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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Joe Nichols will replace Craig Morgan at Jackson County Fair ... More women are participating in firearm classes in Jackson County ... Bottomfishers move toward shore to avoid full shutdown ... Joe Nichols will replace Craig Morgan at Jackson County Fair ... More women are participating in firearm classes in Jackson County ... Bottomfishers move toward shore to avoid full shutdown ... Comnet layoffs prompt car-donation firm to locate in Medford Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Jul. 12, 2016 at 3:45 PM Updated Jul 12, 2016 at 4:07 PM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Jul. 12, 2016 at 3:45 PM Updated Jul 12, 2016 at 4:07 PM » Social News San Diego-based nonprofit Charitable Adult Rides & Services has opened a customer service center in downtown Medford. CARS helps other charities raise money through vehicle-donation programs. In 13 years, CARS has gone from accepting about three vehicles daily to being a major player in the car-donation industry, collaborating with more than 2,500 nonprofits. CARS will employ 25 people, including 13 who already have joined the firm, in the next 14 months at a former Lithia Motors building at 344 N. Bartlett St. CEO Howard Pearl indicated another 14 would be on the payroll in 20 months. Former Comnet Marketing staff members Tina Saxbury and Patrice Draper will supervise the new center. CARS considered opening a satellite office in Arizona, but switched gears after Comnet Marketing announced it was laying off a substantial part of its 150-person staff. “We could not pass up the opportunity to acquire this raw talent and create a win-win-win situation for CARS (and the) employees who were just laid off," Pearl said. Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc. began working with Pearl in May, with Tom Fischer of Coldwell Banker Commercial NW securing the downtown site. It took two days, Pearl said, to locate space and set up a lease with Lithia Real Estate for the 6,000-square-foot office space. Rogue Workforce chipped in with a $45,000 layoff aversion grant for training. Pearl said CARS eyed Sun City, Ariz., because of its senior population. The thinking was seniors often would be talking with other seniors wanting to donate their vehicles. But the availability of call center veterans in Medford changed things. "We brought eight people down to San Diego for five weeks because it is critical for us for them to understand the culture," Pearl said. "It's wonderful how fast they picked things up. It was only five weeks from the time we set foot down in Medford to when we took our first donation; we got a lot of help and coordination. We've had a couple of employees move out of state, so we set them up in their homes in Colorado and Indiana, but this is our first major satellite donation reception center." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greg.stiles .31. By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Jul. 12, 2016 at 3:45 PM Updated Jul 12, 2016 at 4:07 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501