USA 800 makes a call for jobs

Few businesses are hiring 150 new people right now.

But USA 800 is, and a career fair will allow applicants to make an initial impression at the St. Joseph call center.

The company, the largest employee-owned call center in the country, will hold the fair from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Stoney Creek Inn.

"We're expecting several hundred people to attend," says Kimberly Hopkins, human resources manager at the firm, located at 5804 Corporate Drive. She added that the 150 positions include full- and part-time spots.

USA 800 deals only with inbound calls, ranging from catalog sales to travel arrangements to government services. For more information, check out the firm's Web site at www.usa-800.com.

***

Company maps out earth-friendly strategy

A company with operations in Hiawatha, Kan., won accolades north of the border for its positive impact on the environment.

Hemisphere GPS was awarded a position on the 2009 Cleantech 10 list by Corporate Knights Inc.

The award, compiled by Corporate Knights Inc. and Cleantech Indices, recognizes companies that minimize the impact human activity has on the environment.

Hemisphere GPS does this by developing technologies that improve operational performance while lowering energy consumption and reducing the impact of chemical applications.

"Our GPS-based agricultural products enable farmers to dramatically reduce the amount of fuel, chemical, fertilizer and seed wasted during regular applications," said Dr. Mohamed Abousalem, vice president of marketing and business development at Hemisphere GPS. "Through precision navigation, automated steering and application control technologies, we eliminate operator error that causes large overlaps during spraying, planting and harvesting."

The 2009 Cleantech 10 awards are chosen based on a comprehensive screening process of the 122 Cleantech companies currently traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. A full list of the annual award recipients is published in the November issue of Corporate Knights magazine which accompanies The Globe and Mail, Canada's largest national newspaper.

Hemisphere GPS has corporate headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with product development, sales, and marketing facilities in Hiawatha, Kan., Arizona, Texas and Australia.

***

Take a bite out of financial crimes

The St. Joseph Police Department will hold a 2009 Business Fraud Prevention Seminar on Nov. 4.

The seminar runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the East Hills branch of the St. Joseph Public Library. Topics will include counterfeit money, bad check collections, preventing and reporting forgery, robbery prevention, employee theft and shoplifting.

Presenters will be from the St. Joseph Police Department, FBI, U.S. Secret Service and other agencies.

Seating is limited and an advanced reservation is required for the free seminar, which is hosted by the St. Joseph Police Department, Financial Crime Unit. Attendees may come for any session or all sessions.

Call Melody Noah at (816) 271-5336 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to register.

***

Elwood celebrates Dollar General

Elwood, Kan., is celebrating the opening of its Dollar General store with a ribbon-cutting ceremony next Saturday.

Door prizes and a gift for the first 50 customers will be given out.

- From local and wire reports