Meet Our Team
We are so proud of our dedicated SpokenHere team. Every day we come ready to serve
and support our clients with a personal touch.
Fun facts and faux pas
Get to know a little about us and read some funny linguistic faux pas we’ve personally committed. While it’s our job to get the words right for our clients, we admit that we’ve all stepped on our own tongues at some point.
Bobby Lahiere
Founder & CEO
Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, my love for foreign languages started in 9th grade, when I began learning German. Once it was clear my other love (baseball) was not going to pay the bills, I dived head first into building the best language company in the world! I love travel, history, time, and filmmaking.
Fun Facts
- I have been to 29 countries, including four that no longer exist (Czechoslovakia, East Germany, West Germany, and the Soviet Union). My favorites are: Germany, Austria, Iceland & Czech Republic!
- I narrated the German voiceover for the self-guided audio tour at Elvis Presley's Graceland in the mid-1990's
- I speak English, German, Russian, French, and enough Spanish to get by in Houston!
- I do CrossFit 5x a week, play competitive, fast-pitch, wood bat league baseball & ice hockey!
- I once hit a double at Minute Maid Park during the Houston Hardball League's All-Star game
- I ❤️ Golden Retrievers 🐕! Here are my current two, Ranger and Liberty
- Won a study trip to Germany as a junior in high school
Faux Pas
I spent the entire summer of 1989 at my German girlfriend's house in Nürnberg, Germany. I already spoke very good German at the time, but there was still more to learn apparently. While cutting an apple in her parents' kitchen, I accidentally sliced my finger with the knife. Instead of saying, "Ach, ich habe mich geschnitten!" (I cut my finger), I thought I needed to use the present perfect form of the verb "beschneiden" (to cut a part of one's body) instead of "schneiden" (to cut). Well, "beschneiden" does mean to cut a part of one's body. Unfortunately, it means "to castrate". Her dad laughed hysterically, and I learned a new word the hard way...well, not the hardest way, but still...
Kathleen Clark
Director of Client Services
I am Director of Client Services where I oversee language projects from start to finish, including understanding client needs, quoting, managing projects, and ensuring translation memory files are kept up to date. I also ensure each client receives great customer service before and after a project delivers. When I am not delivering that "WOW" experience, I can be found exploring back roads and old cemeteries, crafting, walking my dogs or hanging out by a lake or in a boat fishing.
Fun Facts
- I once owned the 2,000th Chevrolet Vega made
- I have road tripped through 29 of the 50 states
- There are only 899 people in the world who have my maiden name
- I love history and museums
Faux Pas
I was at Texas Roadhouse with some of my kids and their spouses. We were ordering drinks and my favorite there is the "Jamaican Cowboy". I ordered one, but the waiter thought I wanted a "Naked Cowboy". Of course the jokes went around the table and I really don't remember if I actually said that, but they all said I did, and the waiter said he could try to find me one!
Kim Beck
VP of Remote Services
I have been part of the SpokenHere team for more than 5 years and in the language industry more than 10 years. As Senior Account Manager at SpokenHere my focus is on client service. I assist with on-boarding, training and providing on-going support to our clients. My goal is to ensure our clients are happy and confident that we can help them build better relationships through communication.
Fun Facts
- I believe you should give out what you want to get back. So, I live my life everyday, happy and positive!
- All of my kids are grown and I have a granddaughter that I spoil every chance I get!
- I have a “phone voice.” Any time I am on the phone, apparently my voice changes to a proper/professional tone regardless of who is on the other end, or so my kids say!
- I’m an artist/creator - in my free time you will find me painting, sewing, re-purposing something or working on one of my many DIY projects!
- I have a vegetable garden that started out with only 3 different things a few years ago but has grown to over 20 vegetables.
Faux Pas
I used to work for a non-profit organization. Soon after I started working there, our bookkeeper emailed me to say that she hadn't received a file because it was too large. In a hurry, I zipped the file and sent it to her again with the short note, "I resent you." The next day, I could tell she was not herself, and I asked if something was bothering her. She confessed that she was upset and had no idea why I would resent her. Totally confused, I told her I did not resent her and had no idea why she would think that I did. She said because I told her in my email to her the day before. Still confused, I asked her to show me what she was referring to, so she opened the email with my hastily written reply. It became clear immediately that I should've proofed my message before sending it, and I explained that I had meant to convey that I was sending the file a second time. She couldn’t believe it, but then realized that she had been so taken aback by the words she read that she had not noticed my message was a response to her and what I might have actually meant. After a few seconds, we both laughed at our mistakes. Today, many years later, we are great friends and have turned it into a running joke. I learned a valuable lesson that day. Many words have more than one meaning, and, depending on how they are used or pronounced, they can change completely and you might resent sending an email or text that you didn't proof!
Sally Clark
Senior Project Manager
I am Project Manager and handle every aspect of client projects from start to finish. I have had an unusual combination of jobs over the years with an extensive background in customer service. I have worked as a courtesy booth manager at a grocery store, a commercial sign designer/painter, account analyst at a retirement firm, customer service coordinator at a business phone system company, and even owned my own karaoke company. This array of experience has enabled me to deliver top-notch service to clients looking for virtually anything they need in the language business. My passion for helping others and striving for perfection in my work means that my clients' business needs will always be given top priority. When I am not helping my clients, I enjoy spending time with my family, working on DIY projects at home, art, sightseeing, and bike riding.
Fun Facts
- Received an award of excellence ribbon on a piece of art for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in high school
- Once sat across from Tim Robbins on a subway train in NYC
- Wanted to be a homicide detective when I grew up
- Would love to hike the Continental Divide Trail
- Have never met another Sally my age
Join Our Team
We are always seeking to work with talented people. If you are passionate about languages, have experience in our industry,
and possess a strong desire to work with a company that treats its colleagues with respect and dignity, we want to meet you!