Genevieve Peprah
999 Stuyvesant Ave #C2,
Irvington NJ 07111,
(973) 449-5514

OBJECTIVE
To obtain Translator/Interpreter opportunities, where I can utilize my linguistic skills and cultural knowledge in Medical, Legal (Court, Immigration, Attorney offices) and other inter-cultural settings.

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
 Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Applications, Oracle, QuickBooks and Lotus Notes
 Fluency in FRENCH and SWAHILI; ability to translate and interpret from and into French and Swahili.
 Native Speaker of AKAN (TWI, FANTE) and GA: Able to translate and interpret from and into Akan and Ga.
 Extensive Internet research experience.
 Extensive experience in wide spectrum of administrative duties including office management, customer care, records management, document preparation, meeting coordination, project support.
 Excellent communication skills; able to exercise discretion, tact, and maintain confidentiality.
 Excellent organizational and follow-up skills, outstanding attention to detail.
 Facility with using and learning software and technology products and applications.
 Ability to anticipate business needs and make suggestions for improvements.
 Self motivated and, can handle tasks with minimal supervision.
KEY CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Nov 2008 to date Freelance Foreign Language Translator & Interpreter (TELEPHONIC and ON-SITE)
Sep-Nov 2008 AR Clerk/Credit and Collections Analyst (TEMP)
Ricoh Americas Corporation, West Caldwell New Jersey

Responsible for the collections/cash application and resolution of outstanding receivables for assigned major accounts, using established guidelines, procedures and policies, ensuring all cash was applied accurately and on a timely basis.
July-August 2008 Administrative Assistant/Secretary (TEMP)
Dept. of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute of NJ, UMDNJ
Provided the necessary administrative and clerical support to 2 neurosurgeons in the examination and treatment of patients in a fast-paced, extremely busy, outpatient setting.
Dec 2007 – Mar 2008 Law Office of Catherine Klusey Maplewood NJ
Assisted an Immigration Attorney to open a new office,
- Planned and coordinated the purchases of office equipment, supplies and other resources.
- Developed procedures, systems and forms to ensure productive and efficient office operation.
- Designed and distributed flyers, and put in place other marketing strategies that have helped to increase the visibility of the Law Office in the African and other Immigrant communities.
- Served as Interpreter in Client – Attorney Interviews with French-speaking West African clients

Sep 2006-Feb 2007 SNR. ACCOUNTS CLERK – TEMP POSITION
Avis Budget Group, Parsippany NJ

Feb 2006 - Jul 2006 - PROJECT ASSISTANT (TEMP)– CREST International Project
Cendant Corp –Real Estate Franchise Group, IT Dept Parsippany NJ

Nov-Dec 2005 - CENDANT – Accounts Payable Auditing Clerk Parsippany NJ

Oct 2002 – Aug 2005 Sub-Sahara Aids Rescue Inc. New York NY
Sub-Sahara (SSAR), a non-profit Community-Based Organization (CBO) offering counseling, case management and practical assistance to African and other Immigrant populations engaging in high risk behaviors, with the overall goal of helping to reduce the impact of the HIV epidemic through advocacy, counseling and other support services.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR Feb 2004 – Aug 2005
Gave direction to PCM program as a whole, as well as coordinating individual project
KEY FUNCTIONS
- Communication & Public Relations
• Developed and implemented marketing strategies to, continually inform the to target populations and the general community of the services available at SSAR, resulting in increased awareness of the HIV epidemic among French and English-speaking African immigrant populations in Harlem and the Bronx
• Assisted other Community–Based Organizations and HIV Agencies in Harlem and the Bronx to provide individualized care to clients by offering Interpreting services and inter-cultural knowledge.
- Program Management & Team Leadership
- Training & Career Development
- Administration & Organization

CASE MANAGER Nov 2002 – May 2004
- Communication, Customer Care
• Provided African Immigrant clients at high risk for HIV and HIV-infected individuals with linguistic and culturally-sensitive HIV/AIDS prevention education and emergency practical assistance, and followed up with phone and field visits.
• Encouraged client empowerment through regular individual and group counseling and education, based on harm reduction philosophies and principles, which helped to significantly reduce the risk for HIV, especially among female African immigrants in the Harlem Community.
- Administration
Maintained confidential client records and documentation.

2001 to 2002 - AREA FACILITIES MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT
Africa West Area Office of The LDS Church

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Assisted the Planning Manager in communicating planning decisions and recommendations, in French and English to Ecclesiastical Leaders, various departments and other entities on a timely basis and with a high level of accuracy, to obtain their support, concurrence and cooperation.
• Created and maintained a database to be used by Management and Ecclesiastical leaders at all levels as a key component of the decision-making process.
• Managed communication, in French and English, with Ecclesiastical leaders, Service Providers, and others.
• Provided technical assistance to Area Facilities Management Manager and Planning Manager in all aspects of the evaluation and preparation of planning and forecasting data models, documents, reports and budgets for the construction of future meetinghouse facilities and the purchase of future building sites.
1998 – 2001 -BILINGUAL EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Africa West Area Office of The LDS Church

 Translated correspondence, reports and documents from and into French for Area Executives and other client departments in the Area Office.
 Interpreted for Area Executives during face to face meetings and phone conferences with Ecclesiastical leaders in Francophone West and Central Africa.
 Gathered info and data on regular basis from Church Organization System and other internal sources to prepare Training Packages for Area Executives weekly Conference meetings and Bi-Annual Training Seminars in the West Africa Area and Church Headquarters.
 Maintained Area Executives’ Calendar and coordinated their travels with other employees in the Regional Offices in other parts of the Africa West Area.
 Provided senior level customer service to Ecclesiastical leaders ad Church membership in Francophone and Anglophone West Africa, as well as support staff from client departments, by responding to their concerns and requests by telephone, face to face and written correspondence, in view of prevailing policies.
 Designed, prepared and distributed reports, spreadsheets and presentations of high quality and professionalism to Area Executives and appropriate personnel.
 Performed secretarial duties such as typing correspondence and reports in French and English, organizing meetings, handling in-coming and outgoing mail and attending training meetings.
 Taught English as Second Language to Volunteer Missionaries form French speaking West Africa
 Created and maintained the initial database and shared files, maintained back-ups, ensuring reliability and security of files, as required, to be used by Area Executives and ecclesiastical leaders at all levels as a key component of the decision -making process.

1991-1992 Lawra Secondary School, Upper West Region, Ghana
1 year National Service
• Taught French and English Language and Literature to Senior Secondary Students (Senior High School)
• Organized extra classes and other curriculum activities for the otherwise deprived students, which helped to improve their performance considerably.
1986-1987 Ola Elementary School, Cape Coast, Ghana
1 year National Service
• Taught French and English Language and Literature to Elementary and Middle School Students

VOLUNTARY SERVICE

1999 French and Akan Interpreter
• Volunteer French and Akan Interpreter for Humanitarian Aid Relief Team Inc. (HART), USA, a non-profit organization ; on a 2-week ‘Buruli’ Ulcer Research/Medical Relief mission in Ghana and the Ivory Coast

1994 -1996 Volunteer Service Representative for LDS Church in the Ivory Coast
• Offered cross cultural training, and supervised other volunteer representatives from North America, Europe, French Polynesia, Caribbean Islands, and other parts of Africa.
• Taught life skills and personal values using the French Language.
• Organized schedules, set goals and tracked performance. Evaluated and reported results weekly.
• Initiated contact, interacted, and maintained relationship with diverse groups of people
• Interpreted from and into French for visiting Church Executives from Church Headquarters

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Certificate in Corporate Administration, Inst. of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), UK 2000-2001
• Company-Sponsored Executive Secretarial Training, Johannesburg, South Africa 1998
• Fire Services Administration Certificate, Fire Academy and Training School, Accra Ghana 1992-1993
B.A. (Modern Languages- FRENCH & SWAHILI ),
- University of Ghana. Legon Ghana 1987-1991 ;
- University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (1989-90
LINGUISTICS (24 credits) -Courses include:
- Foundations of Language
- Language in Ghana and African Society- Historical and Comparative Linguistics
- Languages, Culture and Society
- Phonetics, Morphology, Syntax, Phonology