GALA: The Globalization and Localization Association |

October 26, 2006

GALA Announces 2007-2008 Board Members

Globalization and Localization Association

Seattle, Washington, USA – The Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) recently announced the results of the 2007-2008 GALA Board elections. The GALA Board, which is composed of leaders from the localization and translation service industry, welcomes two members for the 2007-2008 term. Kim Harris, co-owner and managing director of text & form GmbH, a localization company in Berlin, Germany has been elected as a new board member and Arancha Caballero (TSG, Spain) has been re-elected to serve a second two-year term on the Board.

“GALA’s board leadership has been critical to the growth and success of the association. This group of five highly-dedicated volunteers serves an important role in representing the needs of our 215+ member companies worldwide,” said Laura Brandon, the administrator for GALA.

Kim Harris has published several articles and spoken at a number of events on topics including trends in the localization industry and the future of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the industry, quality standards and industry metrics. She has been actively involved in organizing industry and standards-related events. “As a board member, I am honored to have been elected to the board and I will work to promote this association of talented companies in the space outside our industry.”

Arancha Caballero is founder and director of overall operations for TSG – Translation Services GLOTAS – headquartered in Badajoz, Spain. Translation and localization service providers from Spain represent GALA’s second largest membership constituency (after the USA). Arancha has served on the GALA Board since 2005 and has been actively involved in coordinating professional development training for members as well as GALA activities for conferences such as Localization World. “I’m thrilled to take part in the coming term, especially given the incredible profiles of the other candidates.”

The end of this year will also mark the completion of a two-year board term served by Aki Ito from TOIN Corporation (Japan). Ito's tenure at GALA included relentless promotion of GALA, particularly among constituents of the Japanese localization industry. Along with other volunteers, Ito hosted “GALA in Tokyo” in September 2006, a successful gathering of more than seventy-five Tokyo-based localization company owners and directors, which featured speakers on the future of the Japanese localization industry.

Board members Stephen Ryan from Moravia Worldwide (Czech Republic), Christiane Bernier from Lionbridge (USA) and Matthias Caesar from Locatech (Germany) will continue their terms through the end of 2007.

GALA is an international non-profit association that promotes translation services, language technology and language management solutions. The member companies worldwide include translation agencies, localization service providers, globalization consultants, internationalization specialists and technology developers. GALA companies share a commitment to quality, service and innovation in helping clients reach global markets.