Company

Certified Languages International (CLI) stands at the forefront of world-class interpreting services, and has since its inception in 1996. Thousands of organizations across the country rely on CLI to help them communicate with a growing demographic of Limited English Proficient (LEP) speakers.

Harnessing innovative technology, the most secure connections, and the highest caliber of professional interpreters, CLI is transforming the landscape of language services, enabling their customers to participate in today’s global economy.

CLI was the finalist for the Oregon Entrepreneur of the Year Award and included on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing companies. According to the Common Sense Advisory, CLI has been named 2nd among leading telephone interpreting services worldwide, and is ranked 10th in the U.S. — and 44th globally — on CSA’s list of translation, localization, and interpreting services providers.

CLI’s mission is to help companies maximize the value of their non-English speaking customers with on-demand interpreting. We offer utmost flexibility in our services, customizing each client’s experience to meet the unique needs of their industry and customer base.

CLI has helped mold the accreditation processes that are being adapted by Language Service Companies (LSCs) to assure the delivery of quality in both interpreting and translation services.

CLI’s executives have pioneered strong industry standards. Our founder and president, Bill Graeper, is a co-founder of the nationally recognized LSC trade association, the Association for Language Companies (ALC), and chairs their Government Affairs Committee. Bill is also a committee member of the ASTM Subcommittee F43.05 Quality Standards for Language Service Companies of the Committee F43 on Languages. Our CEO, Kristin Quinlan, is in her 2nd term sitting on the ALC Executive Board of Directors, a contributing member of GALA, and represents CLI’s visibility and support with the Joint National Committee for Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL-NCLIS).

CLI’s clients and end users comprise a vastly diverse array of individuals, and our employees and subcontractors reflect this diversity. We are committed to further cultivating diversity by promoting the use of minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and emerging small businesses whenever possible.

CLI is also proud to be recognized as a women-owned business certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

At CLI, we believe in the importance of enriching the communities where we live and work in Portland, Oregon and Phoenix, Arizona.

CLI contributes to the ALS Association by providing support and resources for people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), their families, and caregivers living in Oregon and southwest Washington. CLI as a company and many of our employees individually donate money to the ALS Association each year and participate in the annual Walk to Defeat ALS in Portland, Oregon.

CLI is dedicated to language preservation on a global level. Our company has been a longtime supporter of linguist, author, and activist K. David Harrison, who studies endangered languages around the world and advocates for language preservation. We are proud to sponsor — alongside National Geographic — Harrison’s research at the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages.

CLI also supports The Voice of Love, a U.S.-based nonprofit that promotes and supports interpreting for survivors of torture, trauma, and sexual violence. VOL develops training and resources and offers technical assistance to support quality interpreting in this specialized area.