Interview Spotlight with Sotir Rangelov from Oltrans
Last but not least, Sotir Rangelov from Oltrans joins us in our interview series celebrating our 20th Anniversary, ELIA’s Roots: Stories from Our Member Companies.
This interview series is a continuation from our Past Board Members series, and this time we turn to the ones who have allowed ELIA to grow into the association it is today and showed support and engagement throughout the years: our Members.
In each article, a Member Company shares their unique story with ELIA, from special memories and Member value, to business milestones and industry connections.
Now, let’s hear from Sotir who first joined in 2012.
When did you first join ELIA, and what brought you to the association?
I first joined ELIA in 2012, driven by the desire to become part of a professional international organisation and to actively engage with a community of like-minded language professionals.
What is one of your favourite memories from an ELIA event or within the community?
One of my favourite memories is from my very first ELIA event. I was fortunate to be introduced by a colleague from Sofia, and everyone was extremely welcoming. At first, I was worried about the language barrier, but I soon realised that most people there were non-native English speakers, which made communication feel much easier and more natural. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that participants were not only there to learn, but also genuinely eager to share their own experience and knowledge.
What do you value most about being part of the ELIA community?
What I value most is the opportunity to learn from my peers in the industry and to share my own experience as well. I also truly appreciate that, regardless of company size or years in business, everyone treats each other as equals and interacts with genuine respect and openness.
How has ELIA impacted your business or your professional journey?
ELIA has had an entirely positive impact on my business. Through ELIA, I have learned a great deal about marketing, sales, and workflow optimisation in our industry. For example, after attending my first ELIA conference in 2018, I switched our TMS to a more user-friendly and reliable solution. Most importantly, ELIA confirmed that I and Nadya had been on the right path since establishing our company in 2006: embracing technology, working with highly skilled professionals, and combining this with robust quality assurance processes leads to consistently high-quality results.
Looking ahead, what do you see for the future of ELIA and our community?
Looking ahead, I see even closer relationships among ELIA Members. The events are excellent and focus on the most crucial aspects of our day-to-day work, such as project management, collaboration with freelancers, sales, networking, and executive-level challenges. I am confident that ELIA will continue to foster stronger connections and offer even more opportunities for close cooperation within the community.
Thank you to Sotir for sharing Oltrans’ ELIA journey. Your engagement and support continue to inspire and guide our community and Members, and we are grateful for the ELIA Family we have fostered together.
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