Interprospectives: Finding Quality Translators for Interpro in 1995 — Mack’s Story

Mack’s Story highlights how Interpro first partnered with IBM’s MAPICS division in 1996, earning trust through clear communication, technical skill, and cultural understanding. After successfully handling Simplified Chinese translations, Interpro expanded to manage Spanish and Japanese projects — proof of its reliability and growing global network. Beyond business, founder Ralph Strozza’s authentic connections and sense of humor built lasting relationships across continents.

Finding Quality Translators for Interpro in 1995

In early 1996, after IBM had split off the MAPICS product line into a separate company, the Internationalization team was looking for translation services outside the IBM structure. The first challenge was to find companies to provide translation services for the AS/400-based user interface and manuals to support the upcoming product release.

After meeting with Ralph Strozza to discuss our needs, Interpro was selected to provide translation for Simplified Chinese, and began the process of building translation teams in Tianjin, China having knowledge of manufacturing, accounting and inventory control. 

Trust, Communication, and Capability

The decision to partner with Interpro was an excellent one. Their project management team provided excellent communication to MAPICS concerning cost, schedules, and delivery.  This allowed the MAPICS team to meet their product delivery schedules, and led to Interpro being given the responsibility for MAPICS’ Spanish and Japanese translation efforts in Rosario, Argentina and Tokyo, Japan respectively.

Travel Memories and Cultural Connections

Traveling for business, especially to other countries, can be lonely and boring – especially over weekends. The many trips I took with Ralph were never boring. On one trip to Beijing in 1997, the MAPICS Internationalization Director, Lela Long, was traveling with us.  

All during the trip, Ralph was wearing various shirts and hats with Chicago themes, and was always being asked by the locals about Michael Jordan (arguably the most famous Chicagoan of that era). We were going to dinner with Interpro’s Chinese Project Manager when a group of the local youths again crowded around Ralph, inquiring about Michael Jordan. Rather than repeating the same spiel, Ralph told them he was traveling with Michael Jordan’s sister, pointed to Lela. The group quickly abandoned Ralph and surrounded Lela. I can’t remember who laughed more, the locals or Lela. After that trip, Lela had a full-size cutout of MJ standing in her office at MAPICS in Atlanta.

Looking Back at What Made Interpro Special

Whether walking the Great Wall in China, having Dim Sum in Hong Kong, going on a road trip from Buenos Aires to Rosario, or making paella for Interpro Rosario’s Managing Director and his family, there was never a dull moment traveling with Ralph.  

See More Behind-the-Scenes Stories from Interpro

Discover more stories like Mack’s as we look back over Interpro’s history supporting translation goals around the world. 

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