News Archive
July 2001

The Matheson Group has been accepted by The Society
of Telecommunications Consultants (STC).

STC is an international organization of voice and data communications professionals who serve clients in business, industry, service organizations, and government. A major voice in regulatory, legislative and commercial concerns, the STC is working as a positive force in the communications industry.

Membership candidates are required to complete a comprehensive review process to ensure reliability, integrity and the highest level of professionalism.

Members adhere to strict professional standards and a rigorous Code of Ethics (www.stcconsultants.org/ethics.html) which protect clients from less-than-professional consultants.

“In the past several years, we’ve seen a dangerous trend developing”, says Dawn Matheson. “More and more, consultants are aligning with specific vendors/carriers in an agency capacity where they are compensated either through commissions or referral fees for directing a client toward a specific product or service. Often, the client is unaware of the consultant’s agency relationship. We believe this practice is unethical. A consultant is generally engaged for their expertise and objectivity. If a consultant is compensated by someone other than the client, there is no way to ensure objectivity.”

STC members are prohibited from engaging in this trendy practice. The STC Code of Ethics states, “In performing services for a client, no member shall accept fees, commissions, or any other valuable consideration in connection with those services from anyone other than the member's client.”

The Matheson Group is one of only 200 firms in the U.S. and the only consulting firm in the Southeastern Virginia Region to carry the STC designation.

For more information on STC, visit www.stcconsultants.org.