Succès is Success in French

Every construction project has its own unique challenges.  However, we found ourselves in a particularly challenging situation when we were working as the Owner’s Project Field Representative on a project with a French Owner and American Contractor.  The project included delivery and set up of high tech cranes and equipment.  We were struggling to try to keep peace between all parties and struggled with a severe language barrier.  While on site one day, the Client stated what he really needed was a French-English interpreter.  While S&A is not in the business of languages, coincidentally, Tom Sinclair knew of a person who was fluent in French and attending school part-time.  Since she had some free time available, she was thrilled to have the opportunity to offer her services as an interpreter.  Within an hour of the Client’s frustrating statement, S&A had set up a meeting with the interpreter and she was on site the next day hard at work.  The rest of the project was completed with much less discourse.  The most interesting part of the story is the interpreter was in school working on her Masters in Social Work.  She used these skills as much as her languages to facilitate the project communication.