Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone began with one man's dream to find a better way to learn a language. That dream has since evolved into one of the most recognized technology-based learning companies in the world.

After struggling to learn Russian through traditional methods, Founder Allen Stoltzfus set out to develop an effective way to learn a new language through natural immersion in the late 1980s. He envisioned using computer technology to simulate the way that people learn their native language—with pictures and sounds in context, and with no translation—and innovate language education for learners of all ages. Stoltzfus enlisted the help of his brother-in-law, John Fairfield, to explore the possibilities of making his dream a reality and in 1992, CD-ROM technology made the project possible. Together they founded Fairfield Language Technologies in Harrisonburg, VA with Stoltzfus at the helm as the company's first Chairman and President. He recruited his brother, Eugene Stoltzfus, to lend his design expertise to the structural and visual components of the program. The resulting product was then named "Rosetta Stone," after the artifact that had unlocked the secrets of Egyptian hieroglyphics for linguists. The name certainly fits, as Rosetta Stone products now unlock learning success for millions of users worldwide.

In 2003 Rosetta Stone went global, establishing offices in various major markets around the world, and in 2006, the company was officially renamed after its signature product. Rosetta Stone Inc. (NYSE: RST) became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in April 2009, and continues to provide language-learning solutions in 30 different languages.

2013 marked a year of transformation for the Company to a cloud-based business model that went beyond language learning and deeper into education technology. Rosetta Stone grew its offerings in the digital space with a number of strategic acquisitions, most notably that of Lexia Learning, whose innovative English literacy products have helped children learn to read for more than 30 years. The Boston-based company is among the most trusted and established reading technology companies in the market. This critical addition further propelled Rosetta Stone as an education leader and broadened its footprint in the technology-education business.

With Lexia now a firm cornerstone of the Company, Rosetta Stone is leading the way in servicing the needs of the English-language learning market with a dynamic suite of solutions to help children learn to read and speak in a new language. Rosetta Stone continues to service clients world-wide and currently has offices in six countries, in addition to various U.S.-based offices. The Company's headquarters are located in Arlington, VA.