GEICO Ahead of Hiring Pace
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowExecutives with the new GEICO corporate center in Carmel say the insurer has reached a major hiring milestone ahead of schedule. The company has hired 400 workers since opening the office in July and still expects to employ 1,600 by 2016. January 2, 2014
News Release
CARMEL, Ind. – When GEICO opened its new Carmel office in July, the company set a goal of hiring at least 400 new associates within the first year. Today, with just over a half-year under its belt, the auto insurer has announced it has already met that goal – and has plans to continue hiring and potentially double in size by this time next year.
“I'm happy to report we are far ahead of our schedule. We recently brought our 400th associate on board, just eight months after we started hiring,” said Gary McKenzie, Director of GEICO Indianapolis, who notified the city of the news in December. “We have found Carmel to be every bit the wonderful environment for business that the city said it would be, and then some. We are thriving here and look forward to a bright future.”
Last spring, the Washington, D.C. based GEICO worked with both state and local officials to establish a new corporate service center at 101 West 103rd Street in Carmel. In July, Mayor Jim Brainard, Governor Mike Pence, and Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett joined GEICO CEO Tony Nicely for the official grand opening of the Carmel facility.
Since that time, the company has been aggressively building its team of professional sales agents, customer service representatives, supervisors, managers, trainers and human resources personnel. By 2016, GEICO is expected to employ a local workforce of 1,600.
“I am pleased to hear the news that the hiring has been fast and furious at GEICO, which is already having a positive impact on our local economy,” said Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard.
“And as the number of employees grows over the next few years, GEICO will become one of our larger employers and will further stimulate the economy with employees who will rely on local businesses to provide support services, home needs and places to dine, shop, play and be entertained.”
The December announcement by GEICO capped off a banner year for job growth in Carmel. Among the major announcements made in 2013: NextGear Capital opened a new headquarters and announced they will expand its workforce, adding about 225 jobs by 2015; Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. announced it is moving its headquarters from Indianapolis, and add to its current 350-person workforce by adding 133 employees by 2018; and American Specialty Health announced plans to move its headquarters from San Diego, CA, to Carmel, creating about 300 new jobs by 2014, and increasing its staffing to more than 675 positions by 2016.
“Bringing in hundreds of new jobs, many of them high-paying and executive positions, further strengthens Carmel’s reputation as a business-friendly home for corporate headquarters and executives looking for a vibrant city with excellent schools, a first class parks and trail system, a thriving Arts & Design District and the Center for the Performing Arts, one of the finest suburban entertainment centers in America,” said Mayor Brainard.
Insurance providers like GEICO are drawn to central Indiana where they find an available, talented workforce needed for success. Indiana has the highest concentration of insurance education programs in the nation, with insurance degree programs offered at Ball State University, Indiana State University and Butler University.
GEICO said the company continues to accept applications for Customer Service Representatives and Professional Sales Agents. Applicants can apply online at www.geico.jobs/indy Experience is not required as GEICO provide licensing and classroom training onsite, according to McKenzie.
Source: The City of Carmel