At Diplomatic Language Services, our team is at the heart of everything we do. In our Staff Spotlight series, we’re highlighting the dedicated professionals who make DLS such a dynamic and inspiring place to work. Each feature offers a closer look at the people behind our programs. Read about their stories, passions, and the impact they make every day. Below, enjoy our spotlight on CEO and Chairman, Jim Bellas.
Where are you from?
I was born in Italy of an Italian mother and a Greek American father who met and wed right after WWII. And, I grew up in an US Army family that moved frequently. Living in so many places gave me an early appreciation for language, culture, and the many ways people find common ground. Arlington, Virginia has been home for many years, but my outlook was shaped by that global upbringing — seeing difference not as distance, but as opportunity for connection.
What is your educational or professional background?
My career has always revolved around entrepreneurship and leadership. I received a BA from the University of Maryland with a history major intending to continue to law school after several years of work to earn the money to pay for that. That first employment revealed what I really wanted to do. So, instead of becoming an attorney, I’ve started and grown several companies, but the real through-line has been building teams and cultures that outlast any individual. I’ve learned that my greatest contribution isn’t in knowing the most about operations or services, but in creating the conditions for others to thrive — aligning people’s strengths with meaningful purpose and giving them room to grow.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love to travel — not just to see new places, but to share meals, conversations, and stories that connect us as people. I also enjoy writing and reflecting; it helps me make sense of what matters and how to live it. I enjoy playing guitar and singing, and especially of playing with people more talented than myself. And I value time with family and friends who remind me that the real measure of success is how well we love and are loved in return.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
Before DLS, I founded and grew a chain of bicycle stores. When that business, after 30 years of success, failed, that event became one of my greatest teachers. It taught me humility, resilience, and the difference between failing and being a failure. That experience gave me a deep respect for persistence and the power of reinvention — lessons that have shaped every leadership decision since.
How long have you been with DLS, and how has the organization evolved during that time?
I’ve been with DLS since 2006. From the beginning, I was never the one who knew the service or the operations best. My role was to build the culture — to define our core values and attract, retain, and empower the best people to operate in a strengths-based organization. What’s most rewarding today is seeing that philosophy fully alive. The leadership team now runs the day-to-day operations, leading with clarity, confidence, and purpose. The company is self-renewing — guided by values, not hierarchy — and that’s exactly what I always have strived for.
What inspires you most about leading DLS?
What inspires me most is seeing people grow into leadership — when someone steps into their full capability and recognizes their own mastery. I love watching people take ownership, trust their judgment, and lead in ways that align with their strengths and values. That’s when the company really comes alive — when leadership isn’t a title, but a shared responsibility.
What is your vision for DLS’s future?
My vision is for DLS to remain a company that serves people and renews itself through its people — forever vigorous, curious, and purpose-driven. I want us to continue being a place where autonomy and mastery are not privileges, but expectations, where innovation comes from trust, and where culture and customer intimacy remain our most durable advantages.
When we hold to that, DLS will continue to grow and evolve long after any of us have moved on — proof that when you build around purpose, values, and people, you build something that lasts.
