We’re excited to announce another call center, this time in Roseville, in the suburbs of Sacramento, California.

Convo is 100% deaf-owned so we naturally put special emphasis on interpreter qualifications and customer experience. “This area has a tremendous amount of skilled and experienced VRS interpreters and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bring them into the Convo family,” said Robin Horwitz, our CEO.

Our staff and partners in Seattle, WA; Mobile, AL; and San Ramon, CA warmly welcome the Roseville folks to Convo!

We recently equipped and furnished a suite in this building, and the call center area is now 100% operational!

We know Video Interpreter Jeri loves her job.

Video Interpreters Jake and Kristi are telling DeMille they’re ready for their close-up.

The VRS industry is going through an awesome period of change with mobile devices being introduced into the market. Before we know it, we’re going to make calls from anywhere in the country to meet our needs, etc.

From day one, Convo’s always created a vision and goal of providing the best service possible. We’ve achieved that for the past several months and we’re very grateful for customers like you who appreciate the quality of our service.

I wanted to jot down some of the thoughts I have on the changes.

First there’s connectivity. As a deaf person, I want to be able to connect to a VI immediately without all the complications within the system. We are hopeful that will be the case. Also you want to connect to a video interpreter immediately just like you would with VP or iChat. We want the procedure to be simple. You shouldn’t wait for a VI as well.

Secondly, there’s user experience. Convo team has had always placed a huge value on user experience. The idea of connecting to a VI or another deaf person should be very simple. Apple has accomplished that with FaceTime. We believe we can accomplish the same thing but this will take time. We’ve chosen the route of developing something that offers the BEST user experience.

That’s our promise to you. We are coming out with products and service - the ones you will be satisfied. We just don’t want to come out with a rushed product and end up with disappointed customers.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Robin Horwitz
CEO

If you’re in Vegas, you might be one of the lucky winners of our daily drawing…

Summertime brings the best out of California so we snapped photos of the building at where we have our office. We have only a tiny part of the 2nd floor but the whole scenery is ours to share!

This is in San Ramon and you can see more photos at our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/convorelay

Now you know why we love coming to work! :)

Earlier in the month, Convo sponsored an expedition to the summit of Mount Rainier, the highest peak in beautiful Washington State at more than 14,000 feet high. Taking on this challenge were Justin “Bucky” Buckhold and Ryan Commerson, both deaf activists.

Just recently they returned home in Colorado and were able to email their pictures. They also ASL’ed with us via video and were wearing their green Convo t-shirts when they shared their story…

On June 5, Bucky and Ryan Commerson met with a ranger at the White River station of Mount Rainier and were promptly informed of a massive avalanche on Ingraham Glacier that morning.

“Four climbers were buried and only three got out. The remaining climber’s body had yet been found,” said Bucky. The ranger warned Bucky and Ryan of high avalanche danger all around the mountain above 10,000 feet. After discussion, they decided to go up by the way of Paradise trail for Camp Muir — a different route — and consult with a ranger stationed there.

However, after six hours of howling winds, torrents of sleet and a total white out, they pitched their tent to guard against hypothermia. They finally thawed after an hour.

Next morning they awoke to gorgeous blue skies and discovered that Camp Muir was only 200 yards away so they trekked up without their backpacks and talked with the ranger.

“The ranger said that nobody had reached the top in the past week; it was basically a death wish to make the summit push to the top.” Disappointed, Bucky and Ryan decided to go down so they can live to climb another day.

After returning to civilization, Bucky and Ryan gave a two-hour presentation at ADWAS. About 20 people showed up and asked plenty of questions.

Said Marilyn Smith, Executive Director of ADWAS, “Bucky and Ryan captivated the Seattle audience as they talked about their Mt. Rainier adventure. Both are great presenters and rarely have I seen such passion and zest for life. We’re already talking about how to get them back to Seattle!”

Immediately after Mt Rainier, they went to Washington School for the Deaf in Vancouver on June 10 and presented to two age groups: elementary/middle school and high school. The following day they presented at Baker Middle School in Tacoma and then at Edmonds-Woodway High School north of Seattle.

Bucky and Ryan plan to eventually ascend Mt. Everest in Nepal, the world’s highest peak. Said Bucky, “While Mount Rainier is not considered as a prominent international peak, it is a large stepping stone for this team because Mount Rainier requires all kinds of technical knowledge necessary for bigger international peaks. We are grateful Convo has helped us gain this experience.”

Convo salutes them for their perseverance and hopes Bucky and Ryan will soon tackle Mt. Rainier anew and continue to inspire others with their can-do attitude.

This Sunday don’t give your father a hangman’s noose. That’s what neckties are. Leaving Paris in 1817, I voyaged across the Atlantic to the U.S. wearing a wickedly cool ascot.

So I tell you this: Your father has plenty of neckties but no ascot. Get him one. Also treat him to a steak dinner (after all, that’s why he wears a belt — a tie for the waist!).

Convo with your Dad with plans for this Father’s Day. Also call your grandpa to tell him he’s invited!

Merci!