Interpreters Unlimited Acquires Foreign Language Service Provider to Meet Language Demand Due to Immigration Rise
Interpreters Unlimited, Inc. of San Diego, CA is proud to announce the acquisition of GlobeLink Foreign Language Center, located in Colorado Springs, CO. GlobeLink has been Southern Colorado’s premier foreign language service provider since 1978, offering interpretation, translation, classes and training, cultural competency workshops, and language proficiency testing. Interpreters Unlimited, Inc. is happy to welcome the talented GlobeLink team to the IU family.
With this acquisition IU not only expands with an office in Colorado, but also diversifies its service portfolio, adding classes, training, workshops and proficiency testing to already established lines of interpretation, document translation, American Sign Language, localization and medical transportation services. Growth and expansion are nothing new for Interpreters Unlimited, Inc. This makes the fourth state in which IU has opened an office in the 11 years since owner Sayed Ali acquired the company. It is the latest step in their continued effort to meet the growing demand for foreign language services due in large part to the rise of immigration in the United States. It is also the latest step towards becoming the “go-to” and number one Language Service Provider in the United States.
Branded as the IU Group of companies, over the past 11 years Interpreters Unlimited, Inc. (San Diego) has acquired Arkansas Spanish Interpreters and Translators (ASIT-Arkansas), Albors & Associates (Florida), Alnet Transportation (Florida), Accessible Communication for the Deaf (ACD-Florida) and now IU GlobeLink, LLC (Colorado). Each location operates independently and reports to the corporate headquarters in San Diego. IU has gone from 6 employees to just over 100, with over 9,000 interpreters and translators working as independently contracted language service professionals. Ali created this model to emphasize the diversity, capability and geographic reach of IU Group, all of which are competitive differentiators in the marketplace, and all of which help to meet the growing demand for language services in the US.
The Language Services Industry is currently a $15 billion-dollar market in the US, which makes up 49% of the industry alone. It’s a market that continues to rise at a steady pace, seeing a 14% average year over year growth. A key contributor to this is the increase in immigration population which our entire country, and California in particular, is consistently seeing. Currently, 35% of the US population are immigrants, and one out of every ten counties in California have minorities as the majority. Shamus Sayed, IU Vice President, knows this very well. As a recent Congressional Candidate in California, he has seen the rise in immigration and the language issues facing the state and country first hand, personally seeing the importance it plays in the daily lives of so many. With immigration policy and border control being at the forefront of the nation’s focus, it is more important now than ever to provide these services to meet the growing demand.
Aside from immigration, there is also a steady increase in international business, business travel, federal and state requirements for interpretation and translation, and legislation mandating insurance and medical providers offer interpretation and translation services. One effect that the increase in demand has had on business, and on California specifically, is the state recently finding itself in a bind due to a shortage of court interpreters. The demand has been increasing but the supply has not caught up. This is where IU hopes to step in and fill the gap. By expanding and consistently growing, IU’s goal is to make sure every language service request gets filled, to make sure no one is left behind without proper communication aid. The IU expansion, along with state, federal and other entities outsourcing their needs can help to fill the demands, it can solve the state’s problem, and it is a serious one. When it comes to court interpretation, as well as medical interpretation, the results can have a major impact on one’s life, so it is extremely important for both sides to have a neutral party to break down the communication barrier in every case.
In California, as well as the rest of the US, there are more than 200 languages spoken, and Interpreters Unlimited, Inc. covers just about them all. Of course, language services stretch beyond just spoken language; American Sign Language is actually the 2nd largest language in the US. IU is pleased to be able to provide this noble service to those in need; it’s a service that helps so many and makes a difference in countless lives day after day.
Outside of their extremely large network of language service professionals nationwide, another advantage Interpreters Unlimited, Inc. possesses to successfully match those in need with the right interpreter is their proprietary “Match-Connect” software. Developed by IU at their San Diego office, this software creates complete transparency in the request process. Requesting an interpreter should be easy and trackable, every step of the way, and this software keeps the requestor, their stakeholders and most importantly, the limited-English speaking client or patient whom IU mutually serves, informed every step of the way. IU Match-Connect offers a variety of essential functions at the tip of your fingers, from managing interpreter appointments for clients or patients, to managing quotes and requests, reports and invoices, as well as trends in language needs and administrative duties.
Through their growth and innovation, Interpreters Unlimited, Inc. has a track record of being consistently recognized as one of the top Language Service Providers (LSP) in North America year after year. IU was the winner of the Small Business Association San Diego District Growth Through Acquisition Award this year and has made the Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America four times. In 2018 President & CEO, Sayed Ali, was also named a semi-finalist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in San Diego, the most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs, for the second year in a row. IU was also ranked in the Top 30 of Language Service Providers in North America for the 5th consecutive year coming in at #13, as reported by the Common Sense Advisory, the LSP industry’s leading market research company. With their consistent recognition, focus on expansion and growth, and keeping their fingers on the pulse of the trends of the industry and world, Interpreters Unlimited, Inc. is optimistic about continuing to climb the ranks as one of the leading Language Service Providers in the nation, breaking down the barriers of communication for all in need.
About Us
Making Connections Nationwide. Interpreters Unlimited provides comprehensive foreign language and American Sign Langauge services in the United States. IU works with every major industry including, healthcare, government, education, corporate and insurance, providing high-quality language services for onsite, over-the-phone and video remote interpretation services. For more information, please call 800-726-9891 to speak with a representative.
Media Contact
Marc Westray
(858)275-2582
marc(dot)westray(at)iugroup.com