A San Diego Voyager Inspiring Stories Interview

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Sayed Ali.

Sayed, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.

After immigrating from India and earning an electronic engineering degree, I became a design engineer for a company owned by the conglomerate International Telephone & Telegraph. I rose quickly to director of operations and helped save the company. With orders for components topping 1500 units/day, production was half of that. I met with 1200 employees, organized a detailed study and flow chart of every fix, and had them done NOW. The contributions of the many outweigh those of one leader.

I left to begin Creative Host Services (CHS), a groundbreaking bakery-deli concept that led to a quick acquisition. For my second venture, I chose airport concessions. Millions of dollars were needed to enter this highly competitive market, so I defied business logic and went public right away. In 2006, with $186 million in sales, the company was acquired. With each venture, I was the groundbreaker: I was the first to champion healthful ingredients in bakeries and delis and to franchise the concept (business #1); the first to introduce high-end services to local airports (business #2); the first to service those in danger interpretation– and translation-wise: emergency room doctors; border patrol; police. For me, 4 a.m. is like any workday hour.

In 2007, I acquired my current business, Interpreters Unlimited, and successfully expanded the company nationwide. I created IU Group, the parent company which is now comprised of Interpreters Unlimited and four other companies that I acquired in different territories throughout the US under its umbrella. I continue to grow the business through strategic marketing and operations efforts and by implementing new technologies into the business model.

One new technological venture is the new Interpreter Marketplace smartphone app that was just launched, an affiliate to IU. It is an app that matches foreign language and American Sign Language interpreters with the limited English speakers and Deaf individuals who require their services on a daily basis. It is available for use for both personal reasons from doctor appointments to immigration hearings, weddings, etc. to company use by hospitals and schools, corporations, etc.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?

I pride myself in calmly making high-risk decisions that grow companies so that employees grow, too. I have grown IU from $2 million in sales in 2007 to projected sales of $16 million in 2020. When I decided to acquire IU, financing was difficult; the market had crashed; and California, IU’s new home base, had a budget crisis. For eight months, IU wasn’t paid for critical services to the many government agencies IU served. I borrowed from a factor at exorbitant interest rates and services continued uninterrupted. We provide a very essential service which is needed in hospitals, in family situations where women are being battered, a child is being taken into custody. We couldn’t say no. With a family and two young sons, it wasn’t easy.

We are currently experiencing a challenge with the new AB5 ruling in the State of California, which directly impacts our company and business model along with so many others like Uber and Lyft, which rely on independent contractors to deliver services throughout the state. I have been personally working with other companies and industry leaders as well as legislators firsthand to try to change the ruling which will negatively affect so many companies, workers and individuals who depend on these services in our state daily.

Another challenge arose with technology, creating the new affiliate app Interpreter Marketplace, issues would come up in development and testing, and we saw delays, but we fine-tuned it and just launched it to the San Diego County public. When obstacles arise, I try to stay fearless and solution minded.

Interpreters Unlimited – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?

Interpreters Unlimited provides professional language interpretation including American Sign Language, written translation and non-emergency medical transportation services to businesses throughout the United States.

For IU’s most popular service, in-person interpreting, we contract linguists for on-site interpretation appointments for our government, healthcare, legal and corporate clients. Examples of the types of appointments include depositions, meetings, medical appointments, parent/teacher conferences, and events.

IU’s other services include video interpretation, telephone interpretations, document translation and non-emergency medical transportation which are fueled by client demand. Right now, during the Coronavirus pandemic, we are seeing more of a need for these services and are glad that we are able to provide remote interpreting to those who require it. Document translation is also really important and in high demand right now, companies need to be able to communicate their Coronavirus updates and operation information to their Non-English Speaking communities in their own language quickly.

Currently, IU’s national presence serves all major industries in 200 foreign languages and American Sign Language. IU’s comprehensive service offering eliminates language barriers to provide effective communication and understanding between English speakers and those with limited English proficiency and/or who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing.

Beyond IU, Interpreter Marketplace is the new interpreting app which is an IU affiliate. It allows businesses and individuals to book foreign language and American Sign Language interpreters for any need they may have right on their smartphone. Customers can browse interpreters by cost, location, bios and ratings and choose the one that best fits their needs. It is available for use for personal reasons from medical appointments to court hearings, parent-teacher meetings, etc. to company use by healthcare facilities and school districts, large and small corporations in any industry, etc.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?

I am proud to have come from humble beginnings and have built everything I have from the ground up. In building my companies, I sought out assistance from the SBA who provided loans which were helpful in financing acquisitions and growth. Fellow entrepreneurs and business owners have been very supportive and there has been a mutually beneficial relationship between us. Of course, all of my team members and staff have made a difference through the years, we do this as a team and they are all greatly appreciated. And family, family has always been the #1 supporter throughout my entrepreneurial career.

Contact Info:

• Address: 8943 Calliandra Rd, San Diego, CA 92126
• Website: www.interpreters.com
• Phone: 800-726-9891
• Email: yourteam@interpreters.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/interpretersunlimited
• Facebook: facebook.com/interpretersunlimited
• Twitter: twitter.com/Interpretersunl
• Yelp: yelp.com/biz/interpreters-unlimited-san-diego
• Other: linkedin.com/company/interpreters-unlimited-inc-

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Contact Us

Making Connections Nationwide. Interpreters Unlimited is a national language services provider in the United States. For more information, please call (800) 726-9891.

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Sources

San Diego Voyager. (2020, March 30). Meet Sayed Ali of Interpreters Unlimited. Retrieved April 24, 2020, from http://sdvoyager.com/interview/meet-sayed-ali-interpreters-unlimited-scripps-ranch/

A San Diego Voyager Inspiring Stories Interview

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Shamus Sayed.

Shamus, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.

I’m the middle of 3 kids and been in San Diego since 1979. Grew up in Poway, having graduated Poway High School in 1995. Ultimately graduated UC San Diego with a B.S. in Biology and pre-med for about 15 minutes. Had a job waiting for me at a biotech company the Monday after commencement. Climbed my way through and despite the passion for the sciences, I had a series of bad bosses and wanted to leave the corporate world. Parallel, my father had started a company in the late 80s, took it public in the late 90s, and sold it in the mid-2000s. He too was in a transitional state.

In 2007, over the course of 30 days, I got married, left my corporate job and took a 60% pay reduction as we closed the acquisition of Interpreters Unlimited (IU).

Over the course of 11 years, IU provides language services (onsite interpretation, document translation, telephone and video interpretation) in about 35 states in the healthcare, government, academic and corporate verticals. We are blessed now being one of the largest in the industry space. Over the last few years, we’ve been blessed to being recognized as one of San Diego’s largest privately held companies, INC 5000 ranked for 4 consecutive years, awarded by the SBA for two consecutive years, and Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Semi-Finalists for two consecutive years.

Outside of IU, I sit on 3 SDPD Advisory Boards and former president of the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association. And, this year a congressional candidate for California’s 50th district.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?

It’s a matter of perspective. If you love what you do, this isn’t considered “work”. Sure, we’ve had our cash flow struggles, lack of payment from the State of CA when the budget wasn’t approved, employee issues, regulation challenges… I can keep going, but the point here is that its par for the course. Each day is different but as long as there are more good days, I’m in a good place.

Please tell us about Interpreters Unlimited.

Interpreters Unlimited (IU) has been in business since 1970 but under our ownership since 2007. We are a matchmaker, i.e., we match clients who are having challenges communicating with their patients/clients with linguists in nearly 200 languages.

Though we offer services over the phone and video, what we are known for is providing an onsite interpreter. IU’s proprietary software and a network of nearly 10,000 independently contracted linguists matches clients with highly qualified/vetted linguists in nearly 200 languages throughout the country.

We’re proud of our ability to create a bridge between two people. The inability to effectively communicate has an adverse impact in every vertical in which we serve. The cost of our services is small relative to the costs of NOT using our service.

We are blessed with an amazing internal team who make this ability to serve possible. As a company, our focus is our clients – period. As owners, our focus is shared with our team and clients. A joint, equal priority is necessary.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?

This is a scary notion. Nothing.

Our experiences are our blessings. Though we may not see these as blessings at times. A wise person said rejection is God’s protection.

If we had done things differently, I wouldn’t have learned the lessons I know now.

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Contact Us

Making Connections Nationwide. Interpreters Unlimited is a national language services provider in the United States. For more information, please call (800) 726-9891.

[contact-form-7]

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Sources

San Diego Voyager. (2018, July 5). Meet Shamus Sayed of Interpreters Unlimited. Retrieved August 22, 2018, from http://sdvoyager.com/interview/meet-shamus-sayed-interpreters-unlimited-scripps-ranch/