News Article

Sanford visits Indian Land for Red Ventures ceremony

December 11, 2009

By Christopher Sardelli

INDIAN LAND – Looking out at the large crowd gathered around Red Ventures’ new Indian Land facility on Wednesday, Ric Elias couldn’t believe how far his company had come in just nine years.

Elias, chief executive officer of the company, said he's amazed how Red Ventures has grown steadily, from a small business in his basement in 2000 to a company with more than 700 employees in several countries. Red Ventures is an Internet marketing firm that works with companies such as ADT and DirecTV.

Elias was joined Wednesday by county and state officials to celebrate the opening of the company’s relocated headquarters at the Senderra Building in the 521 Corporate Park off U.S. 521.

"We're very excited to be in our new home," Elias said.

He said Red Ventures is excited to partner with South Carolina and Lancaster County.

The company moved from its former Charlotte headquarters earlier this fall, relocating about 250 employees. The new building can accommodate at least 750 employees, and Elias said the staff has already grown to 350 people since it opened.

He expects to hire an additional 450 employees in 2010, an achievement he said is notable given the state of the local and national economy. The national unemployment rate in October topped 10 percent for the first time in 26 years. Lancaster County’s jobless rate in October, the last for which statistics are available, was 19.2 percent.

"Human capital is the key to our success," Elias said. "That's why we chose this location."

Elias said he's excited to partner with the S.C. Employment Security

Commission's One-Stop Office to identify potential workers and with York Technical College on its workforce-training program.

"We're building a company we hope stays well beyond our founders," he said. "We see this as becoming a campus."

The company's long-term vision for the property is to buy 7 acres of land behind the building and add a cafeteria, fitness center and another office building. As part of a development agreement with Lancaster County, the company has committed to investing at least $10 million in economic development property and creating no less than 500 jobs within five years.

Built into the agreement are penalties, or "claw backs," which would require the company to repay tax credits it was given if dollar investment and job creation requirements are unmet.

Keith Tunnell, president of the Lancaster County Economic Development Corp., said there are also extra incentives, such as job development credits, that could bring at least 1,000 jobs to the location.

Christmas came early

Gov. Mark Sanford and Lancaster County Council Chairman Rudy Carter were among the officials on hand at the ceremony.

Carter congratulated Red Ventures on its move and for working to hire Lancaster County residents for its jobs.

Christmas has come early to Lancaster County, Carter said. It's a pleasure working with this group.

Carter said he and other county officials had searched actively for companies that could bring many jobs and quality work to the area.

We didn’t just pick anyone; we picked the best. And I think that is Red Ventures, he said.

Carter presented Elias with a Lancaster County flag before introducing Sanford to the crowd.

Sanford thanked the company for investing in the state and for joining the effort to boost the local and state economy.

Any time you create 1,000 jobs, that's a good thing, Sanford said. We’re real grateful you're here.

Sanford called the event bigger than just a ribbon-cutting, saying it was a celebration of all the effort the company, local officials and residents have put toward the project. He also commended the company for its success and quick growth from its origins in Elias’ basement, which he said demonstrates commitment from the company's employees.

On a whole variety of levels, we’re here to say thank you, he said.

Sanford thanked county officials and the company for their teamwork in making the project happen.

This is a reminder to all of us South Carolinians the importance of embracing change, he said.

Later in the ceremony, Elias, along with Mark Brodsky, chief financial officer of the company, and Dan Feldstein, chief marketing officer, cut a red ribbon outside Red Ventures’ front doors, marking the formal opening of the facility.

Diversifying the economy

The county, which for decades was defined by manufacturing jobs, has seen a change ever since Springs Global left the area.

Tunnell hopes the addition of Red Ventures will provide a wider spectrum of jobs for county residents. He expects having an Internet marketing firm could also lead to interest from other businesses in relocating to the county.

As you try to diversify the local economy, an Internet company is a good thing to have, Tunnell said.

Tunnell said there will be training available through York Technical College for residents interested in jobs at Red Ventures. He urges any interested residents to sign up for the classes and learn skills pertinent to jobs at the company so they will be ready when jobs come available.

I’m excited about this, Tunnell said.

State Rep. Deborah Long, R-District 45, is also encouraged by the addition of Internet-related jobs for the local workforce.

This is very exciting, Long said. It’s wonderful to see something like this in Lancaster County. We need more of this.

About Red Ventures

Red Ventures works with companies, focusing on a combination of sales and marketing to improve something it call “sales conversion,” or the creation of new customers.

The company will bring a variety of jobs, specifically in sales, marketing and management. Sales jobs will require employees to represent various home and business services the company helps sell. This includes services from companies such as ADT, a home security business, and satellite-television company DirecTV.

The company also has openings for marketing analysts, marketing managers, executive managers and Web developers.

The Red Ventures Web site lists several other job openings as well, from Web copywriters and contracts officers to quality assurance specialists and human resource administrators.

For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.redventures.com.

Contact reporter Chris Sardelli at csardelli@thelancasternews.com or (803) 416-84

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