You founded TCS Associates with your husband
Phil Aiello. What got you involved within the technology field?
I want to say that my husband in 1982 - we weren't married. We were together.
Because of my husband being a computer expert and the desire in setting up a business...
we thought long and hard about what kind of business.
In 1982, it was the beginning of a technology era.
We thought it would be nice to set up an IT company. That was the beginning of everything.
Back then, it was called - it was a different name - “Software N (and) Things.”
That was the beginning of new IT technology. Why did we go with that kind of business at that time?
Back then, there were a lot of computer stores, but no other places to buy other things
such as software, printers, and different technologies at that time.
So, we thought it would be challenging to set up a business that was not available,
something different, and no one had.
Tell us more about TCS Associates and the services that are available to us.
It is a company that is very diverse. We do not provide one service, but many other services.
TCS’ main focus is on assistive technology in a sense we provide solutions for
people with disabilities in the workplace. Meaning equipments, services for the
blind, low vision, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, cognitive, and other disabilities.
That is one area - a big one. With that, we have a variety of divisions:
communication solutions including interpreting, remote cart, video services, and more.
We have another area that is within the medical, legal, and professional aspect.
In that, we have a new product called Dragon. The Dragon is becoming a new division as well as focus
in our company. That is being used for people in the medical area like doctors, dentists, and lawyers.
They are for, what I’d would call them, wounded war veterans. They are people who came back from
the war that have lost some type of sense or gained a disability. Dragon is a great product.
as well as service for them. We also have assistive technology to provide
and training for people with disabilities. We are a very diverse company.
Our newest division is interpreting services in federal government, private, and corporations.
I heard when you were younger, you did not receive a lot of support from your peers as well as your family members.
Is that true? If so, can you please explain more?
That is a very sensitive question as it brings back a lot of memories of growing up.
I grew up and became deaf at the age of three. At that time, technology and
things weren’t made available, my parents were very young, and
things weren’t like today.
I went to a public school growing up knowing I was different, but
my parents preached to me that I am no different from anyone except that I cannot hear.
So, I grew up believing that I guess I was like everyone else but
when I learned of Gallaudet. I went there to learn sign language, got involved with Deaf culture
and Deaf world...things were so different. Now that I am looking back and remembered
telling my parents that I am not the same as everyone else,
i am different because I am deaf, I cannot hear.
BUT I function just like anyone else. My parents struggled with that because the word “deaf”
was never accepted in my family. They see me as if I were like a hearing person. And my friends
see me so differently now as opposed to when we grew up.
Today, they see me so differently and are so shocked as well as supportive now.
They were not supportive of me back then. The time has changed.
I came out to be myself and i have to admit while growing up I thought
I came out to be myself and i have to admit while growing up I thought
I was the only deaf in the world until I went to Gallaudet University meeting people like me.
That is when I came out of my shell.
Back then and even today, there is a small number of deaf woman owned businesses.
Now, what kind of advice do you have for them?
I am happy to be a role model showing that by being a woman and successful business owner,
I would like to share - what I call - the three Ps.
Persistence, patience, and passion.
I have a quote I’d like to share with you,
“Somewhere over the hill, there is a beautiful valley.
You have to climb up and look down on that valley.
What you see in the valley are your dreams, but you have to DO in order to accomplish.
I believe you must be a doer, not a dreamer.
That valley is what I called a success.
To lead yourself to success, you have to have guts.
Out of all The Pearls, who do you admire the most?
Out of all The Pearls, I support, honor, and recognize all. They are all unique, but if I were to pick one...
it would be Moon Feris. Why? She is a woman, business woman, very successful,
we share some similarities in terms of providing the same kind of services.
So, I would not call it a competition and the fact she is from another country, I admire her for that.
What does the word Pearl mean to you?
A Pearl is what I called to be beautiful, unique, special, glowing, and quality.
There are many different meanings, but I consider a Pearl to be the America dream.
Should we have a second round of The Pearls, which Deaf woman would you recommend to be a Pearl?
That was the question I thought for long time. There are many successful women out there.
However this time I would pick Stephanie Summers because I feel
she is in an area that no one is in - not that I am aware of. She is in finances
and established her own business. She is becoming successful in what she does.