Sign Language Associates and Visual Language Interpreting Combine With GoAmerica to Form Nation's Premier Sign Language Interpre
July 01 2008 - 7:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
WASHINGTON, July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GoAmerica, Inc.
(NASDAQ:GOAM), a provider of relay and wireless communications and
professional interpreter services for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and
speech-disabled persons, today announced a merger with two of the
nation's premier sign language interpreting services firms: Sign
Language Associates (SLA) and Visual Language Interpreting (VLI),
both of which are based in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The SLA
and VLI transactions make GoAmerica the nation's leading provider
of onsite sign language interpreting services, and will provide
broader access to Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) services for its
customers. The transactions also expand the availability of
certified, high-quality interpreters and transcriptionists for the
Company's other products and services. "Whether they're at work, at
home, or on the go, our customers need communication access
throughout the course of an ordinary day," said Dan Luis, CEO of
GoAmerica. "We intend to become their preferred communication
service provider, wherever and whenever they need to communicate.
The transactions announced today deepen our resources and
strengthen our ability to serve customers nationwide, whether they
require onsite interpreting services or communication services
through our video or text relay platforms." Sign Language
Associates was founded in 1982 at a time when the interpreting
industry did not formally exist. As the nation's first and largest
community interpreting business, SLA is known as the pioneer and
has set the standard for service in the industry. Innovative
programs like its nationally recognized Mentorship Program and the
first video remote interpreting (VRI) service have set the Company
apart as a leader striving to improve interpreter working
conditions and employment opportunities. "SLA is proud to have
served the Deaf and interpreting communities for over 25 years,"
said Janet Bailey, President/CEO and co-founder of Sign Language
Associates. "Now, I am excited to become a part of a company that
brings together the best in video and community services. With a
shared commitment to excellence, I look forward to helping to
create new opportunities for interpreters and new and improved
services to people who are deaf." Visual Language Interpreting,
founded in 1999, provides sign language interpreting and
communication access real-time translation (CART) services, as well
as large event coordination services throughout the nation. VLI
employs a dedicated, nationally credentialed interpreting and
real-time writing team. "As the interpreting and CART industries
have changed due to the growth in video relay and text services, it
is exciting for us to be part of a company that has a commitment to
preserving the positive attributes and integrity of the community
interpreting and CART professions," said Brandon Arthur, founder of
Visual Language Interpreting. "With the talent, expertise, and
resources we have at our disposal, we can help shape a bright and
vibrant future for interpreting and real-time professionals across
the country." "Janet and Brandon are passionate interpreting
industry pioneers with broad interpreting, interpreting management
experience and excellent reputations in the interpreting and deaf
and hard of hearing communities," said Ronald Obray, founder of
Hands On Services and Senior Advisor at GoAmerica. "Together, they
bring the talents and passion of their businesses into our company.
They share our values and will help us maintain our reputation for
quality service as we continue to pursue our vision of becoming the
employer of choice for professional interpreters and real-time
writers everywhere. As an interpreter myself for many years, I know
what it takes to deliver the kind of quality we expect for our
customers, and I'm excited to see us add such qualified
professionals to our team." "GoAmerica is proud to be the leading
end-to-end service provider to the deaf and hard of hearing
community, and these transactions add to our extraordinary pool of
talented interpreters," added Behdad Eghbali, a partner at
Clearlake Capital and board member of GoAmerica. "The additions of
SLA and VLI will also serve to further diversify our revenue
streams in communications services as we build on our existing
community interpreting services." Post-merger, both Sign Language
Associates and Visual Language Interpreting will continue to
operate as wholly-owned subsidiaries of GoAmerica. In addition,
Janet Bailey will occupy the position of Senior Vice President of
Interpreter Relations for the combined companies and Brandon Arthur
will serve as General Manager of community interpreting and CART
services for the combined companies. Transaction consideration for
SLA and VLI was paid through cash on hand, and financial terms were
not disclosed. About GoAmerica GoAmerica is one of the nation's
largest providers of communication services for the deaf, hard of
hearing, and speech-disabled communities. As a leading provider of
onsite interpreting services, video relay and text relay services,
and video remote interpreting, the Company delivers a wide array of
options designed to meet the varied communication needs of its
customers. The Company's vision is to improve the quality of life
of its customers by being their premier provider of high quality,
innovative communication services that break down communications
barriers. For more information on the Company or its services,
visit http://www.goamerica.com/ or contact GoAmerica directly at
TTY 201-527-1520, voice 201-996-1717, Internet Relay by visiting
http://www.i711.com/ or http://www.ip-relay.com/, or video phone by
connecting to hovrs.tv. Safe Harbor The statements contained in
this news release that are not based on historical fact --
including statements regarding the anticipated results of the
transactions described in this press release -- constitute
"forward- looking statements" that are made in reliance upon the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the
use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect",
"estimate", "anticipate", "continue", or similar terms, variations
of such terms or the negative of those terms. Such forward- looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not
limited to: (i) our ability to integrate the businesses and
technologies we have acquired; (ii) our ability to respond to the
rapid technological change of the wireless data industry and offer
new services; (iii) our dependence on wireless carrier networks;
(iv) our ability to respond to increased competition in the
wireless data industry; (v) our ability to generate revenue growth;
(vi) our ability to increase or maintain gross margins,
profitability, liquidity and capital resources; and (vii)
difficulties inherent in predicting the outcome of regulatory
processes. Such risks and others are more fully described in the
Risk Factors set forth in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Our actual results could differ materially
from the results expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking
statements. GoAmerica is not obligated to update and does not
undertake to update any of its forward looking statements made in
this press release. Each reference in this news release to
"GoAmerica", the "Company" or "We", or any variation thereof, is a
reference to GoAmerica, Inc. and its subsidiaries. "GoAmerica", the
"GoAmerica" logo, "i711", and the "i711.com" logo, and "Relay and
Beyond" are registered trademarks of GoAmerica. "i711.com" and
"i711 Wireless" are trademarks and service marks of GoAmerica.
Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
DATASOURCE: GoAmerica, Inc. CONTACT: Laura Kowalcyk of CJP
Communications, +1-212-279-3115 x209, , for GoAmerica Web site:
http://www.goamerica.com/ http://www.i711.com/
http://www.ip-relay.com/
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