UofM Research Foundation Announces Expansion of Student-Operated Call Center for UMRF Ventures

Facility to house expanded Level 1 and a new Level 2 Call Center for FedEx IT Support at UofM

 June 28, 2019 - The University of Memphis Research Foundation and its wholly owned subsidiary, UMRF Ventures Inc., held a grand opening celebrating the expansion of their current Level 1 student-operated call center, as well as the launch of a new Level 2 Call Center. This is part of a strategy by the University to bring well-paying, part-time student jobs to campus designed to help professionalize students and minimize financial constraints.

"UMRF Ventures continues to showcase the innovation that the University of Memphis is capable of,” said UofM President M. David Rudd. “The model that the company employs creates meaningful opportunities for our students, real value for our partner companies and adds a fresh perspective on what a public-private partnership can achieve.”

As with the prior call centers located at both the UofM and UofM Lambuth in Jackson, Tenn., the IT Call Centers will support FedEx employees. UMRF Ventures has 130 students working at the Park Avenue Campus, located inside the Student Ventures Hub (formerly the Defense Audit Building), and they receive calls from 7 am-8 pm, Monday-Saturday. Students work 10-20 hours per week and shifts are arranged to accommodate their class schedules. UMRF Ventures expects the total number of student employees to grow to 300 over the next year.

“Our UofM students are performing very well, and FedEx has rewarded us with additional business,” said UMRF Ventures CEO Tom Kadien. “This expansion onto the South Campus pushes us to more than 200 total employees and gives us the additional space we need for future growth well beyond that.”

“It is a pleasure and an honor to be on the UMRF Ventures Board of Directors,” said Don Hutson, CEO of U.S. Learning. “The early success of this young enterprise is inspiring, and I am delighted to be a part of this Win-Win-Win organization.

UMRF Ventures, FedEx and the UofM celebrated the grand opening of the Park Avenue Campus call center with a launch/media event on Thursday. In addition to the call centers, the facility on the Park Avenue Campus also features training areas, conference rooms and office space. There is also additional space to support future ventures and growth.

For more information on this expansion of services, contact Tom Kadien tom56@umrfventures.com. For more information on release, contact Mary Ann Dawson mdawson@memphis.edu.