Interpro’s Company History: The Stories Behind Our 30-Year Legacy

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Interpro Translation Solutions reflects on three decades of growth powered by innovative people on a mission to make a global impact. From humble beginnings in a Chicago basement to becoming a trusted multilingual partner for international brands, this article highlights key milestones, employee stories, and the legacy that made Interpro what it is today. 

Before the Beginning: A Founder’s Introduction

From Chicago to Italy, Switzerland to Argentina, Interpro’s story has always been global.

While sorting through old files, Ralph Strozza found memories. Among the clutter was a commencement program from his graduation at Northwestern University, a business plan scribbled with guesses, and the story of how Interpro came to be. 

“It’s incredible to look back and see how much we’ve grown in 30 years. You never know when you’ll stumble across something that still holds value, like the dream that started it all. Tucked between expired passports and old policies was the blueprint of a dream that somehow became a 30-year legacy.”

— Ralph Strozza, Interpro’s Founder

Here’s to looking back on the 30 years of becoming Interpro, and to the many milestones ahead.

From Ralph: “Shown above is page 10 of the Business Plan I developed, dated August 22, 1994. The cover of the Plan was for Global Translation (GLOBTRAN), but as you can see, there were other names I was bouncing around: Technology Translation Group (TTG), DigiTran, and SST (System Software Translation). The name I eventually decided on was TriniSys Translations, but if you ask me why I came up with this, I can honestly tell you that I have no idea what I was thinking. Maybe I just thought it sounded cool. A few months later I changed the company name to InterPro Translation Solutions, Inc. I wanted something that reflected that we were 1) International (Inter), 2) Professionals (Pro). It’s incredible to look back and see how much we’ve grown in 30 years.”

1995: Interpro Opens its Doors

In the mid-1980s and early 1990s, Ralph held leadership roles at WCC (Worldwide Communications Corporation), TAO International in Toulouse, France, Intergraph Corporation, and System Software Associates (SSA), managing localization of complex ERP software into ten languages. While leading these efforts, he saw a growing demand for high-quality technical translation services that few vendors could meet effectively.

“Clients kept asking who could help translate their customized software,” Ralph recalls. “There just wasn’t a good answer.”

Armed with firsthand experience in managing complex translation workflows and understanding the unique needs of global business software, Ralph recognized a gap in the market. That insight, paired with his deep love of language and emerging tech, became the catalyst for founding Interpro. He envisioned a firm built on world-class language services, in-house expertise, and long-term client partnerships. Essentially, a firm grounded in professional localization and technical excellence.

This led to the beginning of Interpro’s story with a commitment to delivering high-quality, client-focused translation services.

In 1995, Ralph launched Interpro Translation Solutions with a bold promise: to make high-quality, tech-enabled translation both easy and human.

Early company principles (that still stand to this day) at Interpro included:

• A consultative, solution-focused mindset
• In-country, native-speaking professional linguists paired by subject matter expertise
• Long-term language team partnerships
• Smart use of translation technology
• In-house project management, desktop publishing, and engineering

And famously, the Interpro standard, penned by Ralph: “Nordstrom, not Walmart.” The goal wasn’t to be the cheapest. It was to be the best.

Pictured left is Yuko Kato and on the right is Abdelkader Daoudi, early Project Managers on the Interpro team.

Other notable stories in 1995:

• Abdelkader Daoudi joins as Project Manager, beginning a legacy of leadership and excellence for our project management team.
• Interpro localizes InstallShield into 20+ languages (and Interpro’s first major multilingual project).
• Interpro is one of the first businesses on the nascent worldwide web to have a multilingual website (French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish).

1996: Expanding Services

As global business expanded online, Interpro quickly adapted. Launching complex Multilingual Desktop Publishing (MDTP) in 1996 would eventually lead to Interpro becoming a full-service translation agency. Future services would expand to providing consultative advice for website localization and eLearning course translation. Clients would begin to turn to us not just for translation, but for complete support and consultative advice for expanding across new platforms and global audiences.

Key client relationships with Honeywell Sensing and Control (now M45 Marketing) and IBM’s MAPICS division began to thrive. Mack Campbell, our former client partner for MAPICS, recalls, “Interpro’s strength was never just in the words it translated. It was in how the company operated: with integrity, with urgency, and with genuine care.”

Read Mack’s story about growing Interpro’s global network.

1997: Interpro’s Future Manager, eLearning and DTP Joins the Team

Many at Interpro are multilingual, and Larry Pilotto is no exception. His languages just happen to be HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. 

Since joining Interpro in 1997, Larry has been at the forefront of tackling some of the toughest technical challenges for formatting translations. Originally hired as a Multilingual Desktop Publishing Specialist, he quickly became the go-to expert for solving complex layout and language support issues across hundreds of thousands of pages and dozens of languages. In addition to DTP and eLearning work, he helped create interproinc.com and remains an integral part of Interpro’s online website initiatives to this day.

“The one thing that sticks with me over all these years is the stories from clients about how we’ve helped them help diverse groups overcome language barriers. It’s one of the most satisfying aspects of the work,” Larry says. “The technical challenges are fun, but helping spread information is really at the heart of what we do.”

Everyone at Interpro agrees – Larry is a loyal team player and critical to Interpro’s decades of success. 

Featured in an 2002 edition of Interprospectives, this snapshot highlights the contributions of John Greenwood, Abdelkader Daoudi, Beshar Bahjat, and Larry Pilotto. These four team members helped shape Interpro’s early success through dedication,  leadership and technical skill.

1999: Interpro’s Future Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Joins the Team

It was during these formative years that Beshar Bahjat joined the team. Originally hired on a temporary contract in 1997, Beshar quickly became a pillar of Interpro’s technical innovation and service delivery. 

“I was working as a software engineer at a Consulting firm that was a sister-company to Interpro Translation Solutions back in 1999,” Beshar says “asked to help Interpro on a temporary basis with some localization engineering, and I never left!”

A software engineer by training and an incredible technical problem-solver, he has:

• designed scalable systems to support every function of the organization,
• led the development of custom workflows and integrations with client tools,
• and guided the backend operations that power our evolving service lines, including AI translation and consulting services.

His early contributions included helping a dot-com-era firm launch a multilingual website and supporting major clients like IBM and Qualcomm through technically demanding localization projects.

“Beshar has been integral from the beginning,” Ralph says. “His ability to develop engineering solutions for our client’s language needs shaped the way we deliver our services today.”

Now Interpro’s CTO, Beshar has spent over 27 years helping build, refine, and future-proof the systems that power multilingual success. He can be found behind the scenes speaking a different language at any given time – Arabic, C++, SQL, and many more. (We really don’t know how he remembers it all!)

Read about how Beshar has been an integral part of Interpro from the very beginning. 

Beshar Bahjat, shown training a coworker in the mid-2000s, brought deep technical expertise and innovative thinking that started by transforming Interpro’s engineering operations and eventually shaping the systems behind our global services.

1999: Building Brand Awareness

While Beshar was innovating behind the scenes, others were working to grow Interpro’s presence around the globe. 

Former business development lead John Greenwood recalls, “What truly set Interpro apart, then and now, was its relentless commitment to excellence.” John joined the company in 1999 after collaborating with Ralph Strozza during the AS/400 era, and helped extend Interpro’s reach across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

This is what would officially launch Interpro’s marketing and sales efforts, building an undeniable reputation around the globe. 

John Greenwood and the early sales team helped launch Interpro’s global brand presence, laying the foundation for decades of trusted multilingual service.

2000: Localization for the Olympics

By 1998, we were delivering document translation services and managing fulfillment for IBM Personal Systems Group Latin America. This relationship would lead to localizing IBM’s 2000 Sydney Olympics website into six languages: Simplified Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, French, German, and Spanish for the 2000 Sydney games. This would be an early example of Interpro’s global translation services.

An early snapshot of the Interpro team, featuring Larry Pilotto and Beshar Bahjat (back row, second and fourth from left). This group laid the foundation for Interpro’s legacy of technical excellence, global collaboration, and people-powered growth.

2001: Opening an International Office in Argentina

To support our highest-volume language – Latin American Spanish – we decided to open  a regional office in Rosario, Argentina in 2001.

Interpro Argentina joined the ranks of our Worldwide Partner Network teams of skilled translators from around the world, growing across time zones and countries.. Our Argentina office has now evolved and grown into what we call today into our international partners around the world – like Interpro Team Chile.

2002: Ralph Strozza is 100% Owner of Interpro

When Ralph Strozza became the 100% owner of Interpro, it was a big moment for the company. It gave him full control to shape the future of the business and focus on what mattered most: building long-term partnerships, delivering high-quality work, and hiring people who truly care about making a difference. 

Ralph needed to grow the business to ensure its success, but he also wanted to create a strong, stable company that would last for decades. This decision helped Interpro stay focused, financially healthy, and grow into the trusted company it is today. It’s one of the main reasons we’re still here, 30 years later, ready for what’s next. 

It must have worked, because in 2002 Interpro completed their first multi-language mobile localization project for Qualcomm’s BREW platform, a pioneering move in the mobile translation space. 

2003: Supporting NIU’s Foreign Language Department

As a company proudly based in Wheaton, Illinois and part of the greater Chicago area, Interpro has always felt a strong connection to Northern Illinois University (NIU). Founder Ralph Strozza and current CEO Nick Strozza are both NIU alumni who studied in the foreign language department, and many members of our leadership team share a similar background.

Because of this close connection, Interpro has made it a priority to give back. Over the years, we’ve supported NIU with in-kind donations and monetary support: donating Trados software so students can practice translation skills, providing presentations and guest lectures, offering internships and scholarships for students who are passionate about language and looking to build a future in translation.

Building a successful business means giving back to our local community and helping the next generation of professionals succeed.

Interpro’s team proudly supports Northern Illinois University because their language department has helped shape many of our leaders.

2004: eLearning Localization Services Changed Interpro’s Future

In 2004, our growing team proudly completed our first eLearning localization project, and became proficient in tools like Storyline, Rise, and Captivate. Little did we know this would shape our company for decades to come.

Educational courses are notoriously complex to localize. A single module in a course can include video, captions, voiceover, downloadable workbooks, forms, quizzes, and certifications – and most courses aren’t just one video. They’re entire libraries.

Expanding into eLearning was a challenge but also a reflection of our commitment to growing with our clients’ language needs. Today, Interpro is recognized as one of the most trusted eLearning localization partners in the industry for custom learning management systems, or commonly used tools like Articulate Storyline and Rise. 

We’ll carry this commitment to expand our services with your needs into the future of Interpro.

Localization of an eLearning course into Arabic in Articulate Rise.

2005: InterProspectives Brings Language Insights to Our Community 

In 2005, Interpro launched its first edition of Interprospectives, a publication created to share what we were learning and seeing inside the world of translation. Our goal was simple: keep our clients, team members, and industry partners informed with real insights from behind the scenes.

We’re proud to say that nearly 20 years later, Interprospectives is still going strong. Thanks to modern technology, it’s now a fully digital publication. Today, we send out a monthly Interpro Insights newsletter that highlights our latest blogs, resources, and company updates. From time to time, we still publish special Interprospectives editions written by our leadership team, giving readers a closer look at the ideas and trends shaping Interpro’s future.

Want to receive the next issue? Subscribe here.

An early edition of InterProspectives (now rebranded to Interprospectives), Interpro’s original print publication, showcasing our commitment to technical expertise, multilingual accessibility, and knowledge sharing across the translation and localization industry.

2007: Creating a Brand Designed for Growth

As our services grew and our team expanded around the world, it became clear that our brand needed to show who we were becoming: a trusted, consultative language partner dedicated to long-term client relationships.

In 2007, Interpro updated its logo to better reflect something that had always been at the heart of our company: partnership. 

But that wasn’t the first (or last) time we’d change our visual identity.

Our very first logo in 1995 was simple and technical, created at a time when Interpro was just getting started. As the years passed, our look evolved alongside the company itself. Each version of our logo reflects the evolution from a small, passionate startup to a full-service, global language solutions provider.

In 2025, we proudly introduced our most modern brand yet. This updated look was built to reflect not just what we do, but how we do it. It represents:

• the subject matter expertise that our clients rely on, 
• the high standards we’re known for, 
• and the dedicated people behind every successful translation.

The evolution of Interpro’s brand from 1995 to today.

2008: Supporting Enterprise Localization Goals

Over the years, Interpro has been proud to support hundreds of organizations with their global communication needs. One project that stands out as a major milestone took place in 2008, when Interpro was selected for the State of California SB 853 Translation Project, launched by then governor (and star of one of our current CEO’s favorite holiday classics):  Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

This major effort involved translating over 2 million words of critical healthcare materials into five threshold languages: Spanish, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. It was a huge responsibility, and one that proved Interpro was ready and scalable to handle large, complex projects with accuracy and care. 

This project would set the stage for future growth. Since then, we’ve translated more than 350 million words and partnered with global organizations across multiple industries.

2010: Interpro Wins Award for Small Business Excellence

In 2010, Interpro was honored to receive the Annual Award for Business Excellence in the Small Company category. This award, presented by the Daily Herald Business Ledger, recognizes outstanding businesses in the Chicago area for growth, innovation, and community involvement.

Winning this award was a meaningful moment for Interpro. It showed that our hard work, strong client relationships, and dedication to quality were making an impact in our industry and our local business community. The award is proudly displayed in our conference room to this day.

At that time, Interpro was continuing to grow its team, expand services, and take on more enterprise-level projects. Being recognized as a top small business reinforced our belief in putting people first for both inside the company and with every client we serve.

Ralph Strozza accepts the 2010 Annual Award for Business Excellence, recognizing Interpro as a top small business in the Chicago area for innovation, growth, and community impact.

Talking about winning awards as a motivator: in 2016 Interpro’s marketing collateral WORDS! would win the American Advertising Federation of Northern Illinois Addy Gold Award. Interpro partnered with one of our longest standing clients (M45 Marketing) to deliver this showcase piece.This would inspire future marketing efforts to bring Interpro’s philosophy about translation into everything we do. 

2017: From Words to Conversations with Interpreting Services

Interpro expanded its service offerings to include interpreting with Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) in 2017, which was an innovative offering that would later support expanding needs in webinar interpreting, event interpreting, and other real-time multilingual services.

This move was a direct response to the needs of our clients, especially large organizations hosting real-time events, meetings, and webinars in multiple languages.

While we had built a strong reputation in translation and localization, many of our clients needed a partner who could also support live conversations with the same level of quality and care. We listened and delivered.

By adding interpreting services, we continued on our path of becoming  a true, full-service language partner. Clients could now count on us not just for written content, but also for real-time multilingual support. Whether it’s a virtual conference, training session, or global team meeting, Interpro’s interpreting services are built to meet the same high standards we’ve always had.

It was one more way to show our commitment to being the best possible partner, no matter how our clients need to communicate.

Interpro’s interpreters deliver real-time multilingual support as part of our commitment to helping clients connect through spoken language, with the same quality and care as our written translations.

2021: Interpro Backs Our Core Standards with ISO-Certified Services

By 2021, Interpro had been awarded ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ISO 17100 (Translation Services) certifications, both hallmarks of quality in certified language services. 

These certifications from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recognize companies that meet high standards for quality management, client satisfaction, and continual improvement. 

Since day one, Interpro has been focused on one thing above all: quality. Producing accurate, dependable translation services has always been at the core of our mission. 

For us, earning our ISO certifications wasn’t to just check another box. It was a symbol of our commitment to providing quality translation services for our clients, and of how far we’re willing to go to serve our clients with excellence. From process to people, our systems are built to deliver the best possible experience with the overall objective of complete client satisfaction . 

One of our partners at Jigsaw Quality Management & Audit Solutions, Sam Somerville, recalls:

“From our first meeting, it was clear Interpro was no ordinary company. This wasn’t just about achieving a standard. Interpro’s leadership and team were fully committed to embedding continuous improvement at the core of their business. Their enthusiasm for quality wasn’t surface-level. It was part of their DNA.”

Learn about Sam’s experience testing Interpro’s commitment to quality.

2021: Adopting a Remote First Culture

In 2021, the world was still adjusting to major changes in how people live and work, and Interpro adapted right along with it.

Alongside the pandemic, we made a big shift: Interpro officially became a remote-first company.

The truth is, Interpro has always worked across borders. With linguists, engineers, project managers, DTP specialists and interpreters located around the globe, we have operated as a remote organization for over30 years. But 2021 marked a new chapter, one where we fully embraced flexible work as a core part of our culture.

This move allowed us to open up more opportunities for remote employees, create a better culture with a stronger, more connected team. By focusing on results instead of location, we have built a healthier, more supportive workplace and a more successful company.

Going remote-first did not just help us grow. It helped us stay true to who we have always been: a global team, working together to connect people through language.

Interpro team members gather in person and virtually during a hybrid team building meeting reflecting our shift and our ongoing commitment to global collaboration, flexibility, and connection.

2022: New Global Headquarters for the Future

In 2022, Interpro made a major investment in our future by purchasing a new headquarters office in Wheaton, Illinois, in the greater Chicago area. This decision gave the team a permanent  home base. It was about building stability, showing long-term commitment to our region, and preparing for the next 30 years of growth.

We purchased the office in full, with no debt. That choice strengthened our financial future and gave us a space to call our own, right in the heart of the community where Interpro began.

The new headquarters reflects our values of independence, partnership, and progress. It gives our team a place to collaborate, and represents a milestone in Interpro’s story – one that’s built to last.

The Interpro team gathers at Interpro’s Global Headquarters in Wheaton, IL

2023: Our People are Our Story

As we’ve grown over the years, one thing is clear – Interpro’s success comes from our team. 

“Many Interpro team members have been with the company for 10, 20, even 25+ years. When reflecting on the journey of how we got here, one thing is clear: it’s our team that has shaped the company’s evolution,” says Nick Strozza, CEO. “It’s only right that we tell their stories of their experiences that have helped shape Interpro’s expertise.”

As part of our story, we want to highlight some of the professional experts behind the brand:

Lei Meng shares about her role leading language project management at Interpro and how: “Localization isn’t just about translating words. It’s about making knowledge accessible, empowering people, and creating real-world impact.”

Jolie Parker shares about a day-in-the-life of a localization project manager and her perspective to managing localization problems for our clients.

Javiera Gonzalez has shared her essential phrases to learn from her trip to Japan and provided cultural insight to the rich history of empanadas.

Arianna Martin shares her international experiences living across 5 countries. (Do we need to say more?)

Mirela Savulescu’s journey from Transylvania to Chicago underlines the global experiences that enrich our company’s culture. 

Maria Fagrelius shares her story of immigration and cultural adaptation, highlighting the empathy and understanding that drive our work.

Patrick Pittsford shares an example of how history has influenced modern communications, and language continues to be ever evolving.

We’re proud to be the trusted language partner because of our expert team of professionals.

2024: Beginning New Leadership with Legacy

In 2024, Ralph formally passed the torch to his son, Nick Strozza, who had grown up alongside the company. With a background in marketing and a love of language, Nick stepped into the CEO role with a fresh vision and deep respect for Interpro’s roots.

“We’re still about making human connections,” Nick says. “Technology helps us, but people come first. We’re embracing new tools, but never at the cost of quality.”

Under Nick’s leadership, Interpro has refreshed its mission, expanded service offerings, and reaffirmed its commitment to people-centered translator services. 

Footnote: Ralph hasn’t hung up his boots just yet. He works on special projects and acts in an advisory capacity to the company as a whole. While his official title is ‘Founder,’ his unwritten title continues to be Consigliere!

From Founder Ralph Strozza’s early leadership (often joined by his loyal office companion, Payton #34) to the next generation with CEO Nick Strozza, Interpro’s legacy continues to grow and evolve.

2025: Celebrating 30 Years of Powered by People

And just like that, 30 years went by in a flash. In 2025, Interpro is proudly celebrating 30 years in business. 

In honor of this historical achievement, we launched a completely new Interpro brand to reflect who Interpro has become over the past three decades, and where we are going.. The new brand represents our growth, our values, and the people behind the work. It captures what truly sets us apart.

As Interpro celebrates 30 years in business, our refreshed brand honors what truly sets us apart: our people. Pictured here are some of the faces behind the expertise, partnership, and passion that have defined our journey.

What 30 Years of Being a Leader in Languages Teaches You

Sustaining excellence over three decades takes more than technical skill. It takes more than solving complex problems, delivering consistent quality, and growing with your clients. It requires deep cultural understanding, rigorous quality control, and a true partnership mindset. At Interpro, we’ve built a business around these principles because we are here to be a reliable partner for decades to come.

If your organization is planning for multilingual growth, navigating compliance, or entering new markets, our legacy becomes your advantage.

Let’s talk about where you’re headed and how we can help your journey to get there. Schedule a complimentary localization strategy session with our team of experts today.