CRFS will add 150 employees in move to Chase site

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 September 2013 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – Jodi Gaines, CEO and co-owner of Claims Recovery Financial Services, announces the company will consolidate its Orleans County locations in the former Chase call center in Albion, and add 150 employees. She is pictured inside the Orleans County Legislative Chambers.

ALBION – Claims Recovery Financial Services will not only move into the former JPMorgan Chase site in Albion, the new tenant plans to add 150 jobs there.

CRFS will move employees from sites in Albion and Medina into the Chase site. The move may begin in December and it’s possible the company’s transition to the building could be done by March.

The company, led by Albion resident and CEO Jodi Gaines, has been on a rapid upward trajectory and Gaines said it’s possible it will need more than 150 additional hires.

The 60,000-square-foot Chase site is being purchased by Roger Hungerford of Medina, who currently is leasing Gaines and CRFS space in the Olde Pickle Factory. The Chase site has been emptied in recent months of 413 employees.

“One of the many benefits of the Chase complex is that it’s a state-of-the-art, turnkey facility, which will allow CRFS to ramp-up quickly and fast-track our much-needed expansion,” Gaines said.

CRFS has hired 55 former Chase managers and employees, workers who have fit in well with CRFS because of their background in the banking industry, Gaines said.

The space at the Chase site allows CRFS to begin actively recruiting to fill an additional 150 positions.

Gaines and CRFS were praised by local elected officials, including Albion Mayor Dean Theodorakos. The Chase closing has been difficult for the community, but the mayor said CRFS has the potential to more than offset those Chase losses.

“What Jodi has been able to do is just marvelous,” Theodorakos said.

The community also expects to benefit with Hungerford owning the building. He has shown he will keep up his properties, including the Olde Pickle Factory, which previously was used by Fisher-Price.

“We’re getting local ownership with the building and someone who will invest in the property,” Theodorakos.

OrleansHub.com will have more soon on today’s announcement.