Tulsa Firm's Expansion Means More Than 100 New Jobs

Direct Energy announced Wednesday it plans to expand its customer operations center in Tulsa.

The expansion means 115 new jobs and significant economic impact to the Tulsa area according to the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Direct Energy is a company that sells electricity and natural gas in eight states and two Canadian provinces - but not Oklahoma.

They have a corporate support operation in CityPlex Towers with 160 employees now. They're adding 115 new employees, with jobs on the low end paying $50,000.

"We're hiring immediately. We hope to have all 115 roles filled by the end of the first quarter 2012," said Andrea Coughlin-Rawley, Direct Energy.

Direct Energy says the expansion of the Tulsa operation is to support growth elsewhere in the company.

The company says the new jobs here will be everything from IT, to customer service, to training and bill collecting.

"We have had great success with the Tulsa employees and the Tulsa operation and as we grow in an efficient fashion, we plan to build on that base that exists in Tulsa rather than the other options that we had," Coughlin-Rawley said.

The Tulsa Chamber said the availability of good workers in Oklahoma is helping attract new jobs.

"We think the Tulsa region has plenty of available workers to fit their needs and there are immediate opportunities," said Mike Neal, Tulsa Chamber.

Folks can come Thursday to the CityPlex Towers, 2488 E 81st Street, to participate in a job fair and be hired this week. The job fair will be held November 17th and December 6th from 4 to 7 p.m.

complete an application online.