2016 Presenters Slate
| Presenters | Biography |
| Alicia McClurkan | Born into a native Deaf family from Irving, Texas, I am the oldest of three sisters and we all currently live in Austin. In May 2015, I graduated from Interpreter Training Program at Austin Community College. I am also a proud mother of two sons. I am passionate about my mission to promote cooperation and alliance between CDIs/DIs and CHIs, as well as educate interpreting agencies of the importance of hiring CDIs and DIs along with CHIs. Recently certified as CDI, I am committed to promote the use of CDIs as gatekeepers in the field of interpreting. |
| Amanda M. David | Amanda is a native of southwest Louisiana. After graduating from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA, she completed coursework in the Interpreter Training Programs at Collin County Community College in Plano, TX and Houston Community College. She is certified on both State and National levels, and specializes in healthcare and conference interpreting. Amanda currently resides in Tampa, FL, where she is active in the free lance community. |
| Amber Galloway Gallego | Amber has an A.A.S. degree in Interpreting for the Deaf, BA in Psychology, and her Master’s Degree in ASL/English Interpreting, Amber found her true “calling” was teaching. When she is not teaching future interpreters, facilitating workshops around the country, or working “in the field”, Amber is busy interpreting concerts and music festivals in a myriad of genres. Passion, dedication, integrity, and continual skill development are attributes that Amber not only instills in her students, but traits she demands from herself. Certified R.I. D. CI and CT, R.I.D. and N.A.D NIC, Texas B.E.I. Level V and Texas B.E.I. Oral Certified: Comprehensive |
| Anne Tomkinson | Anne Tomkinson, MSM, CI/CT, serves as Vice President of Interpreting Services at TCS Interpreting. Nationally certified, Ms. Tomkinson has been interpreting professionally since 1998. Ms. Tomkinson holds a Master’s degree in Management from Catholic University, and has worked as in senior level management at several interpreting agencies in the DC area. Ms. Tomkinson has served RID at the national, regional and local levels, including a term as member-at-large on the Board of PCRID, and has presented workshops at national and regional conferences. In addition to her work at TCSI, Ms. Tomkinson serves on the Board of Directors for Little Lights Urban Ministries, an organization working with underserved youth and families in the District of Columbia. |
| Ari-Asha Castalia | Ari-Asha Castalia (MA, MFT, ATR, CI/CT) is Wisconsin native who graduated with a BS in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and completed the UWM Interpreter Training Program in 1989. Ari-Asha looks for opportunities to "raise the bar", and loves to mentor/coach. Her dynamic workshops (presented locally, regionally, and nationally) are known for hands-on participation and the supportive environment she creates. She coordinated interpreter services at a community college in San Francisco for over 15 years. She is currently working as an Marriage and Family/Art Therapist in private practice. |
| Ashley Eshnaur | Ashley Eshnaur, BEI-Basic, holds an A.A.S. in ASL-English Interpreting and Certificate in ASL Studies from Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, KS. Having received her certification in Fall 2015, she currently works in Kansas and Missouri. A Hard-of-Hearing “Hearing” interpreter, Ashley brings an interesting perspective to her work, using that as motivation to continually strive to improve her skills. When not interpreting, she is working on obtaining a Literary Braille Transcription Certification, works as a Community Specialist and Certified Support Service Provider for DeafBlind Individuals, and is a full time single mom to her two children. |
| Bonnie Faye Gibson-Brydon | Bonnie intently studied LISTENING after working with learning specialist Dr. Paul Scheele, and studying mental sciences with many but her favorite Shankar Vedantam and his Hidden Brain Sciences. After graduating as a License Practitioner ALSP, (Life Coach), Bonnie again started working with audiences in learning HOW to learn, but from a different approach. She works with the evolution of language and perception. For in our deliberate listening, the LEVELS of attentiveness become well-defined. Deliberate Listening is influenced both from the outer “environment” - and as from the inside (perceptions/analysis). Additionally, Bonnie loves humor, so attend expecting to have a giggle! |
| Caren Stringer | Upon graduating from Penn State with a degree in Communication Disorders; Caren continued her education in several areas. She focused her studies on legal and medical training as well as training and development. Caren began her professional career in Texas where she received her first certification from TSID. Since the she has preserved within the profession and received several additional certifications including her SC:L, CI, CT, NAD IV, BEI IV and Court. In addition to interpreter, Caren enjoys teaching and training interpreters. Her teaching experience expands over a 15 + year period which includes teaching a variety of workshops and interpreter training classes. |
| Carrie Wilbert | Carrie Wilbert, BS, CI and CT, Community Interpreter Carrie began her professional career in 1989 in Dallas, Texas as a Designated Interpreter. She then relocated to Minnesota and has worked with a wonderful variety of consumers and patients. Then in 2013, Carrie discovered a new passion as a facilitator for working interpreters in case conferencing groups. She trained with Karen Malcolm in a CATIE Center sponsored pilot project for healthcare interpreters and believes that case conferencing is the key to improving decision making in our field. She continues to facilitate groups in the VRS/VRI field. |
| Chris Orta | Chris Orta is the full-time ASL Professor for Lone Star College-CyFair. He received a Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of Houston and a Master's Degree in Deaf Education/Deaf Studies from Lamar University. Chris is the President of ASLive, Inc. which is a live and interactive approach to ASL learning online. Chris has a passion for ensuring that the students he works with are molded into skilled and professional interpreters. He is an active member of his church and greatly enjoys spending time with his wife and four beautiful children. |
| Connie Herndon | Bio unavailable |
| Corrie Pond | Corrie has been an interpreter in professional practice for almost ten years and currently works with Gallaudet Interpreting Services in Washington, DC. She earned a master of arts in interpretation from Gallaudet University with a thesis on how interpreters can be better team members to other interpreters as well as with consumers, specifically looking at shame resilience. Corrie also has a background in theater and music and specializes in making Deaf theater accessible to hearing audiences through vocal performance. She has presented on a variety of topics from collaboration to resume development for interpreters. |
| Cory McMahon | Cory Michael McMahon is an interpreting practitioner of nearly 10 years from the New England region. Offering a diverse array of experience in community interpreting, video relay service, as a sign language educator, consultant and working for 2 schools for the deaf, Cory views interpreting as “not just my occupation or hobby, but it is my passion and pleasure”. He currently resides in Houston Texas. |
| Danielle Hunt | Danielle Hunt is an assistant professor in the Department of Interpretation at Gallaudet University and has been full-time faculty since the fall of 2013. She is the graduate field placement coordinator, MA in interpretation coordinator, and PhD in interpretation co-coordinator. Her teaching specialties include fundamental skills courses and professional practice courses as well as internship. She graduated with a BA in sociology from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and MA in interpretation at Gallaudet University, along with her PhD in interpretation from Gallaudet University. She began interpreting professionally in 2000 and her specialty in the field is performing arts. |
| David W. Hylan, Jr. | David W. Hylan, Jr. holds a Master of Science degree in Deaf Education from Lamar University. He is completing his terminal degree at LSU-Shreveport in the Doctor of Leadership Studies (Nonprofit) program. He has been the executive director of the Betty and Leonard Phillips Deaf Action Center for the past 30 years. He has provided over 37 years of professional services as an interpreter and mentor. David is one of the founding members of the Louisiana Coalition of Service Providers and People Acting for Change and Equality (PACE). David has provided interpreting services on the college level, medical, legal, and governmental situations. He holds RID Certifications, Certificate of Interpreting (CI) and a Certificate of Transliteration (CT), serves as an RID Local Test Administrator. He is a member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, the Louisiana Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, and the Louisiana Association of the Deaf. David has conducted workshops on the national, state, and local level in the areas of sign language interpreter training, leadership and interpreting ethics, and American Sign Language training. |
| Deborah Martinez | Deborah Martinez has an AS in interpreting, BS in Human Services and a Masters of Public Administration. She has been professionally interpreting since 1994. Her certifications include RID (CI/CT, NIC: Advanced, SC: L) and Texas BEI (Master and CIC). She has presented on topics such as ethics, case conferencing, use of space, and consecutive interpreting. She looks forward to sharing her love of the work, knowledge, and experience with others. |
| Dr. Laura Maddux | Dr. Laura Maddux has been involved with the Deaf community for 19 years, has interpreted since 2004, and received a PhD in Interpretation from Gallaudet University in 2015. Her dissertation focused on interpreting education methods, emphasizing source attribution instruction. She has also collaborated (with Brenda Nicodemus) on a study of self-talk in ASL-English interpreters (Translation and Interpretation Studies, forthcoming). Laura taught English at Bahçeşehir University in Turkey, and was the co-chair for the 2015 World Association of Sign Language Interpreters conference in Istanbul, Turkey. She is fascinated when her “heart country” (Turkey) intersects with her professional work as an interpreter. |
| Eileen Forestal | Eileen Forestal, Ph.D., RSC, teaches interpreter education and interprets primarily in legal and medical settings. A nationwide educator on Deaf interpreters, Deaf-Hearing Interpreter Teams, Interpreting Processes, Ethical Considerations for Deaf Interpreters, legal interpreting, etc. Her publications include “Deaf Interpreters: Exploring their Processes of interpreting” in Deaf Interpreters at Work: International Insights (2014), "Emerging Professionals: Deaf Interpreters and Their Views and Experiences on Training" in Interpreting and Interpreter Education: Directions for Research and Practice (2005), “Deaf Interpreting: Team Strategies”. She presented “Deaf Interpreters: Shaping the Future of Sign Language Interpreting Profession” at Street Leverage (2014). Eileen was a curriculum reviewer of Highly Effective Court Interpreting Teams in Action (2014). |
| Gwendolyn M. Bennett | Ms. Bennett has over 17 years in the profession. She works as private practice interpreter, and operates GMB Services. She holds the Specialist Certification: Legal (SC:L) and National Interpreter Certification (NIC) from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, and is certified is by the State of Texas as a Level III Sign Language Interpreter, and Certified Court Interpreter. In addition to her knowledge of interpreting, American Sign Language, and Deaf Culture, Ms. Bennett has 10 years’ experience as a legal assistant, over 8 years’ experience in city administration, and over 6 years’ experience in general business administration. |
| Justin Lee | Justin Lee is a passionate interpreter who currently holds the BEI Master Certification and the RID/NAD National Interpreter Certification. He has been interpreting since 2004 and involved in the Deaf community since 1996. He has a passion for sociolinguistics and loves to instill the same passion in the interpreters he mentors. He has a beautiful wife, who is also an interpreter, and a beautiful daughter, an interpreter in training. |
| Kiva Bennett | Kiva Bennett (NIC) is a Florida native, now living in Washington, DC. She holds a BA in Education and is currently pursuing an MA in Linguistics at Gallaudet. Kiva likes to research and to teach. She periodically gets lost down the black hole of procrastination by means of investigation, trying to find ways to enhance her skills. Upon surfacing, she's been known to say, "Hey, I bet other interpreters would love to know this stuff too!" And a workshop is born. |
| Krystal Sanders | Krystal Sanders, a KSD Alumni, holds an A.A.S. in ASL-English Interpreting from Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, the first Deaf student in the program’s history. She received her CDI certification in Fall 2015 and works in both Kansas and Missouri. As a Deaf student in a Hearing program, she felt her values from the Deaf community strengthen and encouraged others to embrace the interpreting field. When not working in the community, she is busy as a full time mother to her four daughters. Krystal looks forward to making more friends in the community and hopes to meet you. |
| Laura Cole | Laura Cole graduated from Gallaudet University in 1998 with her MSW and has been an Independent Contractor for over 17 years. She has also been an adjunct professor for Lexington Community College, Lone Star Cy-Fair College and Texas Tech University teaching ASL I, II, III, and interpreting classes. After mentoring numerous interpreters as they began their own businesses, Laura decided to create this workshop to share the information with a larger audience. She believes anyone can run their own business if given the right tools. Her certifications include RID CI, Texas BEI III & Court and Indiana IIC. |
| Leyel Hudson | Leyel Hudson is the Lead Faculty for Interpreter Training at Lone Star College-CyFair in Houston. She has worked as an interpreter for over 16 years in a variety of settings. Currently, she interprets at Sorenson VRS, in the community, and in religious settings. Leyel is a gamer and a huge nerd who loves spending time with her family and her dog. |
| Linda Golley | Linda Golley is a health care worker, community activist, and interpreter trainer. She presently manages the Interpreter Services program at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Linda is as passionate about global health issues and social justice as she is about proper hand hygiene! |
| Lynne James, M.A. | With over 16 years professional experience as a Certified Sign Language Interpreter, Lynne comes well-equipped for any interpreting situation. Lynne holds a B.A. In Psychology from the University of Tulsa and an M.A. In Psychology from Amberton University. Educated, trained and experienced in all 3 aspects of psychology: Positive Psychology, Testing and Assessments and Dysfunctional Psychology, provides Lynne with an in-depth understanding of people and their motivations and has been personally using Realtime Resilience Skills for many years. She is a published author and public speaker on the topic of Positive Psychology. |
| Malibu Barron | Malibu Barron is a Deaf SHARE Outreach and Educator at SafePlace. She received her MA in Counseling from Gallaudet University and is Nationally Certified Counselor. She has worked with clients/students from diverse background/cultures of all ages with ADHD, Autism, Depression, Anxiety, and survivors of Domestic Violence and/or Sexual Assault. She has experiences in presenting different topics, including healthy relationship and DV/SA as well as facilitating different groups. |
| Mandi Chase Wolfe | Mandi Wolfe is a sign language interpreter from Austin, TX. She graduated with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Baylor University and has been interpreting for over ten years. She became inspired to learn more about yoga when diagnosed with a hernia in her lower back. She has since recovered after attending the Kundalini Teacher Training program at YogaYoga Studios. She hopes to share this ancient tool with other interpreters to optimize their mental and physical health. |
| Melissa Rodgers | Melissa Rodgers has been a BEI certified interpreter since 2003 and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Houston. She is currently serving as the TSID CEU Administrator which includes the role of Sponsor for RID CEU applications. Melissa has expanded TSID’s sponsorship of RID CEU activities to a number of other organizations outside of Texas, including Colorado RID, the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, North Dakota RID, Montana RID, and many individual interpreters across the United States who have applied for PINRA and Independent Studies CEUs through TSID. |
| Monica Parks | Monica Parks has been a Director with Sorenson VRS for over 6 years. During her 16 years in interpreting she has done a variety of community assignments, but has a special penchant for working with those who are Deaf and Blind. She has served as the Fundraising Chair of RID Region IV; the Legislative Chair of TSID; two terms as the TSID Conference Sponsorship and Advertisers Chair; Greater Houston Interpreters with the Deaf Treasurer; and Montgomery County Registry of Interpreters with the Deaf Vice President. |
| Natalie Atlas | Natalie Atlas, CI, CT, SC:L: has been an interpreter in private practice since 1992. While she specializes in legal interpreting, she has extensive experience in corporate, government, technical, conference, medical and mental health settings. Natalie has facilitated numerous trainings: Deaf culture sensitivity for police officers; text analysis and interpretation of jury instructions; interpreting the Miranda warning; integration of consecutive and simultaneous interpreting; overview of legal interpreting; and most recently, co-facilitated a 6 month legal interpreting seminar for seasoned practitioners. Natalie holds a Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers College and completed Union County College’s ITP. |
| Pasch McCombs | Bio unavailable |
| Paul Glaser | Paul Glaser, MSE, CDI, is a high school teacher for Deaf students at a public school in the Seattle area and Mathematics instructor at Edmonds Community College. Paul has a teaching certification in advanced mathematics, Deaf Education and American Sign Language. Paul taught Math and ASL for a few years at several colleges and schools before his current positions in Seattle, Washington. Outside of his teaching, Paul has been involved with interpreting for Deaf and Deaf-blind people, presenting Math signs workshops, and mentoring for interpreters. He has a Bachelor's degree in Math and Communication Studies from Gallaudet University and a Master's degree in Deaf Education from Rochester Institute of Technology. He also took few interpreting courses at Spokane Falls Community College and Gallaudet University as well as Deaf-Blind community classes in Seattle. Also, Paul is the first Deaf president for WSRID (Washington State RID) |
| Randi Turner | Randi Turner serves as the Communications Access Specialist for the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services - Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services. She works with agencies, service providers and people with hearing loss regarding their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Rehabilitation Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and state law. Randi also provides and coordinates interpreter training. She holds a BAAS degree from Texas State University, RID CI/CT and Texas “Advanced” interpreter certification. |
| Richard Laurion | Richard Laurion, MA, CI & CT, NIC Advanced, Director of Programming and Operations Richard has 30 years of leadership experience developing and managing programs and services in both the public and private sector. He began his interpreting career in 1983 and has been a mentor and teacher since 1988. Richard has served on local and national interpreting boards of directors. While serving RID, he helped develop the Certification Maintenance Program and the first generalist written test. Richard has developed a reputation for building innovative and creative resources for interpreters in healthcare such as – www.healthcareinterpreting.org. |
| Ruth de Jesus | Ruth de Jesus was born and raised in San Juan, Texas and now lives in San Antonio, Texas. Her parents, originally from Mexico, inculcated the importance of speaking their native language, Spanish. Ruth is a self taught sign language interpreter. She has acquired a BEI Basic certification and Trilingual Advanced certification. Ruth has worked in a variety of settings such as medical, educational, post secondary, seminars, job trainings, state work, and VRS. She has an Associate of Arts in Language and Cultural Studies/ Spanish and an Associate of Arts in English. |
| Sarah Compton | Sarah Compton holds degrees in interpreting, political science and teaching English as a second language. She is pursuing a PhD in Applied Linguistics at the University of Jyvaskyla (Finland). Her research focuses on the interplay among parents, teachers and interpreters in implementing language-in-education policies for multilingual deaf students in the United States. Sarah holds BEI and RID certifications. She has worked as a trilingual interpreter and interpreter trainer. Her research has been published in leading academic and professional journals and is available for download at http://works.bepress.com/compton/. |
| Vernon Leon | Vern is a trilingual (ASLEnglishSpanish) interpreter living & working in New York City. He holds current Texas BEI: Trilingual certification as well as National Interpreter Certification from the registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. He is currently working full time as a trilingual interpreter in a major New York hospital. Vern is also currently developing a New York City chapter of Mano a Mano. He has previously presented at the Texas State Interpreters for the Deaf. |
| Windy Rossi | Windy Rossi holds an Associates Degree in Sign Language Interpreting from Tarrant County College. She divides her time interpreting in the community, courts and video relay. She is an Adjunct Faculty at Collin Collin IEP, as well as serving on Collin's IEP Advisory Board. She holds a NIC Master from RID, Texas BEI Level III, and Texas BEI Court Certification. |
| Wink | Wink, NIC Master, enjoys researching and creating workshops that focus on deliberate practice (RID Views, 2012). He has presented workshops over the last seven years at national conferences (NAD, RID, Silent Weekend, TerpExpo), regional and state conferences, and local events. Wink works to continuously enhance the impact of his workshops, developing applicable tools for interpreters. Participants appreciate the comfortable atmosphere he creates, and the passion he exudes. Wink travels full time performing, presenting workshops, and managing Winkshop, Inc, through which he has developed a dozen training DVDs. Fun fact: in 2014, Wink's professional travel covered enough miles to circle the earth over three times. |
|