We’re opening a call center in Fort Wayne, two hours north of Indianapolis!

Our pending FCC certification gives us expectations for great growth. For that reason, we find Indiana to be both ideal and integral; the state has vibrant Deaf and Interpreter communities that can further shape the culture at Convo.

Fort Wayne joins Mobile, AL; Roseville, CA; and San Ramon, CA; as our call center locations and will help us scale 24/7 service for your VRS calls. On a personal level, we’re excited to forge a stronger connection with a state that has ties to so many of us.

• Our CEO Robin Horwitz’s father Bernard graduated from ISD in the 1960s
• Jarrod Musano, who is a partner at Convo, has deaf in-laws who are active in the Indianapolis Deaf Community
• Joshua Shaffner, who leads technology development at Convo, was a standout student-athlete at ISD and graduated in 1992

We’re ready to call Indiana home and to welcome Hoosiers everywhere to the Convo family. Please help us welcome the new faces you’ll be seeing, and us to Indiana!

Many of us are newly fascinated with Mayan culture because of their prediction that the world will end in 2012.

But many of us may not realize that there is a Mayan Sign Language. How great would it be to chat with the Mayan king? :) Enjoy this comic by deaf artist Jena Floyd (click to expand).

Jena grew up on a farm and went to Kentucky School for the Deaf then Gallaudet University. Currently she works as an anti-violence advocate at ADWAS in Seattle, her adopted hometown of seven years, and is involved with Deaf Spotlight, a new non-profit organization.

“The biggest influence in my creative life is my mom, who’s an oil paint artist,” Jena told us. “I consider drawing as one of my several meditation methods. I ‘m more fascinated with the creative process than the finished product.”

So, what was her creative process for this comic?! (Click on CC to display captions.)

We like how the comic has a recurring theme with the eye. The Mayan king talks about seeing/prediction, the deaf woman quotes George Veditz on his famous “People of the Eye” saying, and the DLink i2Eye even makes an appearance but… it’s ancient technology. :)

This is a pretty deep comic and the more you think about it, the different you might interpret the comic. For more insight, here’s other artwork from Jena!

We have only one thing to say: Keep your eye on Jena! :)

Last week we posted a tiny, short video that has received the strongest reaction we’ve ever seen. :)

This was a special experience for us. Scripting, directing, editing… the deaf perspective dominated the entire process.

How fun was it on the set? We’ll let these photos from Sweetwater Media tell you. :)

We’d like to thank all the actors — they added so much to the production. We also especially thank Michael MacAulay and Chris Hamilton, the talented multimedia guys who run Sweetwater Media, for their fabulous work… they took care of auditions, locations and props, and helped with light design. Read their blog for their perspective on the video shoot!

This video could never have happened with a hearing crew. We deaf people experience communication differently… and at the end of the day the entire cast could easily jump to understanding why a deaf-owned company would approach VRS differently.

So… “Mr. Hearing CEO”? We’re happy to balance this with the most deaf-affirming thing we’ve ever done: Our “Deaf CEO” showcase on Facebook!

Click to see 125+ deaf business owners and executive directors of agencies and non-profit organizations:

That’s right… deaf leaders in business and advocacy in nearly all 50 states!

If you’re a deaf CEO or know someone who is, we want to include you! Send your photo and information to hello @ convorelay.com and we’ll add you.

Of all the reactions the Deaf CEOs album received, this is our absolute favorite:

Here’s some more. Enjoy and thanks for your support. :)

You know the old joke where a deaf person and a hearing person in a car get pulled over for speeding and try to avoid a ticket by acting deaf? If not, check out Joke #25 here.

Deaf artist Paia Schroeder has a futuristic twist on this classic deaf joke. (Click on comic for a closer view):

We’re awestruck by the artistry of Paia. Born deaf to hearing parents and drawing since the age of 2, he’s a breakout talent. See his captioned vlog for his views from the drawing board:

Through his art, Paia hopes to both earn a living and to help advocate for ASL and all signed languages. Below is a recent drawing of George Veditz, well-known for his preservation efforts of ASL:

Born in Los Angeles, CA, Paia grew up in Kansas City, MO and had an interpreter throughout high school. “I wore a hearing aid until an IEP meeting with my parents, Deaf Ed teacher, interpreter and VR. I was 13 years old. VR mentioned it was my decision to wear it or not. It was wonderful without it after all .”

He picked up ASL during the New Signer Program (NSP) at Gallaudet University in summer 1999. He has never been formally trained as an artist.

“Just at home, all by myself. Some members in my family taught me a few basic “tools” drawing. Mixed up with ASL makes it double CHAMP!”

Now living in Columbus, OH, he’s been experimenting with new stuff and hopes to draw full-time. “I love drawing people, including signing.” He could draw turtles swimming and we’d love it just as much.

Last week, on November 15, the FCC granted us conditional certification to provide VRS as an independent company. Now we finally have an official, direct relationship with the FCC!

Also, ours is the first VRS certification given from the FCC since January 2009 and makes us the only deaf-owned company to be certified under the new, more strict FCC regulations.

Watch our ASL announcement here, with captions:

You can read the FCC’s letter. From that letter you will see:

      “On November 4, 2011, Convo Communications, LLC filed an application to be certified as a provider of video relay service that is eligible for compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund. … Based on our review of the Convo Application, we grant conditional certification to Convo to provide VRS service.”

However, our certification is not final. The FCC also says in its letter:

      “While we find that Convo’s application facially meets the certification requirements, we believe that an on-site visit is necessary to verify Convo’s ability to provide service in compliance with the Commission’s rules.”

You will see this on our website starting today:

In coming weeks, we will be welcoming FCC representatives to our offices. We can’t wait to kick off a vendor relationship with the FCC based on transparency.

And as you can imagine, we look forward to a long future of service to you, our community. Let’s chat soon — we will be hosting a Google Hangout after Thanksgiving so you can ask us questions you might have about us, our certification status or our 2012 plans.

Until then, know that we’re grateful for all your support. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Two logos? What do the new FCC rules mean for us?

Watch our captioned video to find out what’s new for us as a deaf-owned company:

We are required to be a subcontractor because the FCC doesn’t allow uncertified companies to represent themselves as independent VRS providers, even if they have a complete VRS infrastructure.

You’ll still get the same 24/7 VRS.

How can you convo with us?

We want to remain transparent. You can chat with us in the comments section under here… or join us in the two Google+ Hangouts that Wayne Betts, Jr., our VP of Creative Marketing, will host with the following guests:

      Wed, 8/31, 12pm EST - David Bahar, Director of Regulatory Affairs
      Thurs, 9/1, 3pm EST – Robin Horwitz, CEO

We look forward to hanging out with you!