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rom February 11 to 13, 2026, hundreds of executives from across the language services sector gathered at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the Association of Language Companies (ALC) “UnConference.” Designed specifically for C-suite leaders of language service companies, the UnConference once again provided a distinctive forum for candid peer exchange and collaborative strategy building in a time of rapid industry change.
Unlike traditional conferences built around speaker-led presentations, the UnConference centers on structured roundtable discussions in which participants themselves shape the agenda. Attendees rotated through sessions covering human resources and operations, advocacy priorities, mergers and acquisitions, RFP strategy, technology adoption, AI implementation, sales engagement, branding, succession planning, and talent development. The format ensured that every participant contributed directly while engaging with new groups throughout the program.
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Across conversations, leadership continuity and workforce development emerged as recurring priorities, reflecting broader transitions underway across the language services landscape. Participants also explored how organizations are adapting pricing strategies within antitrust guidelines while responding to shifting client expectations and increasing automation across workflows. Discussions around operational efficiency and innovation reinforced the importance of aligning emerging technologies with sustainable service delivery models.
ALC leadership also emphasized recent advocacy progress shaping the broader environment in which language companies operate — including strengthened expectations around language access in healthcare accreditation, implementation of the SPEAK Act framework, and updated federal procurement guidance recognizing the role of qualified language service providers. These developments signal growing recognition of language access as a structural requirement rather than an optional service category, reinforcing the importance of coordinated industry engagement.
Equally important to the structured sessions was the opportunity for executive-level connection in a trusted setting. Informal conversations throughout the opening reception, networking breaks, and closing dinner extended discussions beyond the roundtables and strengthened relationships across companies navigating similar strategic questions.
A special thank you goes to Joseph Featherstone (Hands Up Communications), Sanjay Kamani (ABC Language Services), and ALC event director Jennifer Alvarez-McQuire (Atlas Language Services) for their leadership in shaping this year’s program.
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As the language services industry continues to adapt to technological change, evolving procurement expectations, and workforce transformation, the 2026 ALC UnConference reaffirmed the value of executive collaboration in shaping the sector’s next phase. By creating space for structured dialogue grounded in shared experience, ALC continues to strengthen both the business resilience and the collective voice of language companies.
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