From War-Torn Interpretation To High-Tech Translations: The Alexa Translations Origin Story

From War-Torn Interpretation To High-Tech Translations: The Alexa Translations Origin Story

By Joshua Cook
September 13, 2022
3 min read
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By Joshua Cook
September 13, 2022
3 min read
Share this post:

To truly understand the lifeblood of a company, you need to understand its founder.

Alexa Translations' founder, Gary Kalaci, was born and raised in Albania and, in the late-90's, was forced to navigate the challenges brought on by several war-torn countries. With a desire to help and the ability to speak multiple languages, Gary acted as an interpreter for Kosovo refugees and immediately began his career in the translation and interpretation industry.

A few years later, Gary immigrated to Canada and, upon his arrival, started working as a court interpreter. After achieving a joint JD and MBA degree from the University of Windsor, he noticed an opportunity to turn his skills and experience into a business. Thanks to a strong academic background and a fervent entrepreneurial spirit, Alexa Translations was born!

At first glance, the name 'Alexa Translations ™' appears to be a simple pairing of words; Alexa and Translations. However, the name goes further than that and is, in fact, a well-calculated creation by Gary himself. He selected the term 'Lex', a Latin word meaning "a system or body of laws". Also, he referred to 'Lexicon' or 'Lexique' in French, which denotes "the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge." Gary then added an ‘A’ to the word ‘Lex’ to obtain a higher alphabetical ranking - a common marketing tactic to increase the likelihood that Alexa Translations would appear at the top of a company directory list.

In addition to a strong name, the company needed a meaningful and memorable slogan that resonated with people. 'Breaking the Language Barrier ™' was just that. The slogan conveyed a powerful message to its audience: we make it easier for people to communicate and collaborate across the globe. With those principles in mind, ‘Breaking the Language Barrier’ became not only a slogan but a mission statement in and of itself.

As the company continues to evolve and expand into foreign markets and offer new languages, one thing remains constant: a fanatical commitment to service and quality. Every member of the team continues to be obsessed with providing white-glove client service - and with multiple awards under its belt, the company has the track record to prove it. Combining the best service with the leading-edge A.I. technology ensures organizations can experience the best of both worlds. 

From humble beginnings to the market-leading technology company that it is today, Alexa Translations has cemented itself as one of the most trustworthy and quality-driven translation companies in the industry.

Learn more about our software and our service today!

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To truly understand the lifeblood of a company, you need to understand its founder.

Alexa Translations' founder, Gary Kalaci, was born and raised in Albania and, in the late-90's, was forced to navigate the challenges brought on by several war-torn countries. With a desire to help and the ability to speak multiple languages, Gary acted as an interpreter for Kosovo refugees and immediately began his career in the translation and interpretation industry.

A few years later, Gary immigrated to Canada and, upon his arrival, started working as a court interpreter. After achieving a joint JD and MBA degree from the University of Windsor, he noticed an opportunity to turn his skills and experience into a business. Thanks to a strong academic background and a fervent entrepreneurial spirit, Alexa Translations was born!

At first glance, the name 'Alexa Translations ™' appears to be a simple pairing of words; Alexa and Translations. However, the name goes further than that and is, in fact, a well-calculated creation by Gary himself. He selected the term 'Lex', a Latin word meaning "a system or body of laws". Also, he referred to 'Lexicon' or 'Lexique' in French, which denotes "the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge." Gary then added an ‘A’ to the word ‘Lex’ to obtain a higher alphabetical ranking - a common marketing tactic to increase the likelihood that Alexa Translations would appear at the top of a company directory list.

In addition to a strong name, the company needed a meaningful and memorable slogan that resonated with people. 'Breaking the Language Barrier ™' was just that. The slogan conveyed a powerful message to its audience: we make it easier for people to communicate and collaborate across the globe. With those principles in mind, ‘Breaking the Language Barrier’ became not only a slogan but a mission statement in and of itself.

As the company continues to evolve and expand into foreign markets and offer new languages, one thing remains constant: a fanatical commitment to service and quality. Every member of the team continues to be obsessed with providing white-glove client service - and with multiple awards under its belt, the company has the track record to prove it. Combining the best service with the leading-edge A.I. technology ensures organizations can experience the best of both worlds. 

From humble beginnings to the market-leading technology company that it is today, Alexa Translations has cemented itself as one of the most trustworthy and quality-driven translation companies in the industry.

Learn more about our software and our service today!

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BILL 96 WEBINAR (PART 1) - IN CASE YOU MISSED ITBILL 96 WEBINAR (PART 1) - IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

If you're operating in Quebec, you’ll by now be familiar with Bill 96, the Quebec government’s proposed law that is expected to take effect this summer. The bill will update the Charter of French Language, otherwise known as Bill 101, ensuring that nearly all business contracts, human resources activities, public services, marketing, and just about anything else will be available in French. 

The highly contentious bill has generated applause by some, and protests by others. Whatever your opinion of the new law, you must be prepared to take action before Bill 96 takes effect.

To help explain the impact of Bill 96, we recently assembled a panel of experts including Keyvan Nassiry (Nassiry Law), André de Maurivez (CIBC), Tania Da Silva (DLA Piper), and Gary Kalaci (Alexa Translations). Our panel discussed the general impact of the bill, provided recommendations for all businesses operating in Quebec, and explored the nuances of human resources and contractual law under Bill 96.

Did you miss the webinar? 

Not to worry - you can watch the recorded webinar below, and sign up here for updates about Bill 96 to ensure your business is prepared for the landbreaking new law.

This webinar was part one of our three-part series exploring Bill 96. The other two installments will take place in August and November - sign up here for updates on the upcoming webinars.

Not sure how to prepare for Bill 96? 

We can help. Get in touch with our team today to discuss how you can simplify your translation workflow and ensure you are compliant with Bill 96.

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