About a decade ago, Jeff Hover had a problem. As CEO of PiSA Biopharm, the American arm of Mexico’s largest pharmaceutical company, he needed to leverage the expertise of a Spanish-speaking executive to set up business in the US.
“We really wanted him to learn English so he could be fully participating,” Hover said.
PiSA Biopharm is headquartered in Albany, NY. Hover, a graduate of Colonie High School, did an online search and found Capital Region Language Center (CRLC). He and Kim Andersen, CRLC’s Founder and Director, quickly developed a one-on-one instruction plan for the executive.
“Then, as we grew, we started opening up more branded companies and wanted our English speakers here in the US to learn Spanish,” Hover explained.
Since then, Hover has contracted with CRLC to provide group and one-on-one instruction, both onsite and online for employees for PiSA Group in Albany, New York; San Diego, California; Waco, Texas as well as Tijuana and Guadalajara, Mexico.
Spanish to English: Helping Colleagues Feel Invited and Included
“We have the challenge of employees who are reluctant to transfer to our US operations here, for fear they won’t be accepted,” Hover explains. “We’ve always been able to utilize Capital Region Language Center to assuage those fears. It has helped make our colleagues from Mexico feel invited and included here.”
Hover points to CRLC’s most recent success story with a Spanish-speaking engineer from Mexico. She needed to run a critical process implementation at a new beverage plant in Waco, Texas.
As project manager, strong English skills were key, but there were challenges. Hover says CRLC quickly adapted to meet her needs.
“In this case, it was the style of learning, more than the content of what was being taught,” he explains. “It just required a different approach to get her confidence up. Now, she is doing great, asserting herself in the position.”
English to Spanish: Building a More Cohesive Team and Culture
As US operations continued growing, Hover needed to build a more cohesive team and culture.
“We decided that if we were going to collaborate closely between teams, we shouldn’t force every meeting to be in English,” he said.
So, he and Andersen developed a 24-month Spanish language program for six members of his US team. The results, he says, were powerful.
“When you put a meeting in Spanish, and that’s not your native language, certain things you took for granted suddenly aren’t as easy to get across,” he says. “I think it was very eye opening for our staff to put the shoe on the other foot.”
Hover says more businesses should be thinking ahead to cross-train teams in key languages.
“We always make the assumption that if you are operating in the US, you have to speak English,” he explains. “What happens if you need to be there, in a country where Spanish is the primary language?”
“Capital Region Language Center can tailor language instruction to the adult learning needs of the individual. I really think that is something unique they bring to the table.”
The Bottom Line: Caring About Learning Outcomes
For Hover, Capital Region Language Center has become a trusted business partner.
“They don’t just take the money and run, they really care about learning outcomes,” he says.
As he looks back over the past ten years, Hover says he’s most proud of the employees who have used their new language proficiency to advance their careers – either at PiSA USA or at a different company.
“To me, that’s a sign of good leadership, when you can help people be successful, even beyond their time with you,” he says.
Several employees are currently studying English with Capital Region Language Center and Hover already has plans for more to participate.
“The bottom line is that a business needs people to effectively communicate to meet their goals,” he says. “Capital Region Language Center can tailor language instruction to the adult learning needs of the individual. I really think that is something unique they bring to the table.”