Member Spotlight – April 2024
Our Member Spotlight for the month of April is
John McGinty
&
SignesGlobal
Every month our Board picks a Chamber Member in a random drawing to be featured on our website and social media platforms as a "Member Spotlight"
Interested in being featured? Please complete THIS FORM for a chance to be featured on our website and social media platforms for one full month!
Our Member Spotlight for the month of April is John McGinty and SignesGlobal!
SignesGlobal stands at the nexus of passion, experience, and global outreach as a premier Deaf-led boutique agency. We specialize in providing a spectrum of accessibility services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. From expert sign language interpretation and real-time captioning to invaluable accessibility consulting, our solutions are driven by an authentic understanding and commitment to the community we serve. Our founder's lived experience as a Deaf individual, combined with the agency's ties to over 20 countries, ensures that our services are both personally empathetic and internationally robust. Our journey, since inception, has been marked by numerous successes. Notably, we've established collaborations with businesses across various sectors including education, healthcare, and entertainment, making communication more accessible and inclusive. As we approach our milestone of receiving the Disability: IN certification (DOBE), it's a testament to our unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation in our domain. With every step, SignesGlobal remains committed to envisioning and realizing a world where communication truly knows no bounds.
Quick Highlights
We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of promoting accessibility and inclusivity for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. Here are the services we offer: Sign Language Interpretation: We have a team of accredited interpreters proficient in over 20 different countries' sign languages. They are dedicated to ensuring effective and precise communication across a multitude of linguistic backgrounds. Real-Time Captioning: This service offers instantaneous textual representation of spoken content, facilitating equal participation in various settings. Accessibility Consulting: With our firsthand experiences as Deaf individuals, we offer consultation services to organizations to guide them in optimizing their accessibility standards and practices. SignesGlobal was founded on the principle of breaking down communication barriers and has been in operation for less than a year. Over the years, we have been fortunate to establish affiliations in over 20 countries, spreading best practices and pioneering strategies to ensure a more inclusive world. We are also excited to share that we're on the brink of acquiring our Disability: IN certification (DOBE), which further testifies to our commitment and credibility in this domain.
SignesGlobal aims to work with a broad spectrum of individuals, businesses, and institutions that value inclusivity, communication, and accessibility. Given our suite of services, our target audience is multifaceted: Institutions & Corporations: Particularly those in education, banking, healthcare, entertainment, and the broader corporate sector. We aim to partner with institutions that seek to make their spaces and resources more accessible to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, ensuring that no individual feels left out due to communication barriers. Event Organizers: Whether it's seminars, conferences, workshops, or cultural events, we believe that accessibility should be at the forefront. Organizers who wish to cater to a diverse audience will find our services crucial. Individuals Seeking Learning Opportunities: This encompasses anyone eager to learn sign language, from beginners to advanced learners. We want to support individuals who recognize the importance of sign language, be it for personal growth, familial ties, or professional development. Local Communities & Organizations: Grassroots organizations, community centers, and local groups can significantly benefit from our services, making their programs and events more inclusive. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals: Beyond just offering services, we want to engage with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community directly, understanding their needs, challenges, and aspirations, and ensuring they have the tools and resources they need. Digital Platforms & Tech Companies: As the world moves increasingly online, digital accessibility is paramount. Platforms seeking to integrate real-time captioning or sign language interpretation can collaborate with us to make their content accessible to all. In essence, we seek partnerships with anyone who shares our vision of a world where communication is universally accessible and inclusive. Whether you're an individual, a budding startup, a seasoned corporation, or a community group, if you're driven by the ideals of inclusivity and accessibility, we want to work with you.
At SignesGlobal, our differentiation lies at the intersection of lived experience and global outreach. Here's what sets us apart: Lived Experience: As a Deaf-led boutique agency, we don't just provide services; we embody the essence of the Deaf community. Our founder being Deaf provides an authentic, deep-rooted understanding of the unique challenges and needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. This first-hand experience ensures that our solutions are not just theoretically sound but are grounded in real-life nuances. It ensures empathy, understanding, and a genuine commitment to driving change, which many other agencies might not inherently possess. Global Outreach: With established connections in over 20 countries, our reach is truly international. This global network allows us to bring diverse practices, insights, and innovations from around the world to our clients. It ensures that our services are culturally sensitive, universally applicable, and forward-thinking. Our international ties also provide us with a vast pool of resources and expertise, allowing us to cater to a wide range of linguistic needs and cultural nuances. While there are many organizations striving to improve accessibility and inclusivity, our unique blend of personal experience and global connections positions SignesGlobal as a trailblazer in the realm of Deaf and Hard of Hearing services. We don't just understand the needs; we live them, and we bridge them with global best practices. This combination ensures our solutions are both heartfelt and world-class.
For members looking to refer SignesGlobal to our ideal clients/customers, here are some steps and suggestions to ensure an effective referral: Understand Our Services: Familiarize yourself with our core offerings - sign language interpretation, real-time captioning, accessibility consulting, and sign language classes. The deeper your understanding, the easier it'll be to identify potential clients who would benefit from our services. Highlight Our Unique Selling Points: Emphasize that SignesGlobal is a Deaf-led boutique agency, offering an authentic understanding of the community's needs. Also, highlight our global connections spanning over 20 countries, making our solutions culturally sensitive and universally applicable. Identify Potential Industries: Look for businesses or organizations within industries like education, healthcare, banking, entertainment, and the corporate world. These sectors often require accessibility services to cater to a diverse audience. Personal Recommendations: If you've had a personal experience with our services or have witnessed their impact, sharing a personal testimonial or story can be particularly influential. Direct Contacts: If you know decision-makers, HR professionals, event organizers, or others who could benefit from our services, introduce us via email or in-person meetings. Share Our Digital Presence: Direct potential clients to our website, social media platforms, or any online resources where they can learn more about our offerings, client testimonials, and case studies. Host Collaborative Events: If you're part of an organization, consider hosting joint workshops or webinars with SignesGlobal. This can be a platform to discuss accessibility, showcase our expertise, and offer direct exposure to potential clients. Provide Collateral: We can provide you with brochures, business cards, or digital content that succinctly captures our offerings and mission. Having these at hand can make the referral process more streamlined. Keep Communication Open: If you make a referral, let us know. A heads-up will allow us to tailor our approach and ensure a seamless introduction. By focusing on our strengths, understanding the breadth of our services, and maintaining open communication, members can effectively refer SignesGlobal to our ideal clientele, fostering a more inclusive and accessible world.
Just under 1 year
Yes
As a member of the NJ Pride Chamber of Commerce, our aspirations are both immediate and far-reaching. Here's what we wish to, and in some cases have already begun to, accomplish: Networking and Collaborations: One of our foremost goals is to foster connections with fellow businesses and professionals who align with our values. We believe that through collaboration, we can amplify our reach and impact. Increased Visibility: Being a part of the Chamber has provided, and we hope will continue to provide, SignesGlobal with a platform to enhance our brand visibility, especially within the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Professional Development: The workshops, seminars, and training sessions offered by the Chamber are invaluable. We aim to leverage these opportunities for our team's continuous growth, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of accessibility and inclusion best practices. Advocacy and Representation: As a Deaf-led agency with a global perspective, we hope to bring our unique insights to the table, advocating for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community within the broader conversations on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Community Engagement: We aim to engage more deeply with the local community, offering our services, insights, and resources to support various Chamber initiatives and events. Knowledge Exchange: By sharing our expertise in accessibility and learning from other members' experiences, we hope to foster a vibrant ecosystem of knowledge exchange, benefiting both SignesGlobal and the wider Chamber community. Business Growth: A natural outcome of our membership, we hope, will be an increase in business opportunities through referrals, collaborations, and exposure to a wider clientele that values inclusivity. Giving Back: As we grow and benefit from the Chamber's resources, we're also keen on contributing back. Whether it's through pro-bono services, workshops, or other means, we want to ensure that our membership is mutually beneficial. In our time with the NJ Pride Chamber of Commerce, we've already begun to see the seeds of some of these aspirations take root, and we're excited and committed to nurturing them to fruition, driving both our mission and the Chamber's vision forward.
Absolutely! We value the NJ Pride Chamber community and would love to extend exclusive offers to our fellow members. Here's what we're considering: Discounted Workshops: We can offer a 15% discount on our accessibility and culture workshops. This can help businesses within the Chamber to understand the nuances of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community better. Sign Language Classes: For any member interested in learning sign language, we'll provide a 10% discount on our beginner classes. This promotes inclusivity and allows for more direct communication with the Deaf community. Free Initial Consultation: For businesses or individuals interested in our services but unsure about where to start, we can offer a free 30-minute initial consultation. This session would help identify their specific needs and how we can assist. Bulk Booking Discounts: If any member wishes to book our services in bulk (for instance, captioning for a series of webinars or interpretation services for recurring events), we can provide a special discounted rate, tailored based on the volume of the requirement. Referral Bonus: For every referral from a Chamber member that results in a confirmed booking, we'd be happy to offer a credit or discount on future services as a token of appreciation. Customized Offers: We're open to discussing any specific needs or ideas that Chamber members might have. Depending on the requirement, we can curate a special package or offer to cater to their unique needs. We believe that by extending these exclusive offers, we can strengthen our ties within the NJ Pride Chamber community, ensuring that accessibility and inclusivity remain at the forefront of our collective efforts.