About Us

Dick Surdykowski has built, integrated, and transformed high-performing teams for over 30 years. Dick leads organizations to new levels of performance and productivity in top-line revenue, customer satisfaction, profitability, and market growth. An engaging and motivational leader, Dick is recognized for attracting and actualizing top-performing teams in intensely competitive market segments. Adept at designing and executing sales and business development strategies, Dick leverages organizational capability, product advantage, and brand equity. By blending innovative thinking, excellence in execution, and functional agility with exceptional interpersonal skills and inspirational leadership, Dick delivers results in key performance areas.  Dick holds a BS degree in Management Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is also a graduate of CEDEP's Executive Development Programme.

Jeff Brink is an entrepreneurial executive known for leadership, strategic thinking, and innovation. Over the last 25 years, he has successfully launched and built leading companies in the language services sector in the U.S. and Europe, including Brink International and United Language Group. He is recognized in the industry for pioneering innovative technologies and establishing exceptionally high standards for quality and service.

Jeff has extensive M&A and fundraising experience and was the architect of BIG’s buy-and-build model. Additionally, Jeff has led technology and service companies outside of the language industry and served as director on numerous boards. Jeff holds a BA degree in Business Management from Concordia University.

Dave Perlman is a results-driven finance executive with nearly 20 years of international finance experience across several industries, including IT, cybersecurity, enterprise software, and engineering. He has held leadership roles at General Electric, Dell Technologies, Secureworks, and Brambles Ltd, and is an expert in fair and transparent pricing practices.

Dave holds a BS degree in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas, Austin. He is also a graduate of General Electric’s Financial Management Program (FMP) and Dell’s Global Finance Executive Leadership Program (GFEP).

Luis has been a leader in the language space for 20 years overseeing strategic direction and growth for several highly successful language service providers. He serves as COO of BIG Language Solutions and BIG IP. As president of Protranslating, he directs its vision for driving efficiency, building a long-term sustainable business, and satisfying the personal and professional goals of the company’s stakeholders.

He has navigated the dramatic shift within the language industry over the past two decades and led his companies to adopt new technologies and business processes recognized as industry best practices. Luis holds a BSBA in Finance and International Business from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, and an MBA from the University of Miami.

With more than 15 years of experience in operations, quality assurance, and compliance, Agnes Piriou works to ensure the entire BIG Language organization is aligned with the guidelines and regulations of the global language services industry. She has been part of the Protranslating family since 2006 and involved in many different areas within the company. In her current role, she oversees implementing and maintaining certifications as well as creating and optimizing processes and procedures.

Agnes has gained international business experience throughout her career. When paired with her specialized skillset, it allows her to efficiently keep the BIG Language family of companies in good standing. She studied in France earning Professional Studies Certificate in Accounting and Administration at Lycee Japy in Lyon. Agnes also attended Ecole Internationale Tunon in Geneva earning a Baccalaureate +1 in Administration and Tourism.

Michael brings nearly two decades of leadership and a passion for language and cross-cultural communication to his role as Chief Strategic Accounts Officer at BIG. As President of ISI Language Solutions, he leads a global team of language professionals who focus on helping organizations reduce language-related spending and increase speed-to-market.

Michael is passionate about BIG’s customers, the products they sell, and the people they serve. He brings an unparalleled ability to solve problems creatively. In addition, he is adept at working with multiple departments across diverse companies to ensure that BIG’s language access solutions are dedicated to the goals of its customers. Michael holds a BA from Arizona State University, an MA from the University of South Dakota, and is a Graduate of Chicago Booth’s Executive Education Program.

Colin has been immersed in the language space for nearly 15 years, effectively forming relationships with customers, colleagues and partner vendors along the way. He takes pride in helping to oversee cohesive teams who collaborate effectively to meet business objectives. In addition to taking on his new role of SVP of Operations with BIG Language Solutions, Colin continues to serve as Protranslating’s Vice President of Operations, playing a key role in building the company’s operational infrastructure. 

Colin holds a BA from Emory University and has gained diverse knowledge on all aspects of the language industry the only way you really can… through exposure and experience. His blend of open communication, industry knowledge and a “can-do” attitude help contribute to BIG Language Solutions’ expansion within the language solutions space.

Johnny joined Protranslating in 2011 as a Project Coordinator in the Web Translation Department and from there expanded and grew into several roles across our organization ranging from client service, quality assurance, and operations. Throughout his experience he has been able to find solutions and support the different vertical needs of our enterprise global partners. Johnny’s expertise and passion in utilizing technology serves as a way to deliver strategic custom-solutions for our clients and partners. Today, he’s in the leadership team at BIG Language Solutions and supports strategic enterprise partnerships.