Our Leadership

To be successful at running a world-class multilingual communications program today, you need a partner that can manage top global talent and cutting edge technology. Language Solutions manages over 1200 professionals from around the globe that bring the future of multilingual communications to you every day. Strategy and technology are only effective if they can be managed to meet the unique needs of your organization. Language Solutions has the experience to consult with your team and help you excel in the area of multilingual communications.

President, Melissa Wurst is the owner and founding member of Language Solutions Inc. She has over 19 years of experience working in linguistics, languages and culture. Before founding Language Solutions Inc., Melissa had a broad career immersed in foreign cultures and linguistics beginning in 1988 with her service in Thailand with the U.S. Peace Corps implementing language and training programs. Today, Melissa is a certified Malcolm Baldrige Award Examiner and follows the Baldrige criteria within her own organization as well as bringing it to her school district and sitting on numerous Committees with them to help them with their continuous improvement process initiative.

Working at the grassroots level in development gave her the profound experiences with the people and her work, which propelled her into a professional teaching career for the next 12 years. She remained entwined with the international communities as the Assistant Director of the Midwest Refugee Center in Wichita, Kansas and subsequently relocating to Taiwan as the Director of a bilingual school.

Melissa returned to her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri in 1996 and became the Director of a foreign language learning program for an international company and worked on establishing standards and immersion programs for a number of corporate clients including Wal-Mart. The program was instrumental in helping to facilitate Wal-Mart's expansion into Germany, Brazil, Korea and Argentina.

Melissa's love of languages, culture and foreign nationals, and her vision for higher standards for her clients became the springboard for her founding Language Solutions Inc in 1998.

Her philosophy is one of education for all clients. Whether it is Standards, Realizing ROI, or Implementing Best Practices, her connection with clients empowers them to understand and take control of Localization practices and gain a better understanding of their ROI. Her ultimate goal is to provide her clients with a Trusted Advisor in this Industry.

Professional Focus:

Presentations:

• Metrics for multilingual communications: Focus on the client's internal processes and how it impacts their strategy with multilingual communications

• Effective employee engagement: cultural distances and the values we write in our communication.
  
• Translation Management.  How to begin with self-assessment , set objectives, and measure.

Education:

• M.A. Curriculum and Instruction, Wichita State University

• B.A. English, University of Missouri

Professional Memberships:

• WBEN Certified

• ATA (American Translators Association)

• World Trade Center Saint Louis