Finger Lakes Answering Service, Communications
Group Recognized for Excellence
JULY 21, 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUBURN—Two area call centers: Finger Lakes
Answering Service of Auburn and its sister company, Communications
Group, of Syracuse, were honored with the industry exclusive
Award of Excellence for a second, consecutive year.
The awards are presented annually by the Association
of TeleServices International, the industry’s trade association
for providers of telecommunications and call center services
including telephone answering and message delivery.
During six months of intensive testing, an
independent panel of judges scored call-handling skills such
as courtesy, response time, accuracy and overall service to
clients, the cornerstones of the call management industry.
Only companies with high scores in all categories
are presented with the industry-coveted Award of Excellence.
Finger Lakes Answering Service and Communications Group are
two of only four winners in New York State; the other two
are located in Long Island.
“We’re especially proud to have been honored
for a second year in a row,” Gardner McLean, president of
the two companies said. “Our success is largely dependent
upon our employees and the excellent customer service they
provide.”
Communications Group was founded in 1965 as
a local answering service, and was acquired by Finger Lakes
Business Services, Inc. in 2003. The sister company, Finger
Lakes Answering Service was founded in 1990 as an answering
service, and was purchased by Finger Lakes Business Services
in 2002.
McLean, who is a Skaneateles resident, is
the president of both companies while Cicero resident Ray
Schremp serves as vice president. Finger Lakes Business Services
employs 38 people at the Auburn and Syracuse locations.
Both firms handle calls and messaging for
a variety of businesses throughout the United States, including
apartment complexes, funeral homes, health care professionals,
crisis lines, small offices including virtual receptionist
services, and various contractor trades including plumbers,
electricians, and contractors.
“Our clients frequently compliment us on high
performance,” Schremp said. “This industry award is yet further
acknowledgment that we’re doing an outstanding job.”
The company is continuously gaining market
share, obtaining new customers through current customer referrals
as well as through business acquisitions, most recently acquiring
the Oswego-based Executive Support Services. With more than
1,000 clients across the country, Finger Lakes Business Services
is in the top third of the approximate 4,000 answering services
in the country in terms of size.
ATSI, which was founded in 1942 as a national
trade association representing live answering services, now
encompasses companies around the world offering specialized
and enhanced operator-based services including: call centers,
contact centers, inbound telemarketing (order entry), paging,
voice messaging, emergency dispatching, faxing, and internet
services among others.
Finger Lakes Answering Service and the Communications
Group were presented with the award at ATSI’s 2006 Annual
Convention held in Portland, Maine.
