Whatever the language it’s said in, change has come to ISI Translation Services. The North Hollywood firm recently underwent a transition in senior management following the retirement of its 62-year-old founder, George Rimalower. Emilie Villeneuve, who has been with the company for 13 years, has been promoted to chief executive, and Michael Bearden, who joined in late 2005, is now the president after serving as vice president of client relations. The transfer of responsibilities began in November and was told to clients before it was announced. “We didn’t want to blast the horns,” Bearden said. “We wanted everyone to understand the full picture and hear it from us personally.” The 32-year-old company provides translation services for documents, packaging and other materials for multiple industries, including retail, advertising, legal and health care. The finance industry, for instance, uses ISI to translate information on insurance and pension plans, while mortgage issuers need translations of lending documents. Legislation, including health care reform, and shifting demographic trends have contributed to the growth ISI has seen the past decade. A staff of 35 augmented by freelancers translates up to 80 languages, including common spoken tongues such as Spanish and Arabic and obscure ones such as Navajo. As the company grows, there is the need for positions that ISI did not have as little as a year ago, including quality-assurance managers and training managers, Bearden said. Under the management reorganization, Villeneuve will oversee technology, including new software for tracking projects, and Bearden will oversee business development and sales. – Mark R. Madler
Translation Firm Finds New Voices
