Ohio Department of Development official resigns over outsourcing
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An Ohio Department of Development official has resigned amid an investigation into federal stimulus money that went to an overseas call center, The Associated Press reported this week.
According to reports, Nadeane Howard, director of the department's energy resources division, resigned Tuesday. She had served in the position since December.
Ohio Development Department Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel said Howard's resignation came about after a review of a Texas company hired to administer Ohio's $11 million appliance rebate program. The company, Parago Inc., used workers in El Salvador to process applications and answer customer calls.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the review, requested by Gov. Ted Strickland, "found that Howard, got an e-mail before the state finalized its $357,300 contract with Parago Inc. 'that explicitly raised a question about Parago's potential outsourcing of jobs.' That Feb. 25 e-mail, from a Minnesota competitor that didn't win the state contract, warned that 'Parago is known throughout the rebate industry as providing some of their services through offshore channels.'"
An Ohio Department of Development official has resigned amid an investigation into federal stimulus money that went to an overseas call center, The Associated Press reported this week.
According to reports, Nadeane Howard, director of the department's energy resources division, resigned Tuesday. She had served in the position since December.
Ohio Development Department Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel said Howard's resignation came about after a review of a Texas company hired to administer Ohio's $11 million appliance rebate program. The company, Parago Inc., used workers in El Salvador to process applications and answer customer calls.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the review, requested by Gov. Ted Strickland, "found that Howard, got an e-mail before the state finalized its $357,300 contract with Parago Inc. 'that explicitly raised a question about Parago's potential outsourcing of jobs.' That Feb. 25 e-mail, from a Minnesota competitor that didn't win the state contract, warned that 'Parago is known throughout the rebate industry as providing some of their services through offshore channels.'"