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Language Directions Chosen for Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP)

Language Directions Chosen for Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP)

Language Directions, LLC was inducted into the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) today joining over 200 other companies committed to military spouse employment. MSEP was founded to increase employment opportunities for military spouses, maintain their employment status as they relocate, provide career promotion opportunities and ensure pay equity commensurate with their level of training, work experience and accomplishments.

Language Directions President, Sharlene Vichness, officially signed the MSEP Statement of Support. “We are very excited to be a part of this opportunity and are committed to providing meaningful jobs for military spouses,” said Vichness. “Military spouses provide a robust and rich talent pool that we are able to offer to our clients, while offer the military spouses the flexibility they need and the career opportunities they seek.”The MSEP New Partner Induction was held at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, at the Women In Military Service for America Memorial. Dr. Jill Biden, wife of US Vice President Joseph Biden and a key person in the formation of MSEP, spoke at the ceremony and congratulated the New Partners.Language Directions (www.languagedirections.com) is a full service language training company specializing in customized short- and long-term instructional programs, offering all levels of training support such as American English as a Second Language (ESL), Accent Reduction, Basic Skills, Cultural Competence, Spanish for Management, Food Safety (ServSafe®) and other industry compliance issues that require effective communication. Language Directions delivers language and cultural training to the U.S. military. Instruction is designed to meet corporate or individual requirements to help busy working individuals deal with language challenges and cultural concerns. Instruction is offered on-site in businesses or associations with flexible scheduling for client convenience. Proudly certified by WBENC as a WBE and a SBE/WBE by the state of New Jersey.
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The Journey to Subcontracting – Featured in WIPP Magazine

Language Directions first decided to pursue federal contracting opportunities ten years ago as a Prime Contractor. Our research showed many opportunities involving our expertise in language and regional culture. But a candid analysis of our capabilities, documented past performance in military-related projects, and other factors, revealed the impracticality of this approach for the young company we were at the time.

Subject matter expertise and quality of course delivery were not an issue. We had a good deal of success in language and cultural skills training in the private sector. Some solicitations contained components totally unrelated to our expertise and we didn’t feel comfortable or qualified to recruit for skills completely outside our core capabilities or experience. Also, as a business new to defense procurement, we had no past performance with military students. Like getting your first job, everyone wants to hire “experience,” but how do you get experience?

There was also the proposal preparation: the amount of research, recruiting, and administrative effort involved. The time and dollars required to submit a bid might seriously stretch the resources of the young company we were at the time and compromise our existing business. We thought it might make more sense to be part of a team where each member would have a valuable and essential contribution to make. So, we started down the road to subcontracting: searching for large and small team members to satisfy the varied requirements of each solicitation. Language Directions has great expertise in specialized language and regional culture training to bring to the team and each team member has its own individual strengths. One of our core principles is that the highest level of success is achievable by doing what we do best and working together with businesses who do what they do best.

Since those early days, we’ve learned a lot and gained traction in the subcontracting world. We grow and learn with each new opportunity. We are now part of an active consortium of large and small businesses supporting one another in seeking teaming opportunities. Every solicitation brings new lessons, insights, and challenges.

Based on our experiences, these are our best practices of successful subcontracting:

  • Show up. Attend Vendor Days, procurement, and contracting events. Meet people face-to-face. There is no better way to quickly establish rapport. Chatting with a Prime informally at a Vendor Day began a relationship resulting in our first subcontract.
  • The truth, the whole truth. Honestly represent your capabilities and limitations. Don’t exaggerate. Be sure you can back up your assertions. Primes need to be confident in the quality of their subcontractors. Don’t expose your company or the Prime to negative consequences because you can’t meet expectations and find yourself off the team. Primes will help you navigate the waters if you are candid about your ability to swim.
  • Be responsive to all inquiries and data calls. Primes have always complimented us for delivering information promptly. Conform to timeline and submission formats. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
  • Don’t be a diva. Be willing to step up and help where needed. Always remember you are there by invitation, not by entitlement. Be flexible and pleasant. They’ll come back to you if you are easy to work with.
  • Leave them wanting more. A long-term mutually beneficial relationship with Primes is based on being indispensable to their success in projects involving your expertise and being a business partner who can be counted on. The quality of your work reflects either positively or negatively upon you, the Prime contractor, and ultimately the success of the entire project.

    • Full .PDF Here, myContracting Magazine October 2014

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September 2014

September 2014

Language and Cultural Issues and Their Impact on Business

We’ve all experienced difficulty at one time or another speaking a second language or understanding someone speaking English as a Second Language (ESL). Imagine those communication disconnects in factory, and office settings and the significant impact they can have on a company’s operations.

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