Who We Are

Founded by language professionals with many years of practical experience in the translation, localization and documentation business, BeatBabel combines all aspects of international communication into one. Whether you have been localizing your products for many years or are just now entering the world-wide arena, we are a reliable and experienced business partner to help you get noticed and be successful wherever your business takes you and where your customers are.

When language and cultural barriers can easily become obstacles, BeatBabel can assist. Our team consists not only of experienced individuals, but also comprises a linguistic and cultural variety that ensures the best possible outcome of every project we undertake.

BeatBabel spans the globe through a network of partners and individuals ready to handle any project, around the world and around the clock. We are where you need us most!

We take advantage of our ideal location between our European and Asian partners and customers. Your project gets the attention it deserves not just during the West-Coast workday, but when our office in San Diego closes, our partners in Asia and Europe can do their part. And ultimately, after a trip around the world, the project can be ready for handoff to you in a much shorter timeframe than what you are used to with your conventional partners. Let us prove it to you.

Meet some Team Members

	Michelle
Location:	Seattle, USA
Background:	I graduated from Central Missouri State University with a BA in Geography and International Studies. My background is in translation and localization and the medical field. I grew up on a farm in Kansas with every animal imaginable, but always dreamed of living in a big city like Seattle, surrounded by mountains and water. I like to bake for family and friends, but most of all, I love when I have the opportunity to travel and visit my husband’s family in Korea and Japan.
Specialties:	Client management Customer relations Multitasking - I am a mom, I have to! Problem solving
Favorite Hangout:	The beach, throwing rocks in the water and watching my boys play in the sand.
Can’t live without:	My SUV, chocolate, Captain Crunch cereal, my kids and husband (well, maybe some alone time for a couple of hours wouldn’t be so bad) J
Last book read:	The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Favorite things to do on the weekends:	Taking day trips with my 2 sons and husband, camping, hiking, shopping (without the kids), cooking Korean barbeque with my husband outside on the porch.
If you could have another career, what would it be:	Anthony Bourdain's job traveling the world, meeting people from different cultures, enjoying their food while getting paid. I will eat anything!

	Marie
Location:	San Diego, USA
Background:	I graduated from the University of Nice with a MA in English Studies, Linguistics and Translation. More recently I received my MBA in International Business from National University in San Diego. My background is translation and management both keys to the world of localization. I have enjoyed putting those 2 skills at use on a daily basis for the last 11 years both in Europe and in the USA helping many Fortune 500 expand to international markets.
Specialties:	Project management Vendor Management Customer and Vendor Relations CAT Tools and the Adobe Suite - especially InDesign and Photoshop
Favorite Hangout:	Carpe Diem in Hillcrest - usually sipping coffee there every morning!
Can’t live without:	Coffee, wine, my camera, my iPod and my pink crocs. Recently Twitter J
Last book read:	"Millennium Trilogy" by Stieg Larsson with the great Lisbeth Salander
Last concert seen:	Pearl Jam with Ben Harper opening
Favorite things to do on the weekends:	Read my Rolling Stones Magazine, eat macaroons, hang out with my friends, practice my fancy taiji and kung fu moves in Balboa park!
If you could have another career, what would it be:	Travel Photographer for National Geographic

	Burckhardt
Location:	San Diego, USA
Background:	After graduating from Kassel University with degrees in Computer Science, Graphic Arts and Social Sciences (adult teaching) I went traveling and exploring other countries and cultures. Languages and experience in foreign countries came in handy when I worked as a project co-ordinator with the Institute for European Environmental Policy, spending my working days in Bonn, Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam and London. Eventually, in 1989 I co-founded Translingua Documentation, one of the first localization companies in the industry and after a number of years seeing things from the European vendor perspective I was given the chance to move to the US and seeing the other side of the coin.
Specialties:	Problem solving Customer relations Software and Tools development, IT Anything that needs patience in getting fixed
Favorite Hangout:	A very quiet spot (33°15'48.02"N, 116°12'45.22"W).
Can’t live without:	My kids, Coffee, Computers, CNN, the ability to travel and meet people; my camera and my music (and yes, I finally bought an iPod after years of sticking with my dear, deceased Creative MP3 player)
Last concert seen:	"SKAzKA Orchestra" in Berlin
Last book read:	The "Ringworld" series by Larry Niven.
Favorite things to do on the weekends:	Camping, spending all day reading the New York Times, my Saturday afternoon trip for coffee and pastry at local coffee shops.
If you could have another career, what would it be:	Become an archeologist. (I may actually do that in the future)

	Ursa
Location:	Germany
Background:	After attending schools in Germany, Bolivia and the USA, countless “adventure” trips to foreign countries and a two-year education in Graphic Design, I studied Multilingual Communication at the University of Cologne and graduated with a BA Degree.
Specialties:	Project Management Translation Editing and Proofreading Quality Assurance
Favorite Hangout:	Preferably in the sun!
Can’t live without:	A great story to read and a great tune.
Last book read:	"Limit" by Frank Schaetzing and "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown
Last concert seen:	Jason Mraz
Favorite things to do on the weekends:	Enjoying peaceful walks along the Rhine, trying out new restaurants, seeing a show at the theatre.
If you could have another career, what would it be:	Translator. Oh no, wait ...

	Helen
Location:	France
Background:	I completed my BA in French and History of Art at the University of Wales, UK, then went onto do an MA in History of Ceramics. For a while I worked in museums but then changed career and started designing books and other printed materials, never losing my interest in all things French. Now, settled in the south of France, I am working as both a designer and translator and loving it!
Specialties:	Translation – French to English (social sciences, arts/design, business…) Proofreading (English) DTP and Graphic design – brochures, books, leaflets, logos… Quark Xpress, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Dreamweaver…
Favorite Hangout:	A little tea shop in Perpignan which is also an antiques shop. If you like your tea cup you can buy it!
Can’t live without:	My Mac... and my husband and 2 children, of course!
Last book read:	"A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini
Last concert seen:	The Icelandic band Sigur Ros
Favorite movie:	Lost in Translation.
Favorite things to do on the weekends:	Walks and picnics with my family, visiting friends, knitting, pilates and yoga.
If you could have another career, what would it be:	Film animator

	Martin
Location:	Germany
Background:	I have a degree in Graphic Design and worked as a freelance designer for several years. I also worked for a large Graphic Design agency in Europe for a few years, focussing on multilingual projects for several European cosmetics companies. I enjoy working with design, formatting, print and languages and am glad I can mix those skills everyday!
Specialties:	Graphic Design DTP Web Design
Favorite Hangout:	A calm room with light from the sun or candles and music.
Can’t live without:	Acting (on stage, in a theatre)
Last concert seen:	Jason Mraz
Last book read:	"The Power of inner Peace" by Diana Cooper
Favorite things to do on the weekends:	Preparing a candle light dinner, enjoying nature, having a good time with friends.
If you could have another career, what would it be:	Actor

	Noriko
Location:	Arizona, USA
Background:	Studied Economics in college in Japan> travel agent > Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer language instructor in Fiji > archeological illustrator > full-time translator since 2000 with 4 years experience as a healthcare interpreter.
Translation Specialties:	Legal (IP, business, product liability and other civil laws and contracts) Online employee training courseware for corporations Healthcare Tourism
Favorite Hangout:	Home.
Can’t live without:	My family, good music, good books and simple but good food.
Last book read:	"Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
Favorite movie:	"The Fantastic Mr. Fox"
Last concert seen:	Calexico
Favorite things to do on the weekends:	Cycling, hiking, taking dogs for a long walk, yard work, cooking for leisure and getting together with friends. I love fishing but there's no water in the desert!
If you could have another career, what would it be:	I want to be a scientist in my next life!

	Jorge
Location:	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Background:	I completed my Master Degree in Economics in the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and then decided to take a sabbatical in LA, California. That sabbatical year lasted 12 years. There, I started my translator career combining my two greatest passions: languages and films. For a long time I translated subtitles for Hollywood major film studios. In the meantime, computers and CDs came along so I took a "right" turn into software localization and technical translations. I clearly remember predicting at the time that everyone would end up having a PC at home and a phone in his pocket. They laughed! Years later, technology allowed me to return to Buenos Aires and continue this rewarding translation career that I enjoy so much.
Specialties:	Translation – English/Spanish/English Proofreading Advertisement (My favorite!!!)
Favorite Hangout:	A small restaurant in Palermo, Buenos Aires’ hottest new spot.
Can’t live without:	Traveling. Good food. Good wine. Good friends.
Last book read:	"The plot against America" by Philip Roth. (I am a total fan!)
Last concert seen:	Don’t remember.
Favorite movie:	The list is endless!!!
Favorite things to do on the weekends:	Absolutely nothing.
If you could have another career, what would it be:	Film director or architect...

	Flore
Location:	San Diego, USA
Background:	My "Traveling Degrees" : a BA in English and Spanish obtained in the South of France; a Masters in Journalism obtained in the North of France; a Post-Graduate Degree in International Journalism obtained in Quebec.
Specialties:	As long as it is not related to Economics, I can pretty much adapt to almost anything.
Favorite Hangout:	The vast steppes of Mongolia (which I do not get to see very often).
Can’t live without:	Something to write. And my iPod Touch.
Last book read:	Long List! Haruki Murakami. Yves Simon. Roddy Doyle. John Irving. Niall Williams. Noam Chomsky. Gore Vidal. Douglas Kennedy. Nick Hornby.
Favorite things to do on the weekends:	Sleep. Wake up. Sleep again. Sleep. Sleep. Sleeeeep. But do I?
Last concert seen:	The Arcade Fire, of course! And Natalie Merchant.
If you could have another career, what would it be:	Maybe an explorer?