What made you start your own business?

I was born and raised in Lima, Peru and studied international business and economics. Due to an uncertain future because of political unrest and terrorism, I came to the United States in 1994 to pursue a better future for myself. When I arrived I didn’t speak any English; however, I quickly discovered that in order to succeed in this country I needed to speak the language. In order to achieve this, I enrolled in the ESL program at Weber State University and upon completion I continued my studies in business management with an emphasis in international business.

When I realized that many of the educational materials from Peru were the same as those used in the United States (the only difference being language), I decided that opening a translation company would be an excellent choice for my business. Additionally, I knew that there were many international companies and few translation companies here in Utah.

What is your most memorable moment as a small business owner? 

When I received my very first paycheck for a large translation that was done for our first large client. It was for approximately $13,000.00. I was so excited – I had never in my entire life seen that much money at once!

What makes you so passionate about your business?

It always makes me excited to go to another country and see some of the products and the information that our company translated. When I see the news and hear about a client that is very successful, I am thrilled to know that I played a small part in their success.

I also believe in providing more than is required of my company. I always strive to know our clients and their needs, and then I work diligently to exceed their expectations. I also believe that honesty and integrity are central to my business dealings, and I try to exhibit these qualities in everything that I do. I feel that this has made the difference between U.S. Translation Company being perceived as just another vendor to being a true business partner. With this personal and business philosophy, I have developed the company mission: “To help our clients enter new markets and increase sales in existing markets by breaking barriers in communication and understanding.”

View more 2008 Award Winner Profiles

View all of the 2008 National Small Business Week Award Winners.