Senior VP Business Development, Membership Solutions
Richard has over 25 years of IT and business management/development experience. He has led large development projects in the telecom, accounting and finance, banking, and membership industries. Recent projects include membership software installations for some of the nation’s largest Automobile Clubs, telecom applications for state governments, and asset management applications for the banking industry. Currently directing the business development activities for Ross Group’s Membership Solutions business unit where I working to build market share in current markets, expand reach into other club/association markets, and increase wallet share by expanding product and service offerings.
Atlanta, Georgia (May 10, 2010) - Ross Group Inc, a leading supplier of Membership Software to organizations in North America announced the promotion of Michael Samaras to Vice President of Membership Solutions. In his new role, Mr. Samaras will assume management responsibility for advancing the company’s membership software into the national association market.
"Mike has been instrumental in the growth and development of the membership solutions business unit. As the chief architect of our core development framework and TouchPoints, our flagship membership relationship management application, he is uniquely qualified to grow our membership business into this new and exciting market" said Richard Spanier, Senior VP Business Development, Membership Solutions.
Mr. Samaras joined Ross Group in 2000 as an intern. After graduation, he joined the team full time as an application developer where his first major achievement was to architect our application development framework which is still in use today. Mike has been a major contributor to the membership team and was the primary architect of TouchPoints, our membership relationship management suite.
Mr. Samaras graduated from the University of Dayton in 2000 with a BS in Management Information Systems and received his MBA in 2005 from UD with dual concentrations in Finance and Management Information Systems. Mike is a certified Program Manager (PMP) and is a Microsoft Professional with multiple certifications. He received the Dayton Business Journal prestigious 40 Under 40 award in 2006 recognized as one of the top young professionals in the region.
Mr. Samaras graduated from the University of Dayton in 2000 with a BS in Management Information Systems and received his MBA in 2005 from UD with dual concentrations in Finance and Management Information Systems. Mike is a certified Program Manager (PMP) and is a Microsoft Professional with multiple certifications. He received the Dayton Business Journal prestigious 40 Under 40 award in 2006 recognized as one of the top young professionals in the region.
Dayton OH, Atlanta GA -- Ross Group Inc announced that they have entered into a long term software and support contract with AAA Motor Club Holdings, LLC (MCH). Under the terms of the multi-year contract, Ross Group will supply the motor club group with Membership Software and support services for the group’s membership and customer relationship management needs. Ross Group will supply its industry leading MemberzPlus™ membership management and customer relationship management (CRM) product suite to all members of the holding company. Under the unique agreement, MCH will receive all source code and documentation to the MemberzPlus™ software and can use it to manage all of the clubs under the MCH umbrella which includes AAA Southern New England, AAA New York, AAA Connecticut, AAA Carolinas as well as new clubs which may join MCH in the future. In addition, this relationship establishes a Ross Group team of software engineers dedicated to MCH support for the long term.
“MemberzPlus™ is an extremely robust membership management and CRM application,” explains Richard Spanier, Senior VP of Club Solutions at Ross Group. “By using Ross Group software and services, MCH is positioning themselves to continue growing their business utilizing the latest technology available in the market today.”
“This puts us in a great position to move forward with our initiatives of deepening relationships with members while expanding our reach through mergers. We see our relationship with Ross Group and their technology as a key benefit for any AAA club joining MCH in the future.” says Mark Shaw, CEO at AAA Southern New England. “Our goal is to continue to build on our already deep relationships with our members through innovation. Part of the reason we chose Ross Group was their leadership position in membership and relationship management software. At Southern New England we have a long history of working with Ross Group and know that they are the top firm supplying software to our industry which they back up with a knowledgebase unrivaled in the industry. We are very comfortable working with them and look forward to expanding that relationship across the other MCH clubs.”
Mark Ross, CEO of Ross Group, explains that “Our software suite uniquely positions a group like the AAA Motor Club Holdings to aggressively grow their group through the merger process. One of the major issues with growth in any company is making sure their core systems can handle the growth. Our software has been uniquely shown to not only handle the growth, but because our software supports distributed operations so well, the group will gain tremendous economies of scale as they continue to add clubs.”
AAA Motor Club Holdings, based in Providence, RI, has a member base in excess of five million members and is one of the largest motor clubs in the AAA.
Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio with a satellite office in Douglasville, Georgia, Ross Group Inc is a leading supplier of software to motor clubs in North America. The company supplies software to manage all touch points between the club and its member base. This includes membership management systems for back office and branch operations, web site management and software to integrate member management with other club systems like finance, insurance and road side assistance.
For additional information about our membership software, visit the Ross Group web site at www.rossgroupinc.com or contact Richard Spanier, Senior VP Membership Solutions, at (770) 942-5629 or richard.spanier@rossgroupinc.com.
Atlanta GA, July 3, 2010 - Ross Group Inc, a supplier of membership relationship management software and services to the American Automobile Association, announced today a strategic partnership with Pearl Interactive, an innovative outbound call processing company, to offer additional services to its customers. Through the partnership, Ross Group will begin offering member loyalty and retention programs to the AAA/CAA Motor Clubs using Pearl Interactive’s call processing expertise and exceptional support services.
“In addition to our market leading membership and CRM products and hosting services, the partnership with Pearl Interactive will enhance our ability to serve the motor club market by adding additional services that drive value by improving retention and increasing wallet share,” explains Richard Spanier, Senior VP of Club Solutions at Ross Group. “I forged the relationship with Pearl Interactive because I knew they would be able to provide our clients with the same kind of stellar service they have always expected and received from us. By taping the workforce that Pearl Interactive hires, such as disabled veterans, military spouses, and people with disabilities, we will be delivering these services through a highly motivated workforce with an outstanding performance and retention rate.”
“We are excited by this opportunity to work with Ross Group. We have developed a core competency in outbound call campaigns. I believe this partnership creates a compelling positive synergy for the membership association industry while creating jobs for an untapped but highly effective and talented workforce,” says Merry Korn, President of Pearl Interactive.
Ross Group enhanced services can be categorized into 2 major areas: Membership Processing and Member Acquisition/Retention Support Services. These services allow Ross Group to leverage their membership and CRM software, in conjunction with email, postal mail, and call centers to help the clubs improve new member acquisition and retention. The services the clubs can take advantage of include:
1. New Member Acquisition Services
2. Retention Services
3. Member Loyalty Services
4. Outbound Call Center Services
5. Marketing and Campaign Management Services
6. Call Center Dispatch Services
7. Inbound Mail/Check Processing Services
Mark Ross, President and CEO of Ross Group, explains that “Not only will these services be addressing a real need in the current markets we serve, it expands our reach to the broader club and association market. In addition, our relationship with a firm like Pearl Interactive and their unique hiring commitment is good business for all of us.”
Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, Ross Group Inc is a leading supplier of software to motor clubs in North America. The company supplies software to manage all touch points between the club and its member base. This includes membership management systems for back office and branch operations, web site management and software to integrate member management with other club systems like finance, insurance and road side assistance.
Founded in 2004, Pearl Interactive Network is a virtual workforce offering customer service, support services and sales. They are innovative and creative, delivering quality solutions while creating opportunity while fulfilling a social mission of providing work opportunities to people with challenges to work. Pearl Interactive uses a fully operable VOIP system integrated with assistive technologies, enabling people with a range of physical challenges to access sustainable employment. For additional information, contact Pearl Interactive Network at (614) 258-2943 or visit their website at www.Pearlinter.org
For additional information about our membership software and services, visit the Ross Group web site at www.rossgroupinc.com or contact Richard Spanier at (770) 942-5629.
