Professional networking for sign language interpreters
Why are the ranks of interpreters being passed over when leadership positions are vacated???
I don't intend this as solely a comment about Purple. I think for the most part VRS providers are passing over the ranks of professional interpreters when it comes to top leadership positions. I know for a fact that one VRS company, that shall go nameless in this forum, the owner of the company was pushed out only to be replaced by hearing people with zero experience in the fields of interpreting and Deafness.
I am including the press release from Purple (not the aformetioned company) below. It appears that not only have they replaced the outgoing President of the company with someone unrelated to our profession, they have hired someone (it appears at least, so I will stand corrected if I misunderstand the press release) who comes from a Korean telecom.
Why is it that VRS providers are passing over the ranks of interpreters? We are the engine of their financial beheamoth. I don't think this is right and each and every provider should have to answer the question.
Purple(TM) Appoints Dominic A. Gomez President
Experienced IP-Video and Broadband Executive Enhances
Seasoned Management Team
NOVATO, Calif., June 4, 2009 -- Purple Communications(TM), Inc.
("Purple") (Nasdaq:PRPL) , one of the nation's leading providers of
video and text relay and on-site interpreting services, today announced
the appointment of Dominic A. Gomez as the Company's new president.
Gomez will be an integral member of the Company's executive management
team, reporting to Purple Communications chief executive officer, Dan
Luis.
Gomez comes to Purple Communications from Hanaro Telecom, Inc., a TPG
Newbridge company and Korea's leading integrated telecommunications
provider offering a range of broadband Internet, voice, and video
services. Gomez was Hanaro's chief operating officer from 2005 to 2008
where he led all day-to-day operations and was responsible for $2.0
billion in revenue and over 4 million customers. While at Hanaro,
Dominic and his team modernized and transformed the company through new
Internet-based video products and services which resulted in market
share gains, significant cost-structure efficiencies and positive net
income for the first time in Hanaro's history. Prior to joining Hanaro
Telecom, Gomez held senior and executive management positions at Qwest
Communications, AT&T and PacBell.
"Dominic brings a wealth of experience which will immediately benefit
Purple and we're delighted to add him to our team as president," said
Dan Luis, Purple Communication's chief executive officer. "Besides his
strong commitment to achieving customer satisfaction, Dominic's
experience in South Korea, a pioneering country in fixed and mobile
broadband services, is directly relevant to Purple's growth strategy.
We see the proliferation of broadband services in the United States
helping to enable new communications frontiers and employment
opportunities for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and Dominic
will be essential in leading that charge."
"Purple's diverse mix of services for use in the home or at work is
unique and very compelling," said Gomez. "I look forward to meeting the
long term and varied needs of our customers and to delivering a
consistently improving experience for our customers as part of our
industry's long-term goal of achieving functional equivalence for the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities."
Gomez succeeds outgoing Purple Communications president Ed Routhier who
will continue to support the company in the non-managerial capacity as
a Senior Advisor. "I would like to thank Ed for his contributions to
the Company," said Luis. "Ed has played a very important role in
establishing Purple and I know he will continue to be an advocate for
both the Company and the Deaf Community."
About Purple Communications
Purple Communications is a leading provider of onsite interpreting
services, video relay and text relay services, and video remote
interpreting, offering a wide array of options designed to meet the
varied communication needs of its customers. The Company's vision is to
enable free-flowing communication between people, inclusive of
differences in abilities, languages, or locations. For more information
on the Company or its services, visit www.purple.us or contact Purple
Communications directly by voice at 415-408-2300, by Internet relay by
visiting www.i711.com or www.ip-relay.com, or by video phone by
connecting to hovrs.tv.
I am including the press release from Purple (not the aformetioned company) below. It appears that not only have they replaced the outgoing President of the company with someone unrelated to our profession, they have hired someone (it appears at least, so I will stand corrected if I misunderstand the press release) who comes from a Korean telecom.
Why is it that VRS providers are passing over the ranks of interpreters? We are the engine of their financial beheamoth. I don't think this is right and each and every provider should have to answer the question.
Purple(TM) Appoints Dominic A. Gomez President
Experienced IP-Video and Broadband Executive Enhances
Seasoned Management Team
NOVATO, Calif., June 4, 2009 -- Purple Communications(TM), Inc.
("Purple") (Nasdaq:PRPL) , one of the nation's leading providers of
video and text relay and on-site interpreting services, today announced
the appointment of Dominic A. Gomez as the Company's new president.
Gomez will be an integral member of the Company's executive management
team, reporting to Purple Communications chief executive officer, Dan
Luis.
Gomez comes to Purple Communications from Hanaro Telecom, Inc., a TPG
Newbridge company and Korea's leading integrated telecommunications
provider offering a range of broadband Internet, voice, and video
services. Gomez was Hanaro's chief operating officer from 2005 to 2008
where he led all day-to-day operations and was responsible for $2.0
billion in revenue and over 4 million customers. While at Hanaro,
Dominic and his team modernized and transformed the company through new
Internet-based video products and services which resulted in market
share gains, significant cost-structure efficiencies and positive net
income for the first time in Hanaro's history. Prior to joining Hanaro
Telecom, Gomez held senior and executive management positions at Qwest
Communications, AT&T and PacBell.
"Dominic brings a wealth of experience which will immediately benefit
Purple and we're delighted to add him to our team as president," said
Dan Luis, Purple Communication's chief executive officer. "Besides his
strong commitment to achieving customer satisfaction, Dominic's
experience in South Korea, a pioneering country in fixed and mobile
broadband services, is directly relevant to Purple's growth strategy.
We see the proliferation of broadband services in the United States
helping to enable new communications frontiers and employment
opportunities for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and Dominic
will be essential in leading that charge."
"Purple's diverse mix of services for use in the home or at work is
unique and very compelling," said Gomez. "I look forward to meeting the
long term and varied needs of our customers and to delivering a
consistently improving experience for our customers as part of our
industry's long-term goal of achieving functional equivalence for the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities."
Gomez succeeds outgoing Purple Communications president Ed Routhier who
will continue to support the company in the non-managerial capacity as
a Senior Advisor. "I would like to thank Ed for his contributions to
the Company," said Luis. "Ed has played a very important role in
establishing Purple and I know he will continue to be an advocate for
both the Company and the Deaf Community."
About Purple Communications
Purple Communications is a leading provider of onsite interpreting
services, video relay and text relay services, and video remote
interpreting, offering a wide array of options designed to meet the
varied communication needs of its customers. The Company's vision is to
enable free-flowing communication between people, inclusive of
differences in abilities, languages, or locations. For more information
on the Company or its services, visit www.purple.us or contact Purple
Communications directly by voice at 415-408-2300, by Internet relay by
visiting www.i711.com or www.ip-relay.com, or by video phone by
connecting to hovrs.tv.
Tags: leadership, management, managers, passing over interpreters, vrs, vrs leadership
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Stefan on -
I personally don't want any one that does not have a back ground in interpreting, period end of story. Even if it is Purple!
I work for the competition, gotta get my digs in somehow, LOL!
I don't know that I would like to see someone that doesn't understand Interpreters, Interpreting, Deaf culture, leadership of all of the afore mentioned. To see leadership turn more corporate, leading to corporate problems is going to be the 'death' of many hands/interpreters. How often have we seen corporations turn employee's into numbers and if you are not assimilated into the juggernaut that it becomes then you are an expendable asset.
As it stands now, too many of the VRS companies are looking for "warm bodies" to fill seats and are putting what ever they can in a seat. "You know sign language? Sure, we will hire you!" SAD! VRS is still experiencing way too many growing pains in other areas that are in deperate need of attention. Now we have corporate leaders wanting to take the reigns? It's gonna get out of control quick! Employee's beware!!!
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Permalink Reply by ASL4U on -
too late.
Now all we can do is to take a deep breath - and see what's in store for us.
Terri Hayes
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Permalink Reply by ASL4U on
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Professional Interpreting - is a business. You dont necessarily need or want to hire an engineer to head an engineering company. The Engineers do the work - the Business managers manage the company.
Purple and all of the other interpreting field business' cropping up at this time, is doing what any good business does. They are putting the people who have a track record at making money in their ventures - at the top.
Its about money .. not about interpreting, interpreters, or Deaf people (although - there is an entirely related side note that (it seems) Purple and Sorenson and and and - are hiring more Deaf in population - than any hearing oriented company ever would... so this is - in a way... although there are negatives that have not yet been noticed - seem to be a good thing for the Deaf community).
Interpreters - are fast becoming a commodity... and there are systems - ranging from what they're teaching in colleges (employee mindset), RID's new test (English oriented results), and how contemporary Deaf are now expressing their own perception of ASL (ASL is not for business use, "I dont want to miss the words... only good for chat)... and cochlear implants (dont like em - but still getting em)...
ALL of which are contributing and supporting this shift.
Terri Hayes
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Permalink Reply by Daryl G Crouse on
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The experience that people outside of the profession might have is valuable, yes. However, I know of instances in other industries where companies create a path to leadership through management training programs, career development and support of leadership programs in educational institutions. I do not see providers doing that, thus, the excuse that "interpreters just don't know how to run the business" is nothing more than cop out on the part of providers.
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Permalink Reply by ASL4U on
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yes - I agree whole heartedly... but I also know that in business, sometimes its not in your best interest to have too many people who "know" the business.
There are business's out there - (elbow and a wink Daryl) who are in business because they let an interpreter create it - and then they eliminated the interpreter and took off from there.
Interpreters have a culture - enforced by a Code of Ethics from way back, that says "We dont know anything. We dont learn anything from the jobs we do."
Thats not true - but Interpreters advertising this as fact - for years, combined with the fact that Deaf people have NEVER been satisfied with the services we have/are providing (linguistically and/or culturally).. combined with the fact that Interpreters are hearing world who in many cases (are perceived by Deaf) "just in it for their own benefit"... be that money or information or... or...
combine that with our own current code of conduct that says we are not to get anything out of out jobs that is in our own best interest (which is how an interpreter going up in ranks would be percieved)...
combine to that, interpreters who have their own business - Have the OWN business... and bosses - dont easy much make good employees.
all of these things, and more - contribute to there being no interpreters "climbing the ranks"...
and then of course... if an interpreter were to get actually hired into management/upper managment - into any position that is Not a submissive/interpreter position...
you would not be an interpreter anymore...
you would Have Been an interpeter
which comes back around to... "and got there on the backs of Deaf"
Now, I dont think all of these points are overtly contributing to the phenomena you've noticed. Nobody is out there saying, lets not hire interpreters because because because... but I do think that these point are contributors on a unconscious level - inhibiting both sides from pulling in Interpreters.
and one more-
Interpreters are the commodity... and there are not enough good ones. So why would any company (that needs good interpreters) help a good interpreter OUT of the business..
perhaps that too - is a tickle way down on the inside of the decision making place.
PS - there are interpreters who are up in ranks - in both Sorenson and Purple.. and I'm sure the others...
but the other part of it is - there's just not that many "slots" available for the interpreters to vie for.
but then - you were talking about recruiting ... so I've gone of and around the bush.
sunny day to ya
Terri Hayes
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Viable is now being swallowed up by Snap.
I wonder if Viable's Deaf ownership will be able to stay or will they be forced out like interpreter owners have been in the past.
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Permalink Reply by Risa O on -
I have very mixed feelings about this. It’s a very good discussion point. My gut reaction to interpreters as managers is that they should have some type of management background or training first. Then again, I have to disagree with myself. I have had wonderful interpreter/managers with nothing but linguistic backgrounds, and lousy ones with management degrees and backgrounds. I guess there’s just a certain gift. Most people in this world are not managers, be they interpreters or not. However, just as interpreters who don’t know ASL very well seem to get into interpreting, people who definitely shouldn’t be managers seem to manage in all kinds of arenas, and video relay is no exception. I guess what I would like to see is pro-interpreter managers. If they are interpreters themselves, that would be even better. In fact, if they are not interpreters, how can they assist on a call if no one else is available to team at that moment? However, I do understand that you are also talking about people who are promoted to the level where they would not be working on the front lines in the center. Here is what I’ve noticed: Not all interpreters stay the same once they are promoted. In the past, I have had to work in environments where the interpreter/managers were being pressed by those over them to drive us to work without breaks. I don’t mean that we couldn’t go to the bathroom. And I don’t mean that there wasn’t eventually a meal break. But if it wasn’t time to eat and you didn’t have to go to the bathroom, your hands were in the air. I have actually stood there and explained to people who have more tenure in the interpreting field than I do that interpreting doesn’t work like other jobs, our arms are up when we work and not down, we are at great risk for injury compared to many other professions, etc. I felt like I was standing at the Hershey factory explaining to the people who manufacture candy that, in case they didn’t know, chocolate is sweet and fattening and delicious!
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