West Corporation is a public company trading on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol WSTC. Founded in 1986, West provides clients with communication and network infrastructure services on a global scale with operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America and South America. West has five lines of business: unified communications services, interactive services, specialized agent services, telecom services and safety services.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Lines of Business
Unified Communications Services
The common business definition of Unified Communications (UC) is the integration of real-time enterprise communication services with non-real-time communication services, such as unified messaging (i.e., the integration of email, voicemail, SMS and fax.) Through its Unified Communications Services line of business, West delivers cloud-based UC technology (a.k.a. Unified Communications as a Service or UCaaS) which include enterprise voice, conferencing and collaboration, network management, unified messaging and presence, contact center and client application integration. West also provides videoconferencing, Skype for Business integration, webcasts and other digital media services.
West provides UC Services in these categories:
- Conferencing and Collaboration - audio, video and web
- Managed Voice Services - IP-PBX telecommunications infrastructure and applications
- Network Services - data and voice infrastructure and applications
- Webinars and Enterprise Streaming - webcasts, virtual events and video streaming
Safety Services
West's Safety Services line of business provides technology services to: wireline and wireless carriers; satellite, telematics and cable operators; VoIP service providers; alarm/security companies; and public safety organizations, government agencies and business enterprises. Safety Services connects people to first responders--firefighters, law enforcement, ambulance services, and the telecommunicators answering calls in Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). Safety Services provides 9-1-1 call routing, call location creation and delivery, and call delivery and accuracy compliance tools to U.S.-based telecommunications service providers, including Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs), Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs), as well as wireless carriers, VoIP service providers and telematics providers. West also provides Next Generation 9-1-1 services, which provide interoperability and advanced routing options for PSAPs. In addition, Safety Services provides 9-1-1 voice and data services and/or call handling equipment to PSAPs across the U.S. and Canada.
Interactive Services
West's Interactive Services line of business designs, delivers, integrates, manages and optimizes communications applications, services, platforms and networks. West's technology is considered "omnichannel," including voice, text, email, push notification, fax, video, web, social media and cloud contact center channels. In most cases, West technology interfaces with a client's internal systems, such as PBX, customer relationship management and enterprise reporting platforms.
Interactive Services provides services in these categories:
- Outbound Proactive Notifications and Mobility - customized voice, email, text/SMS and machine-to-machine messaging
- Inbound Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and Self-Service - integrated hosted routing, touch-tone, direct dialogue and natural-language speech solutions
- Cloud Contact Center - solutions for managing and coordinating agents in multiple call centers using new and existing communication channels to route conversations to representatives located around the world
- Web - design and development of websites, including content development, administration and management
- Mobile - design, development and management of mobile applications to enable delivery of messaging to mobile devices
- Professional Services - network management, application design, speech science and usability testing, account support and business intelligence with data analytics
Specialized Agent Services
Specialized Agent Services provides services in these categories:
- Healthcare Advocacy - personalized concierge service that addresses the clinical, administrative, wellness and behavioral needs of employees of large organizations. West also provides wellness and employee assistance programs, biometrics screenings and chronic care solutions.
- Cost Management - healthcare cost-containment services for health insurance payers, third-party administrators and self-insured organizations - e.g., pre-payment claims integrity (or claims accuracy), post-payment claims integrity and recovery, subrogation/third-party liability identification and recovery and surveys
- Revenue Generation - business-to-business sales and account management services for driving incremental sales, increasing market share and strengthening relationships with customers
Telecom Services
West's Telecom Services line of business provides local and national tandem switching services that facilitate the exchange of voice traffic between originating and terminating networks across the U.S. Telecom Services serves multiple types of telecom providers, including wireless, wireline, cable and Voice over IP (VoIP). West's national network provides a means for TDM to IP conversion for IP networks that require access to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Telecom Services provides carrier-grade interconnections that reduce cost and merge traditional telecom, mobile and IP technologies onto a common backbone. Telecom Services also provides much of the telecommunications network for West's conferencing operations.
Telecom Services provides telecommunications services in these categories:
- Direct Inward Dialing
- Termination Services
- Toll-Free Origination & Termination
Locations
West Corporation operates from these major office locations:
West Corporation Headquarters
11808 Miracle Hills Drive.
Omaha, NE 68154
General Inquiries: 800.232.0900
Sales & Marketing: 800.841.9000
West Unified Communications Services
Chicago
8420 West Bryn Mawr
Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60631
O: 773.399.1600
F: 773.399.1588
Louisville
401 S 4th St Ste 200
Louisville, KY 40202
O: 800.773.3037
Singapore
15 Hoe Chiang Road
20-01/02 Tower Fifteen
Singapore 089316
O: 65 6223 8822
F: 65 6223 9922
United Kingdom
Unit 1 & 2
Sawmills End
Barnwood, Gloucester
GL4 3DL
United Kingdom
O: 44 (0)330 606 8 606
F: 44 (0)1452 556 280
E: reservations@intercalleurope.com
Interactive Services
Omaha
11650 Miracle Hills Drive
Omaha, NE 68154
O: 800.841.9000
Mobile
1110 Montlimar Dr. Suite 700
Mobile, AL 36609
O: 800.644.4266
Scotts Valley
100 Enterprise Way, Suite A-300
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
O: 888.527.5225
Dublin
6500 Emerald Parkway
Dublin, Ohio 43016
O: 800.382.8356
Specialized Agent Services
Plymouth Meeting
3043 Walton Road #150
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
O: 610.825.1222
Appleton
1111 E. South River Street
Appleton, WI 54915
O: 800.841.9000
Telecom Services
Lancaster
3200 W Pleasant Run Road
Suite 300
Lancaster, TX 75146
O: 469.727.1510
F: 469.727.1511
International Client Support
O: 469.528.4058
Safety Services
Longmont
1601 Dry Creek Drive
Longmont, CO 80503
O: 720.494.5800
F: 877.262.3775
Toll Free: 877.262.3775
Corporate Leadership
Tom Barker Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Tom Barker has served as Chief Executive Officer since 1998. Mr. Barker has been with West since 1991 when he started as Executive Vice President of West Interactive Corporation.
Nancee Berger President and Chief Operating Officer
Nancee Berger is President and Chief Operating Officer of West Corporation. She was named COO in 1998 and promoted to President in 2004.
Jan Madsen Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Jan Madsen joined West Corporation in December 2014. Prior to joining the Company, she was Vice President of Finance at Creighton University.
Ron Beaumont President of West's Safety Services and Telecom Services lines of business
Ron Beaumont founded HyperCube Telecom, LLC in 2005, and served as its Chief Executive Officer until it was acquired by West in 2012. Since then he has served as President of HyperCube, which was renamed West Telecom Services in 2015. In January 2016, Ron was named President of West Safety Services, and continues to serve as the President of West Telecom Services.
Scott Etzler President of West's Unified Communications Services segment
Scott Etzler joined InterCall, Inc. in 1998 as President and Chief Operating Officer and was Chief Executive Officer from 1999 until InterCall was acquired by West in 2003. Scott served as President of InterCall, which was renamed Unified Communications Services in 2016.
Skip Hanson President of West's Interactive Services segment
Skip Hanson joined West in 1991 as a Business Analyst. From 1999 until 2008, he served as Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Vice President of Corporate Services. From 2008-2012, Skip was President of West Customer Management Group. In 2013, he was named President of West Interactive Corporation.
Rod Kempkes Chief Administrative Officer
Rod Kempkes joined West in 1989 as part of the finance group. Throughout his 20-plus-year tenure at West, Rod has held various executive roles including President of Direct Response. In 2012, he was named Chief Administrative Officer.
David Mussman Executive Vice President, General Counsel
Prior to joining West in 1999, David Mussman was a partner with Erickson & Sederstrom PC.
Nicole Theophilus Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Prior to joining West in April 2016, Niki Theophilus was Chief Human Resources Officer at ConAgra Foods.
David Treinen Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Planning
David Treinen has served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Planning, for West Corporation since 2007. Before joining West, David served in numerous executive positions with First Data Corporation.
Industries and Markets Served
- Cable and Satellite Television
- Consumer Services (Customer service, experience and satisfaction operations)
- Education (K-12 schools, districts, and school boards)
- Financial Services
- Healthcare (Providers, payers and pharmacies)
- Industrial Goods / Manufacturing
- Insurance
- Public Safety (Includes government entities)
- Retail
- Technology (Software, telecom, cable and Internet industries)
- Telecom and Wireless
- Transportation and Logistics
- Travel and Hospitality
- Utilities
Business and Acquisition History
1986 - Gary and Mary West found the company in Omaha, Nebraska, as West Telemarketing, an inbound contact center dedicated to combining technology with professionalism and client service.
1989 - West launches an interactive platform, which later serves as the company's gateway to conferencing services business; this platform remains the basis for West's reservationless conferencing and alerts and notifications businesses.
1992 - West revenue exceeds $100 million.
1996 - West goes public with a valuation of $1.4 billion, more than 14,000 employees and revenue exceeding $300 million.
1998 - West processes more than one billion minutes of telephony-related transactions, adding nine new facilities to increase call-processing capacity and meet client growth needs.
1999 - West revenue exceeds $500 million.
2000 - West Telemarketing is renamed West Corporation; in the same year, the company receives its first patent award and processes more than six billion transaction minutes.
2002 - West makes its first acquisitions, buying Tel Mark Sales, Dakotah Direct and Attention LLC.
2003 - West enters the conferencing services business by acquiring InterCall and ConferenceCall.com.
2004 - West revenue surpasses $1 billion; West acquires Worldwide Asset Management and ECI Conference Call Services.
2005 - West acquires Sprint Conferencing; Forbes magazine names West to its "Platinum 400" list; and, Frost & Sullivan names InterCall the "Audio Conferencing Service Provider of the Year."
2006 - West acquires Intrado, a provider of 9-1-1 infrastructure systems and services, diversifying the company's position in the safety services industry; the company also acquires Raindance Communications; West earns a spot on the Fortune 1000; and, Business 2.0 magazine names West to its "Top 100 Fastest Growing Technology Companies" list. West is taken private with a valuation of $4.2 billion through a recapitalization of the company by two private equity firms.
2007 - West revenue surpasses $2 billion; the company also acquires CenterPost Communications, TeleVox Software and Omnium Worldwide.
2008 - West acquires HBF Communications, Genesys Conferencing and Positron Public Safety Systems.
2009 - West acquires Stream 57.
2010 - West acquires Holly Connects, unified communications provider SKT Business Communications Solutions, TuVox and Specialty Pharmacy Network.
2011 - West acquires Twenty First Century Communications, PostCTI, Unisfair, Smoothstone IP Communications, Contact One and PivotPoint.
2012 - West acquires telecom services firm HyperCube; Gartner, Inc., places West in the "Leaders Quadrant" of its "Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), North America" report for the first time, a position West has held in the report every subsequent year.
2013 - West goes public again with a valuation of $5.2 billion.
2014 - West acquires SchoolMessenger and SchoolReach, alerts and notifications providers in the K-12 education market; the company acquires Health Advocate, an independent provider of healthcare advocacy services; West also acquires 911 Enable, a provider of IP-based emergency communications technology in the United States and Canada.
2015 - West acquires SharpSchool, a provider of website and content management technology for the education market; West also acquires U.K.-based hosted customer contact center and unified communications provider Magnetic North, Ltd., and ClientTell, Inc., a provider of automated notifications and lab reporting services to the healthcare industry; in the same year, the company divests most of its agent services businesses.
2016 - West acquires Synrevoice Technologies, Inc., a provider of K-12 notifications in Canada's education market; West also acquires 911 ETC, Inc., expanding its presence in emergency communications.
2017 - West acquires CallPointe, Inc., and the cloud collaboration practice and assets from Vocus Group in Australia; on May 9, 2017, West announces it entered into a definitive agreement with affiliates of certain funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC (the "Apollo funds") (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, "Apollo") (NYSE:APO), a leading global alternative investment manager, pursuant to which the Apollo funds will acquire all of the outstanding shares of West common stock for $23.50 per share in cash.
SchoolMessenger class action lawsuit
In January 2014, four people filed a class action lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court (located in Chicago) against West. West owns SchoolMessenger, a service that sends texts and phone calls to help parents, students and communities instantly communicate about school events, closings and emergencies. The lawsuit alleges that West violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). TCPA is a federal law that prohibits companies from making telephone calls and sending texts to certain people in certain circumstances, with penalties between $500-$1,500 (per phone call or text) for each violation.
The plaintiffs sued West because they received text messages, and thus had "their privacy invaded". They made the case class action because they allege that West used SchoolMessenger to send voice messages and texts to "perhaps millions of mobile and wired phones on behalf of tens of thousands of schools and other educational organizations in Illinois and throughout the U.S."
The TCPA law has exceptions for schools to send out messages for a variety of reasons. The plaintiffs however, believed that West was really sending out messages "in an effort to increase sales and to attract additional customers." According to Cook County Record, "...federal law provides exemptions for schools to send automated messages for emergencies and other necessary topics to those who consent to receive them."
West responded by taking the case to federal court to attempt to limit the scope of the case. Merely preserving the text message histories for the court case would cost West over $100,000.
Awards
- April 2013 National College and West Corporation & Business Solutions Distinguished Community Employer
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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