Sykes director: ‘Long-term opportunities’ in Fort Smith

Chris Melton, the site director for Sykes Enterprises’ call center operation in Fort Smith, believes the company will be active in the region for many years.

Tampa, Fla.-based Sykes is a global business process outsourcing company that employs more than 43,000 at 80 locations in 24 countries. The privately-held company reported 2010 revenue of $1.158 billion, generating cash flow of $45 million. Company officials decided in early January to establish a call center operation in Fort Smith, with hiring to begin in March.

Sykes was primarily recruited to Fort Smith by FSM Redevelopment Partners, the company that purchased the more than 35-acre former Phoenix Village mall property in January 2009. Lance Beaty, a partner in FSM Redevelopment, said in January 2011 that FSM Redevelopment would invest about $2 million in interior improvement costs to the 40,000 square feet that once housed Home World.

At the time, Beaty said Sykes intended to employ up to 600 with annual payroll estimated between $10 million and $12 million.

Melton, who spoke to a large crowd Friday morning during the First Friday breakfast held by the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, said during an interview after the event that the company has about 450 employees. And although he teased during the breakfast about possible expansion of the Fort Smith operation, Melton said he could not talk specifics.

Sykes’ employees in Fort Smith work mortgage collections for a financial services client. They conduct inbound and outbound calls, Melton said.

He did say Fort Smith is the largest community in North America in which Sykes operates a call center.

“Hopefully that (support from a larger city) will offer us some long-term opportunities here,” Melton said.

Melton, who grew up in Springfield, Mo., is personally hopeful for long-term opportunities. He and his wife moved their two daughters — now in the 9th and 7th grades — from Kentucky to Fort Smith. It was the family’s fourth move, and he plans to stay in town long enough for them to graduate high school.

“I have no plans to go anywhere,” Melton said. “I really want them to graduate from high school here.”

Another sign of Sykes’ commitment to the city is its efforts to become involved in numerous community programs and projects, Melton said. To date, those efforts include partnering with Fort Smith and Greenwood schools, being a sponsor with the Fort Smith Air Show, Fort Smith Symphony and First Tee of Fort Smith.

“Community involvement is important to us. … Within a year, there won’t be anywhere in the community where you won’t see our brand,” Melton said.