ROANOKE - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that the The Vidette Group, a preferred America Online Yellow Pages strategic partner, has chosen the InSystems Building in downtown Roanoke for its new sales facility. Located in the city’s emerging eTown district, the new operation will include a sales lab, a frontline sales team, and a customer service function. The company will create 100 jobs over the next five months and invest $2.5 million in the project.
“The Vidette Group is a great match with the City of Roanoke’s promising eTown district,” said Governor Warner. “The company will benefit from this unique location and the abundance of qualified employees in the Roanoke Valley.”
The Vidette Group, which will be headquartered in Roanoke, was created in response to market demands for an alternative to the high cost of deploying a premise-based sales force. The company’s goal is to create a dynamic, trained, and professional sales team that can increase market share on an accelerated timeline with a reach to all corners of the world. The Vidette Group will include a division called Sales Lab, which will be used to rapidly test product and service ideas.
“This building will allow us to be in operation very quickly, thereby serving our customers better,” said Tim Byland, CEO of The Vidette Group. “We’re looking for our Roanoke Valley sales operation to set the standard for our other facilities around the country. We’re extremely pleased with the opportunities this community offers us.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Roanoke Valley Economic Development Partnership and the City of Roanoke assisted The Vidette Group with its decision. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide workforce training services.
“Roanoke is pleased to welcome The Vidette Group to eTown,” said Roanoke Mayor Ralph Smith. “With an abundance of fiber and redundancy of digital providers in the area, our skilled workforce and outstanding quality of life, we expect other companies to follow The Vidette Group’s lead.”