THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 15, 1995 TAG: 9504150321
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LON WAGNER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
The Bernard C. Harris Publishing Co. estimated a few years ago that it would have 1,000 employees in Norfolk by the end of 1995.
With eight months left in the year, Harris has more than 1,200 workers at its Norfolk operations - and is planning to hire about 100 more in the next three months, President and CEO Bill Harris said.
``We didn't expect to have the numbers there that we have there today,'' Harris said.
Harris Publishing's latest growth is primarily because of a $10 million contract it recently secured to do telemarketing work for a Fortune 100 company, which Harris declined to name.
Harris has a telemarketing unit in Norfolk, but its bread-and-butter business is publishing directories and yearbooks for high schools, colleges, fraternities and other clubs and organizations.
Annual sales at the privately held White Plains, N.Y., company have been growing as fast as its employment level in Norfolk. Two years ago, it had about $70 million in sales. Harris said he expects the company to post more than $100 million for the first time this year.
The growth of Harris Publishing has already paid off for Norfolk, but there could be even bigger dividends to come. During the holiday season, Harris moved its computer operations group from New York to Norfolk. Most of its information systems operation is now here.
By contrast, the company now employs just 100 people at its headquarters.
``The mass of our business has come to Norfolk,'' Harris said. ``The headquarters operation is the only thing left here now.''
The continuing buildup of Harris's work force in Norfolk could lead the company to consider moving its headquarters here in the not-too-distant future, Harris said.
The company studied that possibility in 1993, but a consultant recommended postponing a decision. But Harris said there is still a possibility that Norfolk could get the headquarters in the next five years.
``USAir doesn't want me to do it because of all the airfare I'm spending,'' he said of a move.
``More and more of us on our senior management team are spending time in Norfolk,'' Harris said, ``and what happens is our top folks are seeing that the quality of life there is very strong.'' by CNB