David Quinto-Pozos, Ph.D. RID CI/CT, Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics, University of Texas, Austin. David’s research focuses on signed languages, and he works on various topics (register variation, language contact, the interaction of language and gesture, developmental signed language disorders, and trilingual VRS interpretation). He has directed the ASL programs at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and currently co-directs the program at UT-Austin. In addition to his research work, David teaches courses at UT on bilingual first language acquisition and signed language linguistics. David is a certified interpreter and he served on the Panel of Experts for the Texas Trilingual Initiative Test Development.

Yolanda Chavira, is currently Staff Interpreter for Texas Department of Assistive and
Rehabilitative Services, Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS), with a
multitude of other responsibilities. She has been interpreting professionally since 1990.
Yolanda was the lead coordinator for the Texas Trilingual Initiative test development
project performed in partnership between DHHS and the University of Arizona, for
which she was also a member of the Panel of Experts. This certification program has
come to fruition with tests at Advanced and Master levels and is administered by DHHS’
BEI interpreter certification component. . These valid and reliable trilingual tests are
available to Texas interpreter test candidates as well as candidates from other states.
Yolanda was the force behind the DHHS Hispanic Task Force since 1997. She also
coordinates the DHHS sponsorship and the planning of training for Hispanic trilingual
interpreters held annually at the Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf, Big Spring
since July, 2007. In addition to BEI Level III and Trilingual Master certifications
Yolanda holds a Berlitz Test of Spanish Proficiency, Master’s Level certification.
She also received an Advanced Plus Level certificate from the Universidad Nacional
Autonoma de Mexico – Extension School, San Antonio, TX. She attended the University
of Arizona Agnese Haury Institute for Court Interpretation training 2 years in a row and
participated in the Training of Trainers at the National Center for Interpretation Testing
Research and Policy, Univesity of Arizona. She is the proud mother of 5 children one of
whom is deaf.

Mathew was raised principally in Colorado and New Mexico amidst rich cultural surroundings of Ute, Navajo, Chicano/Latino, and Anglo cultures. He has mixed roots from Mexico to Ireland. Most his family continues to reside in the Southwest. He and his siblings had lots of exposure to Spanish growing up but Mathew was not completely fluent until serving a two-year LDS mission in Guatemala (1998-2000). Mathew and his wife Marleny have been married since 2002. Marleny, a Native American originally from Guerrero, Mexico, is a passionate cultural consultant. They have one daughter born on Mathew’s birthday in 2009.
 
Mathew’s youngest sister was born deaf. She was raised in a hearing but caring world in which the entire family and many Church members learned Signing Exact English to communicate with her. While Mathew was on his mission, his sister moved to Utah and discovered a large Deaf community. She learned ASL and found a Deaf identity, thus ushering in a new era for the entire family. Their older brother was the first in the family to become fluent and go on to become a certified interpreter and business owner. After returning from Guatemala, Mathew studied Spanish and ASL but graduated with a B.S. in Sociology from Brigham Young University in 2003. He and his wife then moved to Sacramento, California. While working as a full-time Spanish-English medical interpreter, he went back to school for an A.A. degree in sign language interpreting from American River College. He graduated in 2008, received his EIPA 4.8 that same year, and his NIC in 2009. He awaits his CMI results (certified medical interpreter, Spanish-English).
 
Mathew has worked in many venues as a trilingual interpreter and translator. His passion lies in working with Hispanic/Latino families with deaf/hard of hearing children. He is the author of several articles including a chapter about trilingualism of Hispanic/Latino deaf children in Kathee Christensen’s 2010 book Ethical Considerations in Educating Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearingpublished by Gallaudet University Press.
 
Besides trance music, he loves spending time with his wife and daughter Quetzaly.

Nydia Hernández was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York, where she graduated
from the LaGuardia Interpreter Training Program. Nydia has worked as an American
Sign Language, Spanish, and English trilingual interpreter for the past 20 years. She
holds CI and CT certifications as well as a Master’s Level-Berlitz Test of Proficiency. In
addition to serving as Treasurer for Mano-a-Mano, Nydia is currently involved with the
NCIEC National Task Force on Trilingual Interpreting.

Anthony has a Deaf brother and has interpreted professionally for over 15 years. As a freelance trilingual interpreter fluent in American Sign Language, English and Spanish, he has worked at numerous high profile conferences around the world. Tony’s experience includes working with Gallaudet University, Visual Language Interpreting, and Sign Language Associates. However, he has mostly worked as an independent contractor. Tony makes his home in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore metropolitan areas.

Carmelo was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico and learned signed language at the young age of 11 by being a volunteer to assist a marginalized group in his community. At the age of 14 he had his was involved in his first work as an interpreter at the same vocational school where he studied electronics. At that time he interpreted language courses (Spanish and English) and typing, among others. He has taken courses that form part of the Bachelor’s level degree plan of Special Education at the University of Puerto Rico. For more than 13 years he has worked as an interpreter in Puerto Rico in various settings: legal, medical, educational, artistic/performance, and television. Currently, he resides in Florida and he continues to work as a signed language interpreter in the trilingual community.

Puerto Rican, first generation born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She recieved my BA from Columbia College Interpreter Training Program in 2000. While in the program she interpreted for Deaf Latinos in need of a Trilingual (Spanish, English, ASL) interpreter. Melva has been interpreting for 9 years and holds a CI/CT National Certification from RID. Melva served as secretary for Illinois RID and is a member for Illinois Deaf Latino Association. My passion is interpreting for Deaf Latinos, seeking professional development and seeing the trilingual profession grow. Melva currently mentors, ITP students and has presented ”Interpreting for Deaf Latinos” workshops.

Mónica Gallego holds her BEI basic and has been interpreting professionally for 8 years in community and video relay settings. She was born and raised in New York by her amazing Colombian family and moved to Austin, Texas in the summer of 2009.  She has her A.A. in Liberal Arts from Nassau Community College and she graduated from LaGuardia Community College’s ITP in June 2008. She passed her trilingual written test and is preparing for her performance. In addition to being Region IV Representative for Mano a Mano she also leads a trilingual group that meets monthly in Austin. She will be presenting during summer 2011 at the Texas State Interpreters for the Deaf Conference in Corpus Christi.  She is very excited for this opportunity to present and support her colleagues.

Arlene Narváez, holds CI and CT certification and has been interpreting professionally for nine years. She works as a trilingual (ASL/Spanish/English) interpreter in community and video relay settings. In addition to being Region V representative for Mano a Mano, she is also the Co-Chair for the Southern California RID Tri-lingual Committee and the. She previously coordinated interpreter services for Los Angeles Valley College.

Juliette Ruiz Regional rep for Canadian Tri-linguals
She is a Latino and is from Canada and is a CODA with Parents that sign LSQ
Her native language is French, and LSQ
She is also Latino and the rest of her family speaks Spanish.
She also interprets in ASL/English

Tanya Lee is native Deaf person since birth. Ms. Velázquez is proud to be 100% Puerto Rican. She is first generation born and raised in Long Island, New York. Tanya has resided in Puerto Rico for 10+ years. Her family is bilingual in Spanish and English. In 2007, she graduated with a bachelors degree in Business Administration from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico. To date, she is working as call center manager for GraciasVRS in Puerto Rico and for ASL Services Latino, Inc in Puerto Rico. Tanya serves as a mentor to working video interpreters in VRS.

Tanya Lee also is a Representative on the board of Deaf Community in Puerto Rico RID, Inc.

Ricardo was born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico. His first language is Spanish,
though his acquisition of English began in earnest at age 6 through academic settings.
After graduating from high school, he continued his education with university studies
in Grammar and Composition and Literature of the United States. Later, he studied
Biology (with specializations in Ecology and Ethology) at the University of Puerto Rico,
Mayagúez campus. Ricardo maintains a great love of nature and the outdoors. After
obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ricardo began Masters studies but then made
a notable life change and moved to San Juan.

José E. Bertrán Ortega was born and raised in Puerto Rico.  During his early years he had a service calling which at first he channeled through his church where he became a leader.  At age 13 his life was impacted by a sign language interpreter who would summarize 5 minutes of the TV newscast for the Deaf.  Right then and there he swore to learn the language that had such a huge impact in his life and to know the people that used that language.  It wasn’t until many years later when he started his Bachelor’s degree in the area of psychology that he learned sign language and became an interpreter in his church for Sunday Mass.  This was the entry door to a new world that he had never contacted before; the Deaf Community.  Upon finishing his Bachelor’s of Art in Psychology and after experiencing and witnessing the needs of the Deaf Community, he decided to pursue his graduate studies in Psychology at Gallaudet’s University School Psychology Program at Washington DC.  During the three year program he obtained his Masters in Developmental Psychology and a Psychology Specialist Degree in School Psychology with Specialization in Deafness and Learning Disabilities.  Although José had opportunities to stay in the States as a trilingual psychologist, he decided to go back to Puerto Rico to support the Deaf community there.

Upon arriving to Puerto Rico he was offered a Staff psychologist position in a new Vocational Rehabilitation Center that would specialize in Deaf Clients.  There the person that interviewed him for the job was the same one that he had seen many years ago in TV and that would inspire his involvement with the Deaf Community.  As a Psychologist there, Mr. Bertrán had the opportunity to support his fellow co-workers at the Center providing presentations of the newest trends in the area of Deaf Rehab technology and practices.  A couple of years later he discovered what would be his true passion, working within the confines of a non-profit organization.  In 1993 he became the Sub- Director of Oídos, Inc. This was a non-profit organization that would teach sign language classes to the hearing community and that provided support to the needs of the Deaf Community.  He worked there for a couple of years until in 1995 he decided to establish a non-profit organization to provide interpretation services to the Deaf Community and advocate for their rights.  After 12 years, this organization is now in the process of creating more opportunities for the Deaf Community.  Three years ago this organization started a new project called the Quantell Interpretation of Channel 6 (local PBS Station) newscast which airs Monday thru Fridays.  Another project that the organization also runs is a weekly TV Program called ABC en Señas which also airs on Channel 6, Saturday’s at 4:30 p.m.

In 1995 Mr. Bertrán also started to work in another non-profit organization where he became the Clinical Director.  The organization served the Handicapped population providing evaluations to children from the Education Department, special education program in Puerto Rico. There he was in charge of a clinical staff. Some of the professionals that were under his supervision were psychologists, educators, audiologists, speech pathologists, pediatricians, social workers and neurologists.  During the 12 years that he worked at the Diagnostic Center for Children with Learning Disabilities, Mr. Bertran gave conferences in different areas of Puerto Rico about the modifications that teacher’s had to do within the classroom to accommodate children with different learning styles.

In 2001 Mr. José Bertrán became the Host of a TV Program called ABC In Signs at the local PBS Station Channel 6.  And last year became the Executive Producer of the Show.  This program provides information accessible to the Deaf community.

Mr. Bertran has been a guest speaker in Dominican Republic and in Mexico in themes related to the Deaf Student’s development, including topics such as self esteem and leadership.  He is currently working as a consultant to the Spanish marketing team of HOVRS en Español.

Saúl Arteaga was born in Lima Peru.  He is a Wisconsin Certified Court Interpreter and has passed the Medical Interpreter Competency Examination offered by the National Center of Interpretation at the University of Arizona.  He holds a Bachelors Degree in Spanish and at the present time he is pursuing a master degree in translations Studies at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and he has taken extensive college courses in interpreting and translation. Mr. Arteaga is learning ASL at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee.  He attended classes at the Agnese Haury Summer Institute for Court Interpretation and Medical interpretation Summer Institute both at the University of Arizona in Tucson in 2004 and 2008, respectively.

Mr. Arteaga has been an adjunct faculty to teach the nationally recognized medical interpreter training program, Bridging the Gap, designed by the Cross Cultural Healthcare Program in Seattle, Washington. He is a trainer of the 16-hour medical and community interpreter training “Equal Footing for Limited English Proficient Persons” by SWITS.  He provides interpretation, translation, training and consulting through his organization, SWITS, Ltd. which serves the Midwest.  Mr. Arteaga is the director of SWITS, Ltd. which provides all language services, to healthcare organizations, law enforcement, circuit and municipal courts, educational institutes nationally and overseas. Mr. Arteaga is a member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Committee to Improve Court Interpretation and Translation in the Wisconsin Courtrooms.

Angela Roth C.S.C.  N.I.C.
Nationally recognized as a Hispanic leader, entrepreneur, presenter, and educator
representing wide of rage multi-cultural concerns in her many roles with the sign language
interpreting community. Her  involvement as a  team leader for the Hispanic section
National Multi-cultural Interpreting Project as well as her experience with R.I.D. as
National Certification Chair and the N.A.D./R.I.D. Task Force.
President of Mano a Mano, among many other areas of expertise  She serves as a strong
experience to share Owner of ASL Services, and Gracias VRS. www.graciasVRS.com
www.aslservices.com Past President and co-founder of Mano a mano.