TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Norvergence ... Update on Its Owners' Problems

Norvergence ... Update on Its Owners' Problems

Danny Burstein (dannyb@panix.com)
Mon, 22 Aug 2005 20:21:29 -0400

( article is a month old. Just saw it )

Former NorVergence Chief's New Venture Falls Just As Hard

Jul. 24 - A year ago Thomas N. Salzano stood at the helm of
NorVergence, a multimillion-dollar telecommunications company on the
brink of a spectacular flameout.

Three weeks ago, Salzano scuffled with police after he was
unceremoniously booted from his Kenilworth (NJ) office that housed
Charity Snack, his latest venture, for non-payment of rent.

On the surface, the companies couldn't have less in common:
NorVergence was a reseller of phone service with hundreds of millions
of dollars of leases; Charity Snack raised money for breast cancer by
putting cardboard boxes in nail salons. But the similarities were
striking.

Both companies relied on a high-powered sales force working from a
script; employees described draconian work rules including docking pay
for minor infractions; and when the business soured, some employees
say they weren't paid what was owed to them.

And both companies fell hard ...

And federal agents are still scrutinizing the byzantine finances of
NorVergence and its principals.
...

Interviews with former employees reveal that Thomas Salzano has
started at least three new companies in the past year, one called
Retail America Inc. and another called Certa Clean Inc.
...

The company's sales staff placed an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 (Charity
Snack) boxes in nail salons, auto-repair shops and other walk-in
businesses throughout New Jersey, according to former employees. By April,
the business was growing fast, bringing in as much as $20,000 a week in
cash, the employees said.
...

(After the landlord locked him out), Salzano returned and smashed through
the plate glass door of the office using a hammer ...

About four hours later, police returned to find Salzano sitting behind
his desk. He was arrested and charged with criminal mischief, a
misdemeanor to which he later pleaded not guilty, according to the
Kenilworth police.

rest at (watch for line wrap ):

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyOSZmZ2JlbDdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5NjcyODc5MCZ5cmlyeTdmNzE3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTI=

Post Followup Article Use your browser's quoting feature to quote article into reply
Go to Next message: Fred Atkinson: "Re: Local Exchange Not Local in Sylva, NC"
Go to Previous message: Reuters News Wire: "Earthlink Acquires Anti-Spyware Company Aluria"
Next in thread: nstrom@ananzi.co.za: "Re: Norvergence ... Update on Its Owners' Problems"
May be reply: nstrom@ananzi.co.za: "Re: Norvergence ... Update on Its Owners' Problems"
TELECOM Digest: Home Page