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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
David Utrilla (oo-tree-ya) started his business, U.S. Translation Company, in 1995 when he was a poor student living with his wife just off the Weber State University campus. They lived in a tiny basement apartment right across from campus to save on transportation.
David discovered hardly any companies in Utah offered a translation service, so he decided to start his own company to do so. Trust me when I say without customers this was no easy feat. After being turned down too many times to count, at his next appointment with a possible client, he said, "Hire me and if it's good, pay me, and if it isn't. . . don't." Fifteen years later he's getting ready to open an office in Geneva, Switzerland, so you tell me if that worked out or not.
In working with his employees in Utah, David said he's noticed a powerful attitude toward international business where Utahns aren't afraid to embrace it. He's also seen how passionate and fearless we are. Maybe that's one of the reasons we were the only state to increase in international exports last year, bringing the total to $10.3 billion, which U.S. Translation is part of.
This South Ogden company translates over 100 languages including Pachto (pash-to), spoken in Iraq, and Dari, spoken in Afghanistan. The top two languages in demand are Spanish and French, but Chinese and Japanese are steadily increasing.
After 9/11, U.S. Translation Company received a request to assemble training for our military. They learned this training could save a soldier's life because they could understand the language.
Once again this is a huge word of mouth business. Since starting his company, David has served more than 1,000 clients. This is a big "trust" business because you're translating everything from business documents to information on how to work a missile. There's no room for error. This work can be and is very rewarding for the best linguist team in Utah.
Good luck to U.S. Translation as they continue their important work!
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
