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ProgramarSALT LAKE CITY – (Feb. 10, 2022) Sorenson Communications, the global leader of sign language interpreting and captioned phone services, has been named to the Forbes list of America’s Best Employers 2022. This prestigious award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.
“We are honored to be recognized as one of America’s best employers,” said Jorge Rodriguez, CEO of Sorenson Communications. “Our commitment to providing an engaging, dynamic, and inclusive workplace is unwavering. Our employees are the heartbeat of our organization, and their dedication to excellence and commitment to connecting people through communication are what drive our success.”
Earlier this year, Sorenson announced initiatives to increase support for its workforce of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, including adding educational opportunities, compensation adjustments, and hiring additional interpreters. Sorenson continues to lead the industry in training ASL interpreters and set a record of providing nearly 40,000 hours of education in 2021. Additionally, Sorenson continues to offer flexible schedules and remote work opportunities.
“This award is a testament to our outstanding workforce,” said Brian Breinholt, Sorenson Chief Human Resources Officer. “We are excited for this recognition of our teams and their unparalleled efforts to support connection and communication.”
Forbes and Statista selected the America’s Best Employers 2022 through an independent survey applied to a vast sample of approximately 60,000 American employees working for companies with more than 1,000 employees in America. Sorenson is one of 1,000 employers awarded across 25 industry sectors. The evaluation was based on direct and indirect recommendations from employees that were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family. Employee evaluations also included other employers in their respective industries that stood out either positively or negatively.To see open positions with Sorenson, visit the careers page.
More than 8,000 interpreters received training in 2021 with focus on BIPOC and LGBTQ communities
SALT LAKE CITY – (Feb. 1, 2022) Sorenson Communications continues to lead the industry in training American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters by providing best-in-class education that is specifically designed to improve communication between Deaf and hearing people. ASL interpreters help create connection and understanding across communities and supporting their professional development is essential. Last year, Sorenson set another record in ASL education with nearly 40,000 hours of training delivered. In addition to offering opportunities to upskill, ASL interpreters were able to support their professional credentialing with continuing education units (CEUs).
“Every day our ASL interpreters provide essential support to our consumers by facilitating access to information and enabling seamless communication, and we are committed to ensuring they have the highest skill level in the industry,” said Jorge Rodriguez, CEO of Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of video relay and interpreting services. “These frontline employees have so many community touchpoints – they support government communication in press briefings, patient communication in hospitals, and family relationships over video relay calls. Our customers deserve the best quality we can provide, and that starts with our interpreter training.”
Sorenson’s investments demonstrate its continued commitment to the interpreting and Deaf communities and include a wide range of programming especially designed to support interpreting students, Children of Deaf Adults (Codas), Certified Deaf Interpreters, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) interpreters. Sorenson’s presenter pool boasts more than 50 educators who are diverse, experienced, and committed to teaching interpreting.
“I want to let you know how appreciative I am of the training I received. I have been in so many trainings with varied trainers over the years. THIS was one of the BEST trainings with one of the BEST trainers,” said Paula M., an interpreter from Maine who attended the Cultural Mediation in Video Relay Service (VRS) course.
More than 1,500 community interpreters across the U.S. and Canada attended instructor-led, remote webinars sponsored by Sorenson’s interpreter education team. Training was designed to support their continued improvement and growth on topics ranging from fighting unconscious bias to honoring the LGBTQ experience. In addition to the CEUs offered, Sorenson hosted the Educational Interpreter Enhancement Program which supported interpreters in K-12 settings in improving their skills to interpret for children who are Deaf.
Sorenson also hosts Deaf Interpreter Academy (DIA), a program that supports Deaf community interpreters with trainings and webinars to advance their professional interpreting careers. In 2021, DIA piloted an Affinity Mentoring program to support BIPOC Deaf interpreters and plans to expand its efforts in 2022.
Supporting African American and Black interpreters was also a key focus in 2021. Working closely with diversity partners, Sorenson provided special events, workshops, social sessions, and keynote presentations. Additionally, Sorenson’s trilingual interpreters received specialized training in Spanish.
Sorenson’s training also includes Compass, a program designed for heritage language learners (interpreters who are bilingual children of one or more signing Deaf parents). Compass continued to expand its offerings in 2021, engaging over 100 Codas in uniquely tailored instruction delivered through several online platforms. This focus on remote learning allowed a diverse population in urban and rural areas across the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii.
“Sorenson’s amazing investment in interpreters opens doors within the field of interpreting and gives us opportunities to all grow together,” said Stephanie Criner, executive director of Sorenson’s Interpreter Education and Professional Development team. “I am proud to be a part of these meaningful educational opportunities that support lifelong learning for interpreters and that make such a critical contribution to improving the lives of Deaf people and their families.”
SALT LAKE CITY – (Jan. 28, 2022) – Today, Sorenson Communications announced another milestone in communication inclusion for Deaf citizens in the United Kingdom. On Thursday, the U.K.’s Office of Communications (Ofcom) approved Sign Language Interactions (SLi) as the official provider for the U.K.’s new Emergency 999 Video Relay Service (VRS). SLi is a Sorenson, United Kingdom-based company.
“Ofcom’s approval of the first VRS-accessible emergency service in the U.K. is another communication breakthrough for the British Sign Language (BSL) community,” said Sorenson Communications CEO Jorge Rodriguez. “We celebrate this fantastic news and are honored to be chosen as the supplier of these critical services as we continue our global expansion.”
Crisis and emergency situations require clear and reliable communication. VRS enables Deaf and hearing callers to communicate in real time through a high-speed internet connection and device. Calls are routed through remote sign language interpreters, fluent in both signed and spoken language – who “relay” the messages between the two parties. Callers communicate in their natural language – signed or spoken – and the real-time communication flows naturally.
“We are pleased to continue bridging gaps and strengthening BSL access for the Deaf community. Getting to this point was a journey of collaboration and is timely with Ofcom’s new requirement that VRS emergency services be made generally available,” said Andrew Dewey, CEO of SLi. “We urge other businesses and services to become more inclusive with accessible services for diverse communities.”
Beginning June 17, 2022, telephone and broadband companies in the U.K. must provide no-cost 24/7 VRS for BSL callers to contact 999 or its pan-European equivalent, 112. These companies may implement this requirement on their own or pay another company to do so, although the service must be approved by Ofcom.
Read Ofcom’s statement regarding approving SLi as the official provider of 999 VRS.
Watch SLi’s British Sign Language video above about the announcement.
SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 27, 2022) – Sorenson Communications, a leading provider of interpreting and Video Relay service, concluded its first thought leadership series, titled “frame.influence,” with a special interview with Lauren Ridloff, of Marvel’s “Eternals” movie.
“We are honored to highlight these Deaf leaders and learn from their distinct perspectives,” said Sorenson CEO Jorge Rodriguez. “Connecting people and supporting their relationships is at the heart of what we do, and we are delighted that Lauren shared her story in our first thought leadership series.”
Frame.influence explores the different ways personal frame – or perspective – is shaped and how it influences people, their lives, and how they see the world. Leading the Sorenson frame.influence interviews was Callie Frye, a disability rights advocate and Daily Moth reporter. In addition to Lauren Ridloff’s interview, Frye sat down with Nikki Reineck, the CEO and founder of Sisters in Style, a successful clothing boutique, and Harmony Baniaga, a dancer who incorporates sign language into her performances.
In the final interview of the series, Ridloff shares her journey about owning her narrative as a Deaf, Black, and Latina woman, and the shift in how Deafness is perceived. She recalls the moment she first saw her superhero character “Makkari” as a figurine: “To me that represented a huge step in seeing my Deafness as something to celebrate.” Ridloff noted the positive change she sees following “Eternals” and what her role means for Deaf actors. “I’m thrilled to finally have that shown on a global scale,” she said. “When people can see what a Deaf person can do, I hope that helps shift perceptions and attitudes.”
The entire frame.influence series is available at https://sorenson2021es.wpengine.com/events/fall2021/
About Sorenson Communications, LLC
Connecting Life. Sorenson Communications, was founded on the principle that communication and being understood is fundamental to the human experience. Inspired by this belief and the core values of our communities, we develop the most trusted communication offerings, including Sorenson Relay, the highest-quality video interpreting service, and Sorenson Interpreting, which matches qualified sign language interpreters to specific assignment needs. As the largest employer of sign language interpreters, Sorenson endeavors to provide each customer with an exceptional communication experience. Sorenson offers innovative, Deaf-specific communication products, such as ntouch® videophones and ntouch software applications that connect PC, Mac®, and mobile device users to Sorenson Relay. For more information, visit sorenson2021es.wpengine.com.
Press Contact
Ann Bardsley
Sorenson Communications and CaptionCall
Director of Public Relations
801-287-9400
[email protected]
SALT LAKE CITY – (Jan. 26, 2022) Sorenson Communications announced today a pilot with Amazon and Microsoft to support the development of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. The initiative, called the Corporate Consortium Paid Partnership, is a collaboration to provide paid practicum and mentoring experience to current students and new graduates of ASL interpretation programs.
Sorenson is the leading provider of ASL interpreting services and Video Relay Service (VRS), and Amazon and Microsoft lead the technology industry in accessibility from the recruitment stage to employment accommodations.
“The strength of our workplaces, schools and communities is directly tied to diversity and accessibility,” said Jorge Rodriguez, CEO of Sorenson Communications. “ASL interpreters help create connections between Deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing people across industries. We are excited to collaborate with Amazon and Microsoft to help develop the next generation of ASL interpreters who will continue the important work of supporting a more diverse and inclusive world.”
American Sign Language interpreters are important to ensuring employment, education and healthcare settings remain accessible to people who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing. The Corporate Consortium Paid Partnership aims to develop more ASL interpreters and address the current interpreter shortage, especially as it affects underrepresented communities.
The Corporate Consortium Paid Partnership offers paid learning opportunities for students who are enrolled in or recently graduated from interpreter education programs. Participants of the program will have opportunities to observe professional interpreters working in a variety of corporate settings at Amazon and Microsoft, and participants will also be given the opportunity to interpret with supervision and immediate feedback in a safe environment that will fast-track their transition into the field. Additionally, experienced interpreters will provide weekly mentoring and evaluation to help participants identify skills to improve and progress through the program. This exciting initiative will provide new ASL interpreters and current students with meaningful experience in a supported environment while also protecting the integrity of the interpretation for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
“Communication is fundamental to the human experience, and ASL interpretation supports that between Deaf and hearing people,” said Joshua Pennise, Sorenson Interpreting Vice President of Operations. “We look forward to continuing to invest in our current and future interpreter workforce through the highest quality training and best opportunities in the industry.”
Applications for the program are now open, and to learn more, please visit sorenson2021es.wpengine.com/careers/CCP.
About Sorenson Communications, LLC
Connecting Life. Sorenson Communications (sorenson2021es.wpengine.com) was founded on the principle that communication and being understood is fundamental to the human experience. Inspired by this belief and the core values of our communities, we develop the most trusted communication offerings, including Sorenson Relay, the highest-quality video interpreting service, and Sorenson Interpreting, which matches qualified sign language interpreters to specific assignment needs. As the largest employer of sign language interpreters, Sorenson endeavors to provide each customer with an exceptional communication experience.
Sorenson offers innovative, Deaf-specific communication products, such as ntouch® videophones and ntouch software applications that connect PC, Mac®, and mobile device users to Sorenson Relay. For more information, visit sorenson2021es.wpengine.com.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by 16 Leadership principles as it strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.
About Microsoft
Microsoft Media Relations, WE Communications, (425) 638-7777, [email protected]
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://news.microsoft.com. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-public-relations-contacts.
Press Contact
Ann Bardsley
Sorenson Communications and CaptionCall
Director of Public Relations
801-287-9400
[email protected]
First Latino CEO reinforces company’s commitment to diverse communities
SALT LAKE CITY – (Jan. 18, 2022) – Today, Sorenson Communications announced Jorge Rodriguez as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, a position that will draw upon his three decades of leadership in telecommunications, management, and international business. The appointment of Mr. Rodriguez supports the goal of expanding critical communication services to Deaf and hard-of-hearing people while promoting new opportunities for equity and inclusion.
“We welcome Jorge and look forward to watching the company transform and grow under his leadership. Jorge’s ability to unify, focus, and identify and develop resources will support Sorenson’s mission of delivering services to new and existing customers as well as to diverse communities. He also has great experience in regulated businesses and is uniquely qualified to build on the company’s strong compliance culture,” says David Posnick, a member of Sorenson’s board and senior managing director of Blackstone Credit, Sorenson’s majority owner.
Prior to joining Sorenson, Mr. Rodriguez served as president and CEO of multiple América Móvil companies, including Claro Enterprise Solutions and Telvista, Inc. He was responsible for the firm’s multinational customer strategy, the international product and BPO organizations, and was the senior executive responsible for the firm’s global enterprise segment. Most recently, he launched Claro Enterprise Solutions’ expansion into Western Europe and established an integrated channel management program across the U.S. market to support an aggressive growth strategy. He established global alliances, leveraged technology to drive next–generation capabilities for enterprise customers, and served on multiple América Móvil company boards.
Mr. Rodriguez has more than 30 years in the telecom and IT industries and brings extensive experience in both domestic and international markets. Prior to joining América Móvil, Mr. Rodriguez held various executive positions at AT&T and AT&T Latin America, including vice president of corporate operations, vice president of sales and operations, and regional vice president. Among other achievements at AT&T and AT&T LA, he launched startup operations across Latin America, established fully integrated regional operations in support of global clients, and was a board member of several AT&T LA operating companies.
“Over the years, I have seen the difference companies can make in people’s lives. Sorenson’s mission is noble, and the dedication to serving customers is impressive. Every day, Sorenson employees connect people across languages, cultures, and communities,” says Mr. Rodriguez. “I am honored to join the company, and I look forward to a bright future as we work together to expand our capabilities.”
Mr. Rodriguez holds an M.S. degree in technology from Columbia University, earned an MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology, is a graduate of Kenan-Flagler’s (UNC Chapel Hill) Masters Advanced Management Program, and received his B.A. in biology-molecular biology from Colgate University. Mr. Rodriguez serves on external boards, including the Board of Overseers for Columbia University SPS.
About Sorenson Communications, LLC
Connecting Life. Sorenson Communications (sorenson2021es.wpengine.com) was founded on the principle that communication and being understood is fundamental to the human experience. Inspired by this belief and the core values of our communities, we develop the most trusted communication offerings, including Sorenson Relay, the highest-quality video interpreting service, and Sorenson Interpreting, which matches qualified sign language interpreters to specific assignment needs. As the largest employer of sign language interpreters, Sorenson endeavors to provide each customer with an exceptional communication experience.
Sorenson offers innovative, Deaf-specific communication products, such as ntouch® videophones and ntouch software applications that connect PC, Mac®, and mobile device users to Sorenson Relay. For more information, visit sorenson2021es.wpengine.com.
Press Contact
Ann Bardsley
Sorenson Communications and CaptionCall
Director of Public Relations
801-287-9400
[email protected]
Reaffirms ongoing commitment to Deaf, underrepresented communities
SALT LAKE CITY – (Jan. 11, 2022) – Today, Sorenson Communications announced a suite of programs to support the people who serve the company’s Deaf customers – American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. The news signals Sorenson’s continuing commitment to Deaf and diverse communities as well as its dedication to accessible communication for all U.S. citizens.
“For nearly 20 years, our customers have trusted us with their communication needs,” says Jorge Rodriguez, CEO of Sorenson, the nation’s leading provider of video relay and ASL interpreting services. “To honor this trust in meeting growing interpreting demands, we are committed to increasing interpreter availability, which, ultimately, provides the Deaf community with increased access to work opportunities and financial gain.
“We are investing in our interpreters, who are the heart and soul of our company, and adding professional development resources to strengthen and celebrate them. In addition, we plan to put resources toward training the next generation of interpreters so we will be ready to meet future needs of the Deaf community.”
Sorenson accessibility initiatives include:
The interpreting industry relies on trained interpreters to fulfill many requests from the Deaf community. Sorenson’s programs are aimed at supporting interpreters who may be experiencing fatigue from interpreting demands, working increased hours during the pandemic, and interpreting stressful conversations.
“We appreciate our interpreters and are committed to enhancing their opportunities. We are instituting these programs to uplift and support our interpreters. And we intend to introduce additional programs throughout the year as we look to transform the overall employee and customer experience,” says Rodriguez.
About Sorenson Communications, LLC
Connecting Life. Sorenson Communications (sorenson2021es.wpengine.com) was founded on the principle that communication and being understood is fundamental to the human experience. Inspired by this belief and the core values of our communities, we develop the most trusted communication offerings, including Sorenson Relay, the highest-quality video interpreting service, and Sorenson Interpreting, which matches qualified sign language interpreters to specific assignment needs. As the largest employer of sign language interpreters, Sorenson endeavors to provide each customer with an exceptional communication experience.
Sorenson offers innovative, Deaf-specific communication products, such as ntouch® videophones and ntouch software applications that connect PC, Mac®, and mobile device users to Sorenson Relay. For more information, visit sorenson2021es.wpengine.com.
Press Contact
Ann Bardsley
Sorenson Communications and CaptionCall
Director of Public Relations
801-287-9400
[email protected]