Profile

In a nutshell

I’m a full-time translator and voice-over talent for English and German with more than 10 years of experience. My native language is German and my dominant language is English. A dual citizen, I currently live mostly in Philadelphia and enjoy frequent visits to Germany. As far as translation projects, I have specialized in marketing and advertisement, employee communication and training material, art, architecture, and design as well as scripts for videos and audio/visual contents. As far as voice-over, I have lent my voice to many corporate clients and can mostly be heard delivering e-Learning material, narrations, telephone menus, and announcements.

Voice-over

For most applications, the recording can be done in my home studio (equiped with sound booth, high-quality microphones, audio recording and editing software). For high-profile applications with broadcast quality, the recording is done in a professional recording studio. We work with you and consider your needs and budget to deliver a customized solution. See Voice for details and demos.

Translation

We are certified for translations from English into German and specialized in a number of fields. See Text for details.

Interpreting

Interpreting requires a different set of skills and constant practice. That is why I would not feel comfortable in a court setting where the entire communication is interpreted. However, I do enjoy the occasional escort type interpreting assignment and those where interpreting is rendered as needed, such as with depositions that are conducted in English, where the witness requests an interpreter as a safety net.

Affiliations

American Translators Association (ATA)
ATA certified: English into German
ADÜ Nord (Assoziierte Dolmetscher und Übersetzer in Norddeutschland e.V.)
Delaware Valley Translators Association (DVTA)
German Society of Pennsylvania

Continuing education/Certifications

• ATA conference (October 2009): New York City
  
  
• The Great Voice Company (February 2009): Voice-over Bootcamp, West Palm Beach, Florida
  
  
• Institut für Fremdsprachen und Auslandskunde bei der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (May 2007): 2-week training
  
  
• DVTA seminar (November 2006): Translation and Computers
  
  
• Creative Voice Development Group (March 2006): Professional Voice-Acting
  
  
• ATA conference (November 2005): Seattle, Washington (speaker)
  
  
• ATA conference (October 2004): Toronto, Canada
  
  
• Institut für Fremdsprachen und Auslandskunde bei der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (May 2003): 2-week training.
  
  
• ADÜ Nord (September 2002): TRADOS Workshop for experienced users (Karl-Heinz Freigang)
  
  
• Succeeding in Voice-over (Spring 2002): Seminar at community college (Ted Feldenkreis).
  
  
• ATA conference (November 2001): Seminar Advanced Topics in English>German Translation (Peter Schmitt)
  
  
• Language Services Associates (October 2001): Seminar on legal and telephonic interpretation
  
  
• Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania: Medical interpreting course (April 2000): Bridging the Gap (certified medical interpreter)

Education and previous work experience

M.A. in English and Art History from the University of Tübingen, Germany, 1997. During the academic year 1993-94, I studied at Temple University in Philadelphia as an exchange student. In my “previous life,” I held positions in various fields and garnered first-hand work experience that helps me look at a text and voice project from the client’s perspective. Some of these positions are:

Museum of Modern Art, New York: Internship (1998), working on 20th-century art in the Museum's Department of Prints and Illustrated Books.

Philadelphia Museum of Art: Cataloguing Assistant (1998), cataloguing European prints in the Museum's Print Department.

Borders Books and Music: Bookseller (1997-98), responsibilities in all of the store's departments.

Hauptstaatsarchiv (State Archive), Stuttgart, Germany: Research Assistant (1992-97), working on special project Emigrants from Württemberg 1750-1900, planning and establishing guidelines for processing ca. 50,000 traced emigration cases.

Modern Electronics, Stuttgart airport: Sales Assistant (1991-93), working independently as sales representative in store with international customers.

Health Department, Stuttgart: Civil Service (1989-90), working in a team with three social workers, a psychologist, and a psychiatrist in an outreach program for mentally ill people.