Alex Shapiro
4045 Linkwood Dr., #628
Houston, Texas 77025-3436
(713) 668-8431 (home office)
(713) 398-1811 (mobile in the US)
(713) 893-3459 (US worldwide number through Skype)
Skype: Irkutsky
E-mail: alex@netropolis.net
SUMMARY OF SKILLS
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Over twenty years of experience as Translator, Interpreter and Technical Writer
Complete proficiency in English, Russian, and Hebrew
Working knowledge of the Latvian language
Accredited English-Russian translator by the American Translators Association (ATA)
Licensed Court Interpreter (Russian & Hebrew) in the state of Texas
Accredited as English-Russian and English-Hebrew interpreter for the INS court
Experience in oil and gas industry (upstream, midstream, downstream)
Knowledge of industrial and military electronic and computer systems
Experience in software and Web sites localization projects
Good familiarity with engineering, scientific, legal, commercial, business, and terminology in
Russian, Hebrew and English
Experience in voice over recording and subtitles creation/translation for commercial clips and
movie distributors
Educated in the former USSR (now Latvia), Israel, and USA
EXPERIENCE
FREELANCE TRANSLATOR, INTERPRETER AND VOICEOVER NARRATOR
December 1990 to present
Interpretation services:
 Interpreter for major oil and gas and other engineering companies
 Interpreter during working sessions with engineers, geologists, scientists, administrators, and
government representatives, including assignments all over the U.S., Europe & Azerbaijan.
 Simultaneous interpreter at various courses, workshops and sessions in the US and worldwide
 Russian and Hebrew interpreter at legal depositions, court hearings and investigations at Executive
Office for Immigration Review (the INS court), U.S. Marshal's Service, U.S. District Attorney
Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Employment Commission, and in various city
and county courts.
Translation services:
 Translation of technical, legal, and commercial documentation from English to Russian and
Hebrew and vice versa as well as from Latvian to English for various companies and agencies in
the United States, Europe and Japan.
 Localization projects for software manufacturers and Web site designers.
Other services:
 Voice-over narrations for commercial clips
 Translation and creation of original English subtitles for Russian and Israeli films
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Translation, editing and assistance in preparation of feasibility studies and various technical and
commercial documentation for international joint ventures.
Writing and updating of technical documentation in the computer, electronics and oil/gas fields.
OIL & GAS ENGINEER (UPSTREAM), PROJECT & CONTRACT MANAGER
December 1990 to present
Project management, integrated supply chain management, production engineering, safety,
training, strategy and business plans development for various oil and gas companies and
government organizations (intermittently with translation work):
For additional information on my oil & gas working experience please refer to my LinkedIn
profile at www.linkedin.com/in/alexdshapiro
Management Systems International, Baghdad, Iraq – January 2008 – October 2009
Member of the multi-disciplinary team serving functions of Project Manager/Energy Specialist in the
energy group for the “Tatweer” (“Development”) project created by the USAID for the purpose of
developing national capacity in public management for the government of Iraq.
Varrant SKM (Russia) – May 2006 – December 2007
El Tigre Engineering (Russia, Azerbaijan, USA) – November 2002 – January 2008
Randy Smith Training Schools (The Nederlands, Azerbaijan) – October 2002; January 2003; February March 2003
ABB Lummus Global (Russia)- January 2001- September 2002
Shell Oil Company (Russia)– October 1998 – December 2000
Santa Fe International Services (Russia) – June 1997 – September 1998
J.R. Butler & Company/Crystal Oil Company – February 1993 – April 1995
MMM Group (Marathon Oil Company, McDermott International, Mitsui & Co.) – May 1992 –
January 1993
Halliburton Geophysical Services – December 1991 – April 1992
Conoco CIS – January 1990 – April 1992
William Larson & Co., International – February - May 1993
Presentations at various meetings and functions, interviews to local TV stations on various issues
of doing business with Russia, in particular, establishing oil and gas joint ventures
(during the period between 1992 and 2001):
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Comparison between Western & Russian business practices
Monetary/regulatory issues
Technology transfer
Conflict resolution
General business strategies when doing business in Russia and other former Soviet republics
Cultural differences
Legal issues as they addressed by Russian legislation
Environmental protection issues as reflected by Russian legislation
Compatibility issues between Russian and Western technical standards for oil and gas industry
DESIGN ENGINEER/PROJECT MANAGER – January 1988 - December 1989
ASI Instruments, Houston.
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DESIGN ENGINEER/PROJECT MANAGER – January 1982 – December 1984
Degem Systems, Tel Aviv, Israel
DESIGN ENGINEER – June 1980 – December 1982
Tadiran Industries, Holon, Israel
MEMBER OF THE R&D TEAM
– May 1976 - May 1980
Israeli Air Force, Professional Service, Israel
(RANK AT DISCHARGE: SERGEANT-MAJOR)
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Developed new and improved existing navigational equipment
Maintained communication with the U.S. suppliers about performance of their products
Maintained and operated sophisticated ELINT equipment
Taught military training courses
Wrote operations manuals and testing procedures
EDUCATION:
Petrochemical Engineering
Engineering Project Management
Audited advanced courses, University of Houston, 1995 - 2001
M.Eng. (double Master’s degree), University of Houston, 1994
Specialization: Joint ventures in Russia and other former Soviet republics
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
M.Eng. (double Master’s degree), University of Houston, 1994
B.Sc., University of Houston, 1987 – cum laude
B. Tech., Tel Aviv University, Israel, 1975
First 2 years towards B.Sc., Riga Polytechnic Institute, Latvia, 1970
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
American Translators Association (ATA)
National Association of Judicial Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT)
Houston Interpreters and Translators Association (HITA)
Society of Petroleum Engineers
Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society
PAPERS AND PUBLICATIONS
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"Establishing a Joint Venture in the C.I.S." - characteristics of Russian management, suggested
negotiation strategies, cultural differences
"What's Wrong with American Management?" - insufficient humanitarian aspects often result in poor
performance as compared to European countries
"Establishing a Petrochemical Business in Russia" - a socioeconomic and business analysis
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Born in Lithuania, raised in Latvia
Educated in Latvia, Israel and USA
US citizen
Married
Excellent health
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