Just what is People Shores?
It’s a for-profit, social enterprise with a charter to bring technology-driven jobs to economically challenged communities in the United States through impact sourcing.
And impact sourcing is?
It’s “going into a community that lacks financial opportunity and some kinds of educational training and provides that and creates jobs so that children do not have to leave the area seeking jobs in other places,” said Jon Levingston, executive director of the Clarksdale/Coahoma County Chamber of Commerce.
“Impact sourcing is having an impact educationally and financially in the life of a community,” he said.
And while People Shores is a for-profit business, Levingston adds, “It’s more than just a business. They are moved by having a profound and effective social impact on the lives of people.”
How does Clarksdale and Coahoma County benefit?
The impact to this area will be immense, Levingston says.
“It helps to arrest the depopulation. It provides educational tech training. It provides jobs,” he said.
And what do those jobs do?
“It provides income and financial sustainability in our community,” Levingston said.
Who are some of the top leaders at People Shores?
Murali Vullaganti is the founder and CEO of People Shores. David Moxam is a co-founder of People Shores and sits on the board of directors.
They are among the “most impressive, accomplished people in the world,” Levingston said.
“They represent people who have been with major industry around the world in the tech sector. But they are moved not by just making another dollar, but by the size of the social impact that they on communities and the lives they affect for the better.”
He points out that Vullaganti and Moxam both got their start at Electronic Data Systems (which is now Hewlett Packard) working with Ross Perot.
“They go back to really the beginning of high-tech in the United States,” Levingston said. “It’s a small world. They know everyone. They could easily retire and count their bond coupons, but instead, they committed themselves to creating this impact-sourcing company. It speaks to their sense of humanity and their commitment to creating opportunity here in the United States for rural youth.
“They are among the most impressive people I’ve had the privilege of knowing and I’m proud to count them as my friends, as well as clients,” he said.
What kind of services does People Shores provide?
The immediate response would be to call their operation a “call center.”
While Levingston said “that’s certainly part of what they do,” he quickly added there is much, much more to their company.
People Shores also provides image processing and data services for tech firms. For insurance companies, they provide lead generation, new policy support and premium postings, policy renewals and claim processing. In retail, they provide customer segmentation, campaign management, order processing, rebate and inventory tracking. They provide services for travel and banking industries.
“They do any type of back-office data analytics that a company doesn’t want to do on their own,” Levingston said.
Who are some of the clients People Shores will be providing services for?
Both Vullaganti and Levingston said the company is still in the process of finalizing contracts, but Rural Shores and People Shores work for major corporations such as Accenture, Oracle, American Express, the Fed Ex subsidiary TNT Express, Vodafone and the Bayer Corporation. They also recently agreed to a multi-center contract with Amazon.
During visits here, People Shores executives have reportedly met with top leaders of companies such as C-Spire, Federal Express, Humana and St. Jude.
Where will the People Shores Clarksdale center be located?
The center will be at 1540 Desoto Ave. in Clarksdale, the current home of the Clarksdale/Coahoma County Chamber of Commerce.
Where do those tenants relocate to?
The Clarksdale/Coahoma County Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Authority will be leasing office space at the corner of Delta Avenue and Third Street in downtown Clarksdale in the old Wells Fargo financial advisors building. Levingston said they’ll begin the moving process in January.
Sweet Bay Magnolia, which was working out of the chamber location as part of a business incubator project, will also be moving.
How many people will People Shores employ?
The company is looking at approximately 20 to start. They will train for two months before coming on board as an employee. The goal is to hire 200 within the next two years.
What will be the average amount of pay?
Vullaganti said, once trained, employees will receive a “living wage” for this area. Estimates are that the jobs would pay between $10 and $15 per hour. Management positions will be at a higher pay scale. There will also be full benefits, such as medical insurance and paid leave.
How can people apply for these positions and when will hiring begin?
Ashley Bowen, a graduate of the University of Mississippi, will be moving back to the Delta from Chicago to take over as the assistant center manager at the Clarksdale center.
“I feel incredibly lucky to be part of People Shores,” Bowen said.
The Clarksdale center will be working through both the Win Job Center in Clarksdale, as well as the Coahoma Community College Workforce Training Center.
A Job Fair will be held on Thursday, Jan. 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Clarksdale center at 1540 Desoto Ave. More details will be available in the coming week.
