Pearl Interactive Network

Disabled Woman with Strong Military and Work Experience Finds Employment with Pearl Interactive Network, a Virtual Contact Center

2011-05-02T17:36:00.000-04:00

With six years of military experience and two college degrees under her belt, one would think that Tanya, a disabled veteran, would not have any barriers to securing viable employment.

Her desire to join the Armed Forces was influenced by Tanya’s father and brother, who also served in the military. In addition to her family’s commitment to the service, Tanya was motivated by the pride that came with serving her country in an honorable way. She continued her military service until the birth of her second child.

Upon leaving the service, she was challenged by the lack of job opportunities despite an education and solid military track record. She felt the combination of a poor economy and her rural location were further hindrances to accessing employment.

“I live in a very small farming community. There are not many jobs and the job market and the bleak economic outlook felt insurmountable,” Tanya said of the small town where she resides in Tennessee.

The second challenge to employment was balancing the needs of raising her two sons, ages 11 and 13.

“After the birth of my second son I wanted to stay home and be with my family. I didn’t feel the military was right for me anymore since my heart was no longer at work, but at home with my family. Family always comes first.”

With a bad economy and a desire for full-time work while taking care of her children, there were few options available to Tanya until she discovered Pearl Interactive Network.

Tanya received information about Pearl Interactive Network from her VA rehabilitation counselor. Since being hired, Tanya has had nothing but praise for the organization. Pearl Interactive Network, LLC is a for profit social enterprise that hires people with skills and talents who have challenges to work. They tap a workforce of disabled veterans, military spouses and people with disabilities to work on home based contact center contracts.

“It has been wonderful. Even though my team members are home based, I couldn’t ask for a better team. We aren’t physically in an office but we have a great rapport and a fantastic support system,” Tanya said.

This praise has also been extended to the relationship she has with her supervisors— Pearl Interactive Owner Merry Korn and Vice President of Operations Diane Schrimpf.

“God bless their hearts,” Tanya said of Merry and Diane, “They are very caring and wonderful coaches. They care about their employees. They go out of their way to make sure their employees are taken care of. They’re great people to work for.”

Tanya first started work with Pearl Interactive Network as a customer service agent dedicated to the National Association of Social Workers Assurance Services account. During her tenure with Pearl Interactive Network, Tanya made the decision that her youngest son needed to have additional learning at home. After speaking with Merry and Diane about her situation, Tanya was reassigned and a position was created that provided a flexible schedule that enabled her to work and take care of her son’s needs at the same time.

“They make me think that my family is important to them too,” Tanya said.

Though Tanya has struggled, she encourages those who have challenges to obtaining employment to keep a positive outlook on life and not to give up.

“When the world felt like it was falling down all around me and I had no place to turn, Pearl Interactive Network was the light at the end of the tunnel. They came at a time when I needed it the most and it was great.”

If you would like to learn more about Pearl Interactive Network, go to www.Pearlinter.org.

Employee Spotlight: Amy

2011-02-25T17:58:00.005-05:00

Traveling across the country and following in the footsteps of her military family, Amy was living her dream as a Navy hospital corpsman—until she became disabled. Following an exhaustive job search in North Carolina, Amy gave up hope of finding employment—until she found Pearl Interactive Network, Inc.

Amy, is a two year associate with Pearl Interactive Network, a for profit social enterprise that hires skilled and talent home based employees with challenges to work. Amy leads a team of virtual administrative assistants on the behalf of a global pharmaceutical company.

“ I had no idea how difficult a job search for an administrative position would be. I thought my military experience and the fact that I had a Master’s degree would be helpful”

The combination of leaving the military, the side effects of Migraine medications, and an inability to find a job in her field, took a toll on Amy’s self-confidence

“Speaking as a veteran, we have a strong work ethic and a sense of pride about our work,” Amy said, “With no prospects of employment coupled with the fear of not being able to take care of my family, Pearl Interactive Network provided a welcome relief on so many levels. Most of all, they helped me regain my sense of pride.”

Amy, a chronic migraine sufferer, has attacks that can last three days or more.

“It is not uncommon during a migraine episode to have difficulty lifting my head Everything around me makes my head hurt. The noise, the lights…,” Amy said.

“Pearl Interactive Network is a fit for the needs of my family and myself. I have my own office. I am here when my children get home. My job is flexible and I can take care of my kids,” Amy said.

Amy also attributes her supervisors, Owner Merry Korn and CIO Diane Schrimpf, among the reasons she enjoys her job.

“Diane and Merry both are constantly giving feedback and that’s important. They’re good at what they do and taking care of their employees. If something doesn’t go right or I need advice I go to Diane,” Amy said.

Professional Stricken with MS finds Meaningful Home-based Employment

2011-02-09T10:56:00.003-05:00

The caller, a master’s level social worker in private practice, is returning a call to the NASW Assurance Services’ call center to obtain more information about the new NASW member-only benefit, EAPrefer, offered to NASW members intended to help grow their private practices. Launched only in 7 states so far, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas, this new program is generating considerable member interest and participation. Developed to assist NASW members in qualifying for participation in Employee Assistance Programs by establishing a network of professional social workers and relationships with EAP affiliate providers interested in utilizing their services.

While the caller is pleasantly surprised with the level of customer service and the thorough detail she is provided, she does not know that her customer service representative is a former business development professional stricken with multiple sclerosis (MS). NASW Assurance Services has partnered with Pearl Interactive, an innovative outbound call processing company who’s workforce consists of disabled veterans, military spouses and people with disabilities, for their call processing expertise and exceptional support services and to enhance the ability to serve NASW members. This particular call is handled by Mark Caffrey, a father of two children ages 18 and 22.

Nineteen years ago, at the age of 33, Caffrey was first alerted to symptoms of MS when he noticed a difference in the way he walked. This dramatic change, he soon learned from his physician, was a common early symptom of MS, a serious chronic and progressive illness affecting the body’s nervous system. It affects the brain and spinal cord and could ultimately result in loss of muscle control, vision, balance, numbness or thinking ability.

Not until 4 years ago had the progression of the MS affected his ability to walk and work outside of the home. Since then Mark volunteered with the Minneapolis Multiple Sclerosis Society. Until recently, when he heard about Pearl Interactive Network, LLC from a friend, he did not know that employment for people with physical challenges was even possible.

Merry Korn, a member of NASW and the owner of Pearl Interactive Network states "Mark Caffrey came to us with a strong professional background in business to business sales for companies such as the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Lazarus Department Stores. He has also worked in telecom and consumer electronics. This is someone who brings to Pearl Interactive vital skills and a wealth of professional experience and is an asset to our organization. We hire based on ability not because of the disability.”

According to the 2010 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, people with disabilities have, at best, a 35 percent employment rate.

Pearl Interactive Network was started in 2005 by Merry Korn, MSW.

It is positioning for continued growth with the goal to hire over 300 employees with challenges over the next five years. It is a for profit social enterprise with a mission to create work opportunities for people armed with skills and talent but also have challenges such as: ● People with disabilities ● Service disabled veterans ● People living in geographically challenged areas. Pearl Interactive services government, association and commercial contracts that require call center services, help desk and administrative services.

Korn states, “As a business woman and social worker we believe, through Pearl Interactive Network, we have created a best practice solution that minimizes the barriers for employment for people with talent, skills and motivation who have physical challenges”.

Christine Moranda, LSW, CDMS, CCM, Manager of Disability Services for Ohio Health and Vice President of the Ohio United States Business Leadership Network comments, “I believe Pearl Interactive is a unique organization because they have invested in the technology that integrates a virtual call center application with assistive technologies. The home-based solution coupled with the technology is a viable and sustainable solution to creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities”.

For additional information, contact Pearl Interactive Network at (614) 258-2943 or visit their website www.pearlinter.org.

New Contract

2011-02-03T11:26:00.003-05:00

End Truancy Contract

Pearl Interactive Network is excited to announce that we have been engaged to provide outbound calls to high school students who have developed patterns of truancy. Pearl Interactive has hired agents with social work and counseling backgrounds to develop relationships with truants and encourage truants to return to school. This program is a pilot and the intent of this program is to see great expansion throughout 2011.

In contingency with program expansion, Pearl Interactive Network will post jobs for this contract on our website at pearlinter.org, so please stay tuned!