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Bio:
TechTrans International simplifies cross-cultural communication and enhances collaboration and understanding through world-class translation and interpretation, language instruction, logistics, and people.
Beth Williams founded the firm in 1993 when she submitted an unsolicited proposal to NASA. She saw that NASA would need Russian language and logistics services to support the U.S. Russian space program. Today, this Houston-based, woman-owned firm still supports NASA while maintaining a multi-million dollar commercial workload.
TechTrans trains the only interpreters in the world certified to support space-to-ground communications, and provides language instruction to astronauts and other space program personnel.
The firm translates documents and web content for government and commercial clients who need to expedite the flow of information to people in their own languages. TechTrans? interpreters support meetings and negotiations to help clients build rapport with their customers, international partners, and foreign delegations.
TechTrans? language instructors arm their students with the language skills they need to succeed in their careers. They provide tailored classroom instruction, individual tutorials and immersion language training in English as a Second Language and many other languages.
TechTrans? logistics teams in the U.S. and abroad ensure worry-free travel and meeting arrangements plus in-country ground transportation and on-site support. They process Visa applications; arrange travel; organize international conferences; provide cell phones and computer equipment abroad; and take care of international shipping. They also set up, register, equip and staff foreign offices.
Community involvement:
Ms. Williams sits on the Board of Directors for the Houston Chapter of the Texas Executive Women (TEW). She is a TEW Mentor for Career Women of the Future at Galveston Ball High School. She is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Baker Institute Roundtable at Rice University, the Greater Houston Partnership, the Astronaut Memorial Foundation, the Cancer Network Consulting Committee ? Early Detection Research Network, the President's Associates of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and the Grand National Waterfowl Association. Ms. Williams is a Charter member of the National Women's History Museum.
Person most admired:
The women who work for me. They work tirelessly, constantly juggling the demands of family and career. Their courage, loyalty, enthusiasm and creativity always amaze me.
Favorite book:
Voltaire?s Candide. Besides being hilarious, this 18th-century classic reminds me that facing hardship head on, accepting the struggle and developing the skills to survive is the key to success.
What I enjoy most about my work:
The people I work with, the challenges, the friendships. The opportunities to give back to my community that my work and position have opened up to me.
Greatest accomplishment:
My daughters. When my husband died, I was pregnant with my youngest, and my oldest was a just toddler. Raising kids as a single parent is tough. I am very proud that my daughters have become outstanding people and successful women.
Greatest challenge:
I started my firm with my friend and business partner. I had the business background and she had the technical expertise. She was killed by a drunk driver right after we won our first contract. Without the operations experience, I had to concentrate on building a strong management team, providing leadership vision, and keeping the focus on our customers? needs. Our success taught me that you don?t have to know it all yourself. With a strong staff and a clear vision, you can accomplish anything.
Advances I envision in my field over the next 10 years:
The language services field will become more differentiated as companies develop specialized expertise to serve their target markets?international business, oil & gas, intelligence, security, foreign affairs. Our schools will expand foreign language programs to educate a workforce with better foreign language capabilities.
Strategies to maintain balance in my life:
I don?t have time for extended vacations. So I work several ?mini-vacations? into my schedule. On business trips, I try to leave a day early. That gives me a day just for me away from home and the office. I?ll get tickets to a concert, go shopping or tour the city.
Advice for emerging entrepreneurs:
?If you?re afraid, don?t do it.? The entrepreneurial spirit is full of optimism, enthusiasm and energy. Not everyone has this drive, and that?s okay. If you have doubts, it may not be the right course for you.
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