Professional Highlights

  • ATA certified translator in business since 2006

  • MS in Integrated Marketing Communications

  • BA in Journalism

  • Certificate in German-English Translation

  • Experience in PR, content marketing & journalism

  • Cross-cultural upbringing and expertise

  • Certified SEO specialist

Bio

My name is Marion Rhodes. I am a bilingual copywriter and translator with a passion for creative work and cross-cultural communication.

I first came to the United States as a foreign exchange student from Germany many years ago as part of a distinguished scholarship program sponsored by the German Bundestag and US Congress. Being a foreigner in the US, I experienced first hand that effective communication requires more than language skills.

I studied journalism at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and went on to earn a master’s degree in integrated marketing communication from West Virginia University. Before starting my translation business, I spent several years as a writer for both English and German news publications, including one of the largest newspapers in the United States, the Omaha World-Herald.

My work experience as a journalist allowed me to gain insight into a variety of fields and granted me exposure to diverse subjects and people. This background provides an excellent foundation for translating marketing materials on a wide range of topics.

In 2006, I decided to pursue my passion for languages and culture on a professional level and started my own freelance translation business, Integrated MarCom Translations. I completed a certificate in German to English translation from New York University and have since helped numerous clients produce native-sounding, professional translations that are cohesive with their marketing strategies. In 2018, I passed the certification exam by the American Translators Association for English to German translation.

My varied professional path has shaped who I am today: A bilingual and bicultural writer who knows the importance of knowing your target audience and can help you speak to them in a way to which they can relate.

In order to stay on top of current developments in the translation and marketing industries, I frequently attend seminars, workshops and conferences in my specialty areas. Here are a few of my recent relevant CPD efforts:

  • BP20 Conference, Nuremberg, Germany (virtual), April 2020
  • International BDÜ Conference, Bonn, Germany, November 2019
  • Annual Conference of the American Translators Association, Palm Springs, California, October 2019
  • Social Media Marketing World 2019, San Diego, California, March 2019
  • Annual Conference of the American Translators Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 2018
  • Annual Conference of the Colorado Translators Association, Boulder, Colorado, May 2017
  • Annual Conference of the American Translators Association, San Francisco, California, November 2016
  • “Translating Corporate Communications,” eCPD webinar, June 2016
  •  Annual Conference of the Colorado Translators Association, Boulder, Colorado, April 2016
  • “Successful Copywriting,” eCPD webinar, March 2016
  • Annual Conference of the American Translators Association, Miami, Florida, November 2015
  • “Captivate, Capture and Convert: 5 Keys to Creating Engaging Content,” American Marketing Association webinar, November 2015
  • “Throwing Spaghetti on the Wall,” seminar on creative branding strategy, American Advertising Federation, October 2015
  • “How to make Google love your global content,” American Marketing Association webinar, October 2015
  • REV UP 360, Annual Marketing Conference of the Colorado American Marketing Association, February 2015
  • Annual Conference of the American Translators Association, Chicago, Illinois, November 2014
  • “Writing Techniques for Marketing Translation and Transcreation,” Alexandria Project webinar, November 2014
  • “Captivate, Capture, Convert: 5 Keys to Creating Engaging Content,” American Marketing Association webinar, November 2014
  • Expert Level Bootcamp for Translators by Marta Stelmaszak, September 2014
  • Annual Conference of the Colorado Translators Association, May 2014
  • “The Language of Legal Correspondence,” Proz.com webinar, May 2013
  • “The Language of Contracts,” Proz.com webinar, May 2013
  • “Legal Terminology: Privacy and Confidential Information Terminology,” Proz.com webinar, February 2013
  • SDL Trados Training and Certification, January 2013 (view my certificate here )

  • American Translators Association: Member of the PR Committee & ATA Writer’s Group since 2019. Editor-in-Chief of interaktiv, the newsletter of the German Language Division, since 2018. Co-Chair of the Professional Development Committee since 2020. Voting member since 2009.
  • Association of Translators and Interpreters in the San Diego Area: Member since 2016.
  • ACES: The Society for Editing: Member since 2019.
  • Colorado Translators Association: President, 2016-2018. Social Media Coordinator, 2013-2016. Member 2002 – 2017.

    • Annual Conference of the American Translators Association, 2016: “German Immersion Strategies for Expatriates and other Deutsch-Fans”
    • International BDÜ Conference, 2019: “SEO-Übersetzungen: Lukrative Nische mit Zukunftspotenzial”
    • BP20 Conference, 2020: “SEO Translation: A New Niche for Translators”

    • The following article first appeared on my blog and was later published in the membership magazine of the American Translators Association, the ATA Chronicle (July 2015): Are your applications getting lost in the sea of competition? Maybe your references are to blame
    • Prior to my translation career, I was a news reporter for several years. I worked as a staff reporter covering business, public safety/courts, community issues, local government and general assignments for the Omaha World-Herald, and later as a freelance writer for various English and German news publications and magazines. Here, you will find some of my writing samples.