A thought leader in the translation and interpretation industries, Robert Santiago serves as the COO of Para-Plus Translations. In 2011, Robert Santiago was named one of SmartCEO Philadelphia magazine’s SmartCXO winners, which highlights CFOs, COOs, CIO/CTOs and executive management teams who have gone above and beyond to support their organizations’ initiatives. That honor joins a slate of prestigious awards. That same year, the company received the New Jersey Small Business Development Center Rutgers-Camden Small Business Success Award.

Robert measures success by how well he and the company help Para-Plus Translations’ clients “succeed in the new global business market” and “reach a larger audience for their own businesses.” It is the quality of the translation and interpretation services, and how they meet the needs of the company’s clients, that he is rewarded by the most.

Robert is constantly monitoring standard industry practices to better serve Para-Plus Translations’ customers consistently with a strong, values-led, family business culture. He focuses on educating clients about the importance of foreign language services and global awareness and ensures that the company continues to deliver a superior level of customer service and professionalism. These principles are at the bedrock of the company’s philosophy.

Before joining the family business in 2009, where he is responsible for daily operations, including financial and personnel policies and procedures, budget setting and tracking, and evaluation of staff goals and performance, Robert served as a Division Director of Telecom at CMX, an engineering and consulting firm. Before that, he was the General Manager at Damiano Long Consulting Engineers, LLC.

A graduate of Rutgers University in New Jersey with a Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Robert was the recipient of the James Dickinson Carr, Marcella Geltman and Maria and Louis Caballero Scholarship Awards. He also belonged to the Society of Hispanic Engineers. Today, he also serves on the Association of Language Companies as a Leadership Council Member.

The father of two, Robert enjoys spending time with his family, going to the gym and watching movies.