Intelligent Office Helps Port of New Orleans Make Payroll; Roswell, Georgia Virtual Office Provides Temporary Operations Center for Key Staff from New Orleans

Staff from Port of New Orleans set up operations in Atlanta Virtual Office Provider to maintain payroll and other financial responsibilities. Resources at Intelligent Office helped insure that nearly all of 300 employees are located and received paychecks in temporary housing across the Southeast.

Roswell, GA (PRWEB) September 14, 2005

Displaced managers from the Port of New Orleans have been using the communications resources and conference space at Intelligent Office, provider of virtual office space and professional business solutions, to ensure distribution of paychecks to their employees.

"All but 65 of our employees have direct deposit but when your bank is under water, direct deposit doesn't help," explained Port of New Orleans Chief Operations Officer David A. Wagner.

Wagner and a small staff of finance and IT workers have worked to redirect payments to banks more convenient to their displaced employees and have even made distribution to employees living in shelters.

"Nearly one-third of our employees lost their homes so receiving their paychecks is one of their last lifelines to reality. As payday approached, it became critical to resume operations. Intelligent Office was able to provide us with phones, internet access and conference room space within an hour of our call," continued Wagner. "We have now made payment to 290 employees across the country but there are still important staff members that we cannot locate."

Emergency contact information on the Port of New Orleans website has been directing employees to dial a special phone number provided by Intelligent Office.

"We have made use of telephone lines as well as conference call capabilities to coordinate the efforts of employees across the southeast," continued Wagner. "Fortunately, we still have some power at our offices in New Orleans and so we have been able to log into our mainframes from Intelligent Office."

In addition to securing payment for employees, Wagner's staff has been contacting bond holders to reassure them that they will receive timely payment and transmitting access paperwork to truckers who need to get into the secure zones of New Orleans.

"We are thrilled to serve as an extension of the operations of the Port of New Orleans," explained Risk Haskins, owner of Intelligent Office. "There has been a whirlwind of activity in our office all week."

About Port of New Orleans

The Port of New Orleans is at the center of the world’s busiest port complex. Its proximity to the American Midwest via a 14,500-mile inland waterway system makes New Orleans the port of choice for the movement of cargoes such as steel, grain, containers and manufactured goods. The Port of New Orleans is the only deepwater port in the United States served by six class one railroads. This gives port users direct and economical rail service to or from anywhere in the country. For more information, visit http://www.portno.com.

About Intelligent Office

Intelligent Office provides an alternative to the traditional office by combining the benefits of physical office space with the flexibility of virtual office solutions. Intelligent Office family members get on-demand space, a prestigious business address and professional reception and administrative services for a fraction of the cost of traditional office space. With locations in Roswell and Sandy Springs, Intelligent Office is meeting the needs of hundreds of businesses throughout Atlanta. For more information on or to schedule a tour, contact Rick Haskins at 678-353-3200 or visit http://www.ioatlanta.com.

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