” and just two months later, Wilderness at the Smokies resort was named one of the “Top Three Waterparks” in the nation by Aquatics International Magazine (the worldwide authority on waterparks).

Wilderness at the Smokies, located minutes from Interstate 40 and situated in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, is one of the area’s only year-round vacation destinations.  With a 36-hole championship golf course, two outdoor waterparks, a huge indoor waterpark with a wave pool and the Southeast’s only Surf Rider, hot tubs, and countless waterslides and attractions, Wilderness at the Smokies has something for all age groups.  It is adjacent to a 200,000 square-foot conference, convention and event center known for hosting the areas largest conferences, athletic events and trade shows.

The resort is owned by Patrick Helland, Pete Helland, Jr., Tim Lucke and Tom Lucke (who also own Wilderness at the Dells Waterpark resort in Wisconsin).  Steve Cruz is the General Manager of Wilderness at the Smokies and Rick Laney is spokesperson for the resort.  For more information about Wilderness at the Smokies, call toll-free 877-325-9453 or visit www.WildernessAtTheSmokies.com.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless announces major expansion and new positions in Virginia

Posted by Rick Laney – September 22, 2010

Richmond, Va. – Cellular Sales, the nation’s largest Verizon premium wireless retailer, today announced a major expansion in Virginia.  The company will open three new stores and add at least 100 new sales consultants in the next two months.

Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless will open new stores in Ashland, Dumfries and Fredericksburg which represent an investment of well over $1 million.  Currently, Cellular Sales operates locations throughout Virginia and has more than 300 stores across the United States.  According to Wendy Rickenback, the Virginia recruiter for Cellular Sales, sales consultants for the company earn an average of more than $51,000 per year.

Last month, Cellular Sales announced it would hire between 200 and 250 new employees to work at its National Call Center in Knoxville, Tenn.  The new call will employ supervisors, managers and customer service representatives in full-time and part-time positions.

Rick Alberg, Virginia Regional Director for Cellular Sales, said, “This unbelievable growth Cellular Sales is experiencing is directly related to the ultimate customer service we provide.  We do things that other companies cannot or will not do.

“We want every customer who purchases a wireless device in one of our 300-plus stores across the country to get a call from us within 24 hours of the time they leave our store,” Alberg said.

“Every customer we call is asked what their in-store experience was like, we make sure they understand how their new phone operates and make sure they understand their service plan.  It’s just one more way Cellular Sales guarantees that our customers are getting unparalleled service.”

A new Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless store.

Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless also conducts ongoing analysis of its customers’ phone usage so the company can notify customers when other service plans would be more cost effective for them.

“Everyone uses their wireless phone differently,” said Alberg.  “Here at Cellular Sales, we monitor how our customers are using their phones and reach out to them if we recognize usage trends that are better-suited to other service plans.  It’s one of the extra steps we take to establish a strong, one-on-one relationship with our customers.

“As a company, we have grown by about 30 percent every year.  Our expansion in Virginia is not a one-time event.  We have every intention to continue this pattern in Virginia and in all of our markets.”

Cellular Sales is a 17-year old privately held company founded and headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn.  The company currently operates throughout the United States.  By year end, Cellular Sales will open at least 50 new stores in markets across the United States, bringing the company’s total number of locations to around 400.  For the past three years, Inc. Magazine has named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest growing retail companies in the country.

This year, Inc. magazine listed Cellular Sales at No. 72 on its list of the nation’s fastest growing companies according to gross dollars of growth. Cellular Sales was ranked No. 1,856 on the fourth annual overall list of the nation’s fastest growing companies (up from No. 2,069 last year).  The “Inc. 5,000” represents a comprehensive look at America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs.

Growth for Cellular Sales this year was reported at 147 percent according to Inc. magazine.  The magazine ranked Cellular Sales No. 96 on the “Inc. 5,000” list of the nation’s fastest-growing privately held retail companies.  The magazine reported that Cellular Sales’ 2006 revenue of $127.9 million grew to $316.1 million last year.

For more information about Cellular Sales, or to find a Cellular Sales location near you, visit the company’s web site at www.cellularsales.com. Job seekers should call 804-592-3000 or 888-915-MOBILE (6624) or visit www.cellularsales.com/opportunity to schedule an interview.

Update: Read more about Cellular Sales’ expansion in Virginia in Virginia Business Magazine.

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Media Conact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless Opens National Call Center in Knoxville, Tenn. and Adds 250 New Jobs

Posted by Rick Laney – July 21, 2010

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Knoxville-based Cellular Sales, the nation’s largest Verizon premium wireless retailer, announced today that it is opening a new National Call Center at 9038 Cross Park Drive NW across from the U.S. Post Office near Cedar Bluff Road.

Cellular Sales also announced it would hire between 200 and 250 new employees to work at the National Call Center within the next two months.  The new operation – which represents an investment of more than $1 million by Cellular Sales – will employ supervisors, managers and customer service representatives in full-time and part-time positions.

Jay Witherspoon of Cellular Sales talks to the media about the company's new National Call Center in Knoxville, Tenn.

Jay Witherspoon of Cellular Sales, said, “This new National Call Center is a perfect extension to the ultimate customer service Cellular Sales provides.  We want every customer who purchases a wireless device in one of our 300-plus stores across the country to get a call from our National Call Center within 24 hours of the time they leave our store.

“Every customer we call will be asked what their in-store experience was like, we will make sure they understand how their new phone operates and make sure they understand their service plan.  It’s just one more way for Cellular Sales to guarantee that our customers are getting unparalleled service.”

The Verizon Wireless retailer also conducts ongoing analysis of its customers’ phone usage so the company can notify customers when other service plans would be more cost effective for them.

“Everyone uses their wireless phone differently,” said Mark Dugger, National Call Center Manager for Cellular Sales.

“Here at our new National Call Center, we will monitor how our customers are using their phones and reach out to them if we recognize usage trends that are better-suited to other service plans.  There just aren’t many companies out there that will take extra steps like this to save their customers money.”

The new Cellular Sales National Call Center has nearly 13,000 square-feet of space and, according to Cellular Sales, will provide the ability for growth beyond the 200 to 250 people they initially plan to employ.

“As a company, we have grown by about 30 percent every year,” said Witherspoon.  “As we move forward, we fully expect similar growth here at the National Call Center.”

Cellular Sales is a 17-year old privately held company founded and headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn.  The company currently operates throughout the United States.  By year end, Cellular Sales – which attributes its rapid growth to its unique level of customer service – will open at least 50 new stores, bringing the company’s total number of locations to around 400.  For the past two years, Inc. magazine named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest growing retail companies in the country.

For more information about Cellular Sales, or to find a Cellular Sales location near you, visit the company’s web site at www.cellularsales.com. Job seekers should call (865) 531-9359 to schedule an interview.

To learn more about the new Cellular Sales National Call Center, read and watch additional coverage of this story at the Knoxville News Sentinel, WATE (ABC), WBIR (NBC), and WVLT (CBS).

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com