Purple Heart Alpha 911 Keynote

January 12, 2007

I just finished up my keynote presentation for the Alpha 911 class of the Purple Heart Foundation and got a chance to thank the disable veterans of this country for all they have done to keep America safe and Secure. I felt very humbled by the opportunity to speak to such a distinguished group of people.

I spoke a bit about the how the call center market has evolved over the years and how TMC launched the first magazine in the world about call centers in 1982. I also mentioned how TMC launched the first publication on VoIP in 1997.

I explained how these veterans are on the front lines of customer contact and in today’s day and age the call center agent is many times the only person you can speak with at a company.

I mentioned how these people will grease the wheels of international commerce for years to come.

Ken told me some of the family members of people who lost their lives on 9/11 at the Pentagon were on the web conference. Also in attendance was the Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Again – a humbling experience.

During my presentation I also gave much credit to what Ken Smith is doing with the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The training these disabled veterans get from the MOPH is second to none and I am proud to be part of an industry that allows disabled veterans to find employment.

Moreover, IP communications has made it possible for these veterans to work from anywhere in the world. This is certainly the most exciting thing I have done in a while and I can't wait to meet many of these disabled veterans in a week or so at Internet Telephony Conference & Expo in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.