Cristina Franco C. Franco2016 CV.doc
Mailing Address Contact Numbers:
12465 GA Hwy. 18 (404) 259-0004 Cell
Pine Mountain
Georgia 31822
USA www.icrcommunications.com
Extensive experience translating several types of documents, texts, books and pamphlets, among others, in the English/Spanish language combinations. My interdisciplinary experience in the areas of marketing (product description and market development, research, media, sales and advertisement), administration and operations (evaluation, procedures, policies, social performance measurement, innovation & technology), and finances (budgeting, procurement, investment write-ups, and real estate), have helped me to render accurate, clear translations, and successfully address the proper group/registry. Translations are directed to help guide and position the foreign product/services/business to enter the Hispanic market, and vise-versa, acknowledging diversity and respecting mutual cultural moors. Understanding diversity, and local vocabularies helps to create, and develop translation projects for public services, and/or profit within diverse markets in the global economy.
Bilingual & Translation Work Experience:
2005 – Present * President & CEO of International Communication Resources (ICR), www.icrcommunications.com a virtual bilingual marketing & consulting communications firm which provides language aids, and services effective communications, between diverse groups; marketing analysis to enable synergies, and ease of planning to facilitate decision making, and smooth changes or transitions into the bilingual community. Most projects are based on bilingual/translations, cultural market evaluation, and services to individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
2000 – 2004 * Program Director, Georgia Commission on Interpreters, Georgia Supreme Court.
As Director of this government program I successfully developed the Interpreters Program for the court system in Georgia. Given my ties to the multi-cultural community, and experience working with minority populations, key factors in the successfully implementation of the organizational partnership strategy. Through intensive marketing and outreach, the program recruited, trained and registered over 740 interpreters in 16 languages to service the courts throughout the state. Presentations for judges, attorneys and interested groups were implemented to involve everyone into the participation of this new technique.
As a consultant for the Georgia Department of Health/Office of Minority Health, I developed the Medical Interpreters Certification Program for the State’s Department of Health Care (2005). Due to my work for the community/minority populations, and activities within the Hispanic community, the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, GHCC, honored me with a “Special Recognition Award” at their Gala Event (2006). I have also been featured as one of the prominent Hispanic Business Women in Georgia, in the Atlanta Woman Magazine, 2008/2009 issue.
My credentials include Certification from the Department of Defense, (DEOMI), to mediate EG, EEO, discrimination and work related disputes within Government agencies and the Military; specific certification from the National Association of Community Mediation, (NAFCM), Mediation Training for the Reservist Reintegration and Transition, Transportation Security Administration, and Train the Trainer Certification from the Mediation Training International Institute, MTII, and CDP designation from Eckerd University in Florida.
Also provided direct services to business on ADR issues, and offered training, in English and in Spanish, to address cross-cultural and diversity themes; bilingual mediation and negotiation skills. Was a member of the training team of Conflict Resolution Academy (CRA), an approved government provider, and a Georgia State registered Mediator and Arbitrator, since 2005. www.conflictresolutionicr.com
1995 – 2000 * Registered, Qualified and Certified Interpreter/Translator in the English & Spanish language combinations. Conference interpretation, simultaneous, consecutive interpretation and translation for the courts; freelance translations for businesses and several organizations. Mostly a part-time / freelance job which started at the Olympics in Georgia (1996), by being an on-site Spanish interpreter. Later I was offered a translator’s job at the law firm that represented a group of Hispanic families in Georgia, whose relatives had perished in the AirTran accident at the Everglades in Florida. Joined the firm’s translation team to work on numerous documents regarding the settlement of the claims (1998-2001).
1992 – 1998 * Associate Broker & Administrator. Partners Investments Real Estate, Inc. Licensed Commercial Real Estate Broker (Georgia), and Licensed Mortgage Broker (Florida and Georgia). As the firm’s administrator I managed day-to-day operations including supervision of staff, data collection for clients and partners. Tasks included management of leasing and rental properties, service partnerships and monitored a variety of real estate transactions.
1982 – 1990 * Director, Shareholder Communications & Assistant Corporate Secretary. ADELA Investment Company, a New York based international investment bank. Analyze and set up priorities, to create an efficient client intake-resource; data collection process complemented with appropriate administrative procedures, including ongoing feedback from subsidiaries; design, execute and follow up on services that met their unique needs.
With subsidiaries in various countries of Central and South America, and numerous joint ventures in other regions of the world, ADELA hired me to serve as the liaison and administrator between the field offices and shareholders, and to assist the President, (the former Chief Financial Officer of Exxon). Tasks included to maintain communication among managers and consultants across the developing markets; to expand operations based upon ADELA’s network in the region, and relationships with USAID, CARE, World Bank, banks, and multi-national organizations.
1977 – 1981 * Assistant to Program Director/Liaison Officer. Industry Cooperative Program/FAO
Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, New York & Rome. Primary occupation within ICP was to follow up marketing/strategic plans to secure the sustainability of small business projects in various parts of the world. I was given the task of translating proposals, both into English and/or Spanish, and reporting on the implementation and results of the projects. I managed the program’s portfolio and correspondence with nearly 500 members of this semi-official organization. This experience broaden my skills and adaptability, as I constantly traveled and learned to adjust to diverse environments. Also was fortunate to be involved in the creation of the World Hunger Program of the UN -
Education:
Political Science-NYU Graduate School
1981 (u/m) - New York University, New York
Bachelor in Business Administration – B.A./Marketing
1977/79 - Bernard M. Baruch College (S.U.N.Y.) New York City
B.A. Equivalent – Major/Political Science
1974/75 - Universidad Pontifica Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
Licenses & Certifications
· State of Georgia Licensed Commercial Real Estate Broker (since 1992)
· State of Florida & Georgia Licensed Mortgage Broker (1987)
· State of Georgia Qualified/Registered Court Interpreter (since 2000)
· State of Georgia Medical Interpreter (since 2003)
· Legal and Medical Interpreter Trainer/Instructor (since 2003)
· State of Georgia Registered Mediator/Arbitrator (since 2005)
· Bilingual Mediation: Domestic Violence, Cross-Cultural & Diversity Trainer (since 2005)
· Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution: Domestic/Civil/Juvenal - Registration No. 2516
· U.S. Department of Defense, DEOMI, Mediation for the Military Certification
General Computer Knowledge
MS Office: Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Publisher, Internet Explorer, MS Outlook, Outlook Express, Corel, Adobe Acrobat, Omni Page, Systran, MS Front Page (intermediate knowledge).
Some recent translations include:
· Spanish translation of: Civil Rights Pamphlet for Fulton County, Georgia
· Spanish translation of the Fair Housing Administration Manual: FHA’s Manual en Español
· Translation into English from Spanish/from Spain, AFINSA Bankruptcy (over 35,000 words/a 5-mo. project)
· Several contractual documents for Crawford Insurance while establishing in South America (a 3-year project)
· On-going translation for Morrison Homes website, a housing developer in the west US (a 3+year project)
· Spanish translation of educational brochures/pamphlet/training guidelines for LHS, a major health provider out of Louisiana, USA (5-year project)
· An Arbitration interactive website to service the public: www.net-ARB.com / www.Net-Arb espanol.com
· Bilingual educational/training manual for interpreters Georgia Dept. of Minority Health, and testing guidelines (2-yr)
· Mediation/Arbitration website: www.conflictresolutionicr.com
· Several others - too many to list, or private requests not to be featured.
Honors, Memberships & Associations
Cristina has been member and held leadership positions in numerous national organization, including seating on several non-profit and NGO’s Boards - (*) Served on the Board
· American Bar Association, Section of Dispute Resolution, Diversity & Equity Committee
Association for Conflict Resolution, Chair of ACR International Section, (*)
Member of the Programs Committee, and Chair, ACR Georgia Chapter (2008) (*)
· Georgia Mediators Association
· National Association for Community Mediation, NAFCM
· Kennesaw State University, Center for Hispanic Studies, (*)
· Kennesaw State University, Advisory Board for Conflict Management (*)
· U.S. Foundation for Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (*)
· Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, GHCC (*)
· National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators, NAJIT
· American Translators Association, ATA
· Atlanta Association of Interpreters & Translators, AAIT, Vice President and
Director of Public Relations (*) 2003-2008
· National Council of Interpreting in Health Care, NCIHC
· Medical Interpreters Network of Georgia, MING
· Association of Literary Translators, ALTA
· The Southern Center For International Studies
· Latina American Association, LAA, Chair Compañeros Giving Campaign (2007)
· Association of Colombian Professionals in Atlanta, ACOLPA
· Georgia Association for Latino Elected Officials, GALEO
· Georgia Council for International Visitors
· International Executive Women Association
· Harris County Chamber of Commerce (*)
Web site: www.icrcommunications.com
Personal and business references available upon request.
3