I previously was employed with West Telemarketing Outbound dba Dakotah as a General Manager overseeing a call center. Honestly, my support staff within the site as well as the many diverse people we employed were terrific! Yes, there were times of difficult employee issues, poor decisions made by some individuals, and some almost laughable issues that would make you shake your head in bewilderment. However, the good days far outweighed the bad in regards to the people that worked within the site.
The corporate office is another story. During my time with the company, West acquired Dakotah Direct (the company I was hired to.) At first things weren't bad. Then, my supervisor was terminated for indiscretions that had taken place involving another employee. A person from West was given the position as Director of Operations for the sites and then the fun began.
ABEL VELEZ could be picked off at a glance. Cadillac, suit, and swagger. From the moment I saw him I knew what he was about because I had seen his type come and go with two previous companies I had been with. A guy who promises the world, puts on a great show, short-term thinks everything in his path, he's looked at as a trail blazer, and when the dust settles it's realized nothing has really taken place and the damage has been done.
ABEL VELEZ has no regard for the people that work above or below him. He has terminated a number of employees to "make examples of how the West world works." He has said to a number of managers how he will take the VP's job because he is the best for it and is close to Tom McWethy—something I believe makes others when the corporate site weary in taking him on. Mr. Velez lied and mislead employees and staff numerous times.in my case, I was dismissed for something I wasn't trained on, accussed of possibly hurting the company with an important client, and costing West money in billing hours.
The week before I was let go, the important client praised our site for our effectiveness on their program, had previously visited the site and had a great experience, and thus nothing was done but strengthening of the relationship West had with this client and kept business coming in the door. Bottom-line, ABEL VELEZ terminated my employment the minute he thought he had the opportunity because he felt challenged, didn't understand a team approach, and didn't like how employees were respected at the site.
He believed the site was "a gang that needs broken up." He did not like the way the management staff at the site worked together to problem solve, that people were actually multi-functional and more engaged at their jobs, and that we looked more to long-term results then the quick fix and back into issues less than a month later. We took on every hour, every client, and every problem the company gave us head-on and as a team producing a lot of money and a positive work experince for the majority of people at the site — something he hated.
After my departure, my two Operations Managers resigned as well as my Workforce Coordinator. Unemployment was awarded to the Operations Managers and the judgement documented by the State of Washington reads very unfavorable towards ABEL VELEZ and West. A number of employees have since left or have been terminated due to him.
By the way, Employee Relations has been alerted to the many issues in regards to ABEL VELEZ and has stood behind him. It has been said in side conversations by ER that they feel as though their hands are tied and they are at the commands of Operations. This will catch-up to the company shortly. I believe telemarketing does provide a service for its clients and an opportunity for some people that don't get the chance to work other places to get on their feet and establish some work experience. I once believed that a person could also have a viable career path within a telemarketing company—but with the "burn and turn" attitude that West perpetuates people are better off working fast food or somewhere else.
If you own a financial position in West—sell or go short. If you are employed by West, I wish you the best.
Todd
Pasco, Washington
U.S.A.
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