If you’ve ever had to call an IT specialist on an 800 number to solve a problem you’re having with your computer, there’s a good chance the person on the other end of the line has been talking to you from another part of the world.

Unless, that is, you are an employee of Wayne County. For the last three years, Wayne County employees have been working through their computer problems with employees of Strategic Staffing Solutions, Inc. (S³). Instead of talking to someone in India or China or some other time zone half way around the world, they’ve been talking to someone working from a call center in Wayne County.

The call center, staffed by S³ employees, has been solving IT issues for all the county’s departments on a round-the-clock 24/7 basis.

Up to now, the service has been available only to Wayne County employees. But now, in a joint effort with Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, we are expanding the call center to serve other governmental units, as well as businesses and non-profit organizations that need help with their IT solutions.

No more long distance calls.

No outsourced jobs.

The IT specialists are ready to talk employers and their employees though any computer issue whether you need help to reset a password or reboot your company’s hard drive. If needed, they’ll even make a “house call” to your office.

In addition to the convenience, it will be a revenue source for the county, as companies and organizations sign up to access the convenience of a call center located literally in their back yard.

If you would like your company’s calls for IT help routed through the S³ Wayne County call center and solved by local IT specialists, all you need do is call 313-596-6900 or go to www.strategicstaff.com.

It’s another example of what innovative thinking by local businesses and local governments and a strong public-private partnership can do to keep jobs here in Wayne County.

Cynthia J. Pasky is CEO and president of Strategic Staffing Solutions Inc., based in Detroit. Strategic Staffing Solutions paid for placement of this article.