ORWIGSBURG - A company that sells and services extended contracts for used vehicles plans to hire for 50 jobs in the next three years.
Preferred Warranties Inc. needs employees to work in its claims department, claims services, inside sales and bilingual members.
"We're hoping to hire a half a dozen (workers) by the end of the year," Wayne Herring Sr., president and company founder, said Friday.
The company, which operates at 200 Pinebrook Place along Route 61 since 1999, had humble beginnings.
"We started with two people. We leased a fax machine and a copier machine," Herring said.
The company first began operations in 1992 at Robin's Diner along Route 61, where Herring had an automotive dealership. It now employs people in 20 states, mostly along the eastern seaboard. At the Orwigsburg location, 47 people work on the first floor of the site where the accounting department, claims representatives and dealer services are provided. In all, 85 people work for the company.
Herring said at least 2,000 independent automotive dealerships sell the warranties to customers.
"We're over 95 percent independent used card dealers," he said about the company's clients.
The hiring became easier after the company was acquired in June by KAR Auction Services Inc., a Carmel, Ind.-based company that operates several businesses related to automobiles, according to its website, karauctionservices.com.
Before being acquired by KAR, Harbert Private Equity Fund II, Birmingham, Ala., had joined with Preferred Warranties Inc. in 2006.
"They (speaking of Harbert) retained majority ownership," Herring said, when the two companies decided to join forces.
Customer service is important to Preferred Warranties, and that same dedication will continue, he said.
"We still will continue to do what we've always (done) for the customer," Herring said. "It won't change to the customer at all. But what we're excited about is they (KAR) have a really good benefit package."
He noted that employees will have additional time off and additional benefits.
The new employees will work upstairs in the 6,230-square-foot spot formerly occupied by Geisinger Medical Group. Workers were busy Friday doing necessary work to prepare the site for use.
Keith Butz, foreman for the three-man team from Cresswell Brothers, Orwigsburg, said work, consisting mostly of demolition, began Aug. 19.
Herring said renovations might be completed by October or November.
"This will all be a big call center in here. We will have seating for 48, and then we will have eight offices for administrative (personnel)" he said.
The company plans to stay in Orwigsburg for the long haul.
"We have no plans to move. Really, we have the capacity here to cover the whole country," he said.
To apply for a job with Preferred Warranties Inc., visit www.warrantys.com or call 800-548-1121. Learn more, apply
To learn more and apply for a job with Preferred Warranties Inc., visit www.warrantys.com or call 800-548-1121.