ANGELA CARMAZZIFounder/President
The best description of Angela comes from her husband and partner, Vice President James Carmazzi: “Daughter of an immigrant field worker. A field worker herself. A former welfare recipient. Self educated. She challenged her culture’s traditions. Adopted a new culture. Wife first, mother of four second, President of a multimillion dollar corporation third. Enough said. I married a diamond in the rough!”
The roots of CGS are found in Angela Carmazzi – and in the central California radish fields where she spent portions of her childhood.
The bilingual daughter of a Mexican immigrant, Angela has long carried a deep empathy for non-English speakers and their struggles in a foreign culture. In 1998, that percolating compassion stirred her to start her own language-services company from her own diningroom table. The effort rocketed into a worldwide network of 5,000 linguists in more than 150 languages, and became the multi-faceted company that is Carmazzi Global Solutions today.
“I hate the term ‘language barrier,’” Angela says. “Language should be the thing that brings people together, not the thing that divides them. Accurate interpreting and insightful translation can change people’s lives. I’ve seen it, and I’m motivated by it.”
Angela has an extensive background in business networking and values the development of deep relationships, both personally and professionally. She is fluent in Spanish and holds a Court Interpretation Certificate from the University of California, Davis, and a Spanish certification from the California Department of Corrections. She has held primary ownership of the company since its inception and also taken part in acquiring two other language-service companies.
JAMES CARMAZZIVice President
If you could somehow harness James Carmazzi’s energy and enthusiasm for the task at hand, you could probably power several small cities. Since the company’s early days, James’ engaging style, intuitive business sense, and catalytic spirit have shaped and defined CGS.
“I love a business environment where a handshake actually means something,” James says. “Let’s dialogue a little. Let’s connect. And then let’s get the thing done. And few industries are more rooted in honest relationships than language services is. It’s a critical component.”
An influential voice in the language-services industry, James has overseen the turnaround of several small businesses. He has also excelled in small-business strategic consulting, marketing and sales, government relations as a former lobbyist, and various other aspects of business development, including company start ups and mergers and acquisitions.
James served as a Board member and Treasurer of the California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA). He also served as a Board member and Treasurer of the Association of Workers’ Comp Professionals (AWCP). He participates as a member of the Association of Language Companies Advocacy Committee, and as a Conference Committee member of the training and development industry leadership organization, ISA. A father of four and husband of CGS founder Angela Carmazzi, James also holds a Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate degrees in Social Science.
JEN WEAVERBusiness Development Manager
Spend 10 minutes with Jen Weaver’s infectious positivity and can-do intelligence, and you’re ready to tackle just about any obstacle. It’s the reason she’s such a hit as a client liaison, securing and caring for Carmazzi customers like few others could.
“People are so interesting; there’s so much to learn from every individual you’ll ever meet,” Jen says. “And if I can help develop systems and safeguards and relationships that will benefit others on a global scale? That’s my passion.”
The former Executive Manager for The Hidden Door Company of Sacramento, Calif., Jen joined the Carmazzi team in 2007 and made an immediate impact in the areas of client relations, internal IT management, and marketing. Married in 2008, she is also known to be dangerous around chocolate and cute shoes.
Jen holds Certifications in Cross Cultural Training and Dale Carnegie Sales Advantage. She holds a degree in Ministerial Arts, is completing her Business Administration Degree, and she has been an active member of Toastmasters International for years. Jen is based in Texas.
SANDI KRUGERAccount Manager
If you’re talking details, you’re talking Sandi Kruger. For years, and in a variety of roles, Sandi has been Carmazzi’s champion for efficiency and the company’s watchdog for the tiny, critical elements that often go overlooked.
“I’ve always gotten excited about embracing the ‘high objective,’” Sandi says. “But I also understand this: it’s the little things that feed the big things. You have to get to a mindset where ‘good enough’ actually isn’t. Ever.”
A Carmazzi ‘go-to’ player since 2003, Sandi has served as Director of Operations and helped oversee numerous large-scale projects for Fortune 100 companies and various governmental agencies. It was under Sandi’s administrative guidance that Carmazzi greatly increased the size of its linguistic network and implemented new staff training and goal-setting strategies.
Sandi holds Certifications in Managers Performance, Mastering the Essentials of HR, and Localization. She holds a degree in Ministerial Arts and an Associates degree in Fine Arts. Sandi is married with one child and pregnant with another. She is based in Nevada.
JOYCE MOUAAccount Manager
Thoughtful and savvy, Joyce Moua joined Carmazzi in 2008 and had an immediate impact on Carmazzi’s broadening array of skill sets. Her industrious and organized approach has benefited large-scale projects of all kinds – particularly those related to software, e-learning courses, and documentation help.
“I find that it pays to be mindful of people, objectives, and the places where they intersect,” Joyce says. “Be attentive to those elements, and you’ll be in a great position to get where the client wants to go.”
Joyce holds Certifications in Project Management and Massage Therapy. She received her Bachelor’s in Business with an emphasis in Project management. A mother of two, chef, and MBA student, she has been working in the translation/localization industry since 2007. Joyce is fluent in Hmong. She is based in Sacramento.
ARCIE FERNANDEZAccount Manager
State and county agencies are among those who can attest to the remarkable skills and diligence of Arcie Fernandez, whose uncommon focus allows her to sort and manage some of Carmazzi’s most complex projects with great efficiency.
“My job teaches me something new every day,” Arcie says. “The company is committed to giving us the training we need in emerging technology for language services, and that equips us all the more to serve our clients.”
Arcie has worked in the language-services industry since 1998 as an interpreter, translator, project manager and has been with Carmazzi since its inception. Arcie is a wife and mother of two, and is based in Mexico.
ERIKA ATTWATERAccount Manager
If you’re seeking passion for global social responsibility, then you’re seeking Erika Attwater. Working at the center of the logistical action as Carmazzi’s assignment coordinator, Erika also asserts herself in helping to shape CGS’ philanthropic philosophies as a member of the company’s Social Commitment Committee.
"I highly esteem the interpreting profession,” Erika says. “These men and women serve selflessly and tirelessly to ensure that every individual has a voice. But the sole reason I came to work for this company is because of the last line of its vision: ‘… that the resulting profitability creates avenues to support social commitments.’”
Erika is a successful local singer/songwriter and has a Ministerial Arts Degree. She is based in Sacramento.
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JEANNIE OLIVERESAccount Manager
A whirlwind of energy and smiles, Jeannie Oliveras has seemingly never met a challenge that she wasn’t up for. As a native of Mexico, she’s been a valuable asset to Carmazzi since 2005 and a client favorite. “I love what I do,” Jeannie says. “People come to us with these projects that seem almost impossible to them, and we make it possible. I love that.” Jeannie is an artist and graphic designer who is based in Mexico. |
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MELISSA PAGLUICADesktop Publisher A quiet yet fiery presence in the Carmazzi universe, Melissa manages and completes the desktop publishing of CGS’ localization projects. Her talent manifests itself in a number of artistic venues, and her background as a freelance illustrator comes in handy as well. “The best part of my work is that I get to play with design software and help people around me solve any problems they come across,” says Melissa, who is a cum laude graduate of California State University, Chico. Melissa has a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, Inter-Media Studio. She is based in Sacramento. |
MARCELA JENNEY
Consultant to CGS
You can call it engaging personality. You can call it Colombian charisma. But whatever you want to call Marcela Jenney’s unique presence and talents, you’re sure to label them one thing in the end: fearlessly effective.
A Colombian native, fluent in Spanish, with a nonstop entrepreneurial motor, Marcela was the founder of Contextual Communications, Inc. – which was acquired by Carmazzi’s translation division in 2007. Her past organizations have specialized in providing professional translation and localization services to a variety of businesses, particularly in the finance and training industries.
“I just think it’s fun to take a client’s expectations and consistently surpass them,” Marcela says. “There’s a great moment when your client is almost in awe of all you’re doing for them, and all that you could do for them. It’s a great moment, but you have to earn it.”
Marcela has been Certified for more than 15 years with the American Translators Association (ATA) and is past president of the Florida chapter of ATA. Certified Translator by Georgia State University, she provided translation, editing and project management services (finance, banking & educational material, e-learning) for Fortune 100 finance companies, government agencies, and consumer product companies.
For years American advertising agencies, working with such high-profile companies as Downey, have consulted with her and her organizations regarding their campaigns targeting the Hispanic market. The mother of two, Marcela is also an accomplished interior decorator and verifiably lavish hostess.
Marcela holds Certifications in Cross Cultural Training, Localization Management, English as a Second Language, and Marketing Management, and she holds a Bachelor’s in Social Communications, and is just about to complete her MBA. She is based in Florida and Colombia.