Amanda Kennon, MA, NIC is a freelance interpreter, mentor, and presenter who resides in Southeast PA. She received her B.A. in Interpreting and ASL/ Deaf Studies from Maryville College and her M.A. in. Interdisciplinary Studies: Individualized Studies: Ethics and Interpreting from George Mason University, completing her Capstone Project, “Ethics & Professional Identity: A Proposed Curriculum for Students in Interpreter Education Programs.” During her sixteen-year career, Amanda has worked as staff and freelance in various settings, frequently mentoring students and novice interpreters. Before moving to Pennsylvania, Amanda lived in Northern Virginia and was active with VRID, serving on the Board as District I Representative, Treasurer, and Vice President. During her tenure, she led discussion groups and workshops on ethical decision making; developed the Community Dialogues series, facilitating several sessions; spearheaded the establishment of the VRID Mentorship Task Force; and presented at the 2016 & 2018 VRID Conferences- culminating in the 2018 VRID President’s Award. Additionally, Amanda presented at the 2016 PCRID Conference; provided in-house professional development as a staff interpreter; and published in the RID Views.

Laura Maddux Polhemus (she/her), PhD, NIC Advanced, BEI Advanced, has been involved with the Deaf community for more than 23 years as an ASL student, interpreter, interpreter educator, and friend. Laura gained her BBA in Business Administration from Sam Houston State University before adding an AAS in Interpreter Training from Tyler Junior College. She studied Applied Linguistics at Texas Tech for her MA, and her thesis focused on having ASL students and Deaf students of English help each other with their language learning from a distance. Laura received her PhD in interpretation from Gallaudet University in 2015, during Her dissertation resulted in a publication, “Source Attribution in ASL-English Interpreter Education: Testing a Method”, with the International Journal of Interpreter Education. While obtaining her PhD she was diagnosed with ADHD, and has been on a journey to discover what that means in her life and work ever since. She has also investigated self-talk in interpreters, and published “The Committee in My Head: Examining Self-Talk of American Sign Language-English Interpreters” in Translation and Interpretation Studies. She has also done research on how novices and experts experience self-talk and how to improve interpreting students’ self-efficacy. Laura was heavily involved in planning and running the 2015 and 2019 World Association of Sign Language Interpreters Conferences. She has presented for CIT, RID, Critical Link, TSID, and more. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Bethel University in Mishawaka, IN where she searches out methods to teach her increasing number of neurodivergent students.

Amanda Kennon, MA, NIC is a freelance interpreter, mentor, and presenter who resides in Southeast PA. She received her B.A. in Interpreting and ASL/ Deaf Studies from Maryville College and her M.A. in. Interdisciplinary Studies: Individualized Studies: Ethics and Interpreting from George Mason University, completing her Capstone Project, “Ethics & Professional Identity: A Proposed Curriculum for Students in Interpreter Education Programs.” During her sixteen-year career, Amanda has worked as staff and freelance in various settings, frequently mentoring students and novice interpreters. Before moving to Pennsylvania, Amanda lived in Northern Virginia and was active with VRID, serving on the Board as District I Representative, Treasurer, and Vice President. During her tenure, she led discussion groups and workshops on ethical decision making; developed the Community Dialogues series, facilitating several sessions; spearheaded the establishment of the VRID Mentorship Task Force; and presented at the 2016 & 2018 VRID Conferences- culminating in the 2018 VRID President’s Award. Additionally, Amanda presented at the 2016 PCRID Conference; provided in-house professional development as a staff interpreter; and published in the RID Views.

Laura Maddux Polhemus (she/her), PhD, NIC Advanced, BEI Advanced, has been involved with the Deaf community for more than 23 years as an ASL student, interpreter, interpreter educator, and friend. Laura gained her BBA in Business Administration from Sam Houston State University before adding an AAS in Interpreter Training from Tyler Junior College. She studied Applied Linguistics at Texas Tech for her MA, and her thesis focused on having ASL students and Deaf students of English help each other with their language learning from a distance. Laura received her PhD in interpretation from Gallaudet University in 2015, during Her dissertation resulted in a publication, “Source Attribution in ASL-English Interpreter Education: Testing a Method”, with the International Journal of Interpreter Education. While obtaining her PhD she was diagnosed with ADHD, and has been on a journey to discover what that means in her life and work ever since. She has also investigated self-talk in interpreters, and published “The Committee in My Head: Examining Self-Talk of American Sign Language-English Interpreters” in Translation and Interpretation Studies. She has also done research on how novices and experts experience self-talk and how to improve interpreting students’ self-efficacy. Laura was heavily involved in planning and running the 2015 and 2019 World Association of Sign Language Interpreters Conferences. She has presented for CIT, RID, Critical Link, TSID, and more. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Bethel University in Mishawaka, IN where she searches out methods to teach her increasing number of neurodivergent students.

Dr. Mei Kennedy brings personal and professional insight to her advocacy work, shaped by firsthand experience navigating the U.S. justice system while supporting her Deaf father during his seven and half years of incarceration in federal prison. A third-generation Deaf parent and the mother of a hearing son with autism, Dr. Kennedy champions inclusive practices across multiple communities.

She holds a doctorate in Instructional Design for Online Learning and consults on the integration of technology to enhance educational access for Deaf students. Dr. Kennedy serves as an impact advisor for the documentary Being Michelle, which spotlights the story of a Deaf woman with autism incarcerated in a system that failed to accommodate her. She is also a co-producer of the documentary Walker, which expands on the narrative first explored in the short film Breaking Silence, chronicling a Deaf father’s journey to becoming a prison chaplain after his daughter was incarcerated.

Her leadership extends to national organizations, having served on the boards of Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI) and Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD).

Lisa Gonzales serves as the Statewide Deaf Access Specialist for the California Department of Developmental Services, where she leads strategic initiatives to advance accessibility and expand services for Deaf individuals across the state. With decades of experience as a Deaf interpreter and advocate, she began her full-time career with the Los Angeles Superior Court, providing interpretation services across diverse legal settings—including children's court, dependency court, and criminal trials—supporting victims, witnesses, defendants, and plaintiffs alike.

Her role frequently extended beyond the courtroom, collaborating with attorneys during jail visits to conduct mental competency assessments and prepare for trial. Lisa’s commitment to justice and accessibility continued at the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD), where she served as Advocate Supervisor. In this capacity, she worked extensively with Deaf inmates housed in California Department of Corrections facilities, directly supporting over fifty individuals to ensure appropriate accommodations were implemented. Her efforts contributed to statewide reforms aligned with the Armstrong Remedial Plan, promoting systemic improvements in accessibility within the prison system.

In 2025, Lisa was recognized with the Outstanding Leadership for DeafPlus Individuals award by NorCal Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Her career reflects a lifelong dedication to linguistic access, human rights, and transformative advocacy for the Deaf community across institutional systems.

Stefanie O'Brien's professional expertise lies at the intersection of criminal justice and interpreting. Her academic credentials include an M.A. in Interpreting Studies, an M.S. in Criminal Justice: Law & Public Policy, and a B.S. in Occupational Studies with an emphasis on Emergency Services. Stefanie holds associate degrees in Interpreting Preparation (IPP), ASL/Deaf Studies, Language, and Liberal Arts and is currently pursuing a D/HH Educational Specialist teaching credential.

In Stefanie's recent Action Research Project at Western Oregon University, published in April 2025 as "Navigating the Labyrinth Through a Cultural Advocacy Perspective: Exploring a Staff Sign Language Interpreter’s Role in a California Prison," Stefanie delved into the multifaceted role of a Staff Sign Language Interpreter within a California women's correctional institution. This 3-year qualitative study specifically examined how an interpreter facilitated communication through sign language, ensured ADA compliance, advocated for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) inmates, provided ad hoc educational instruction, and mediated communication disparities, ultimately highlighting the intricate interplay between legal mandates, institutional constraints, and power dynamics in such a specialized setting.

Stefanie's professional background includes extensive freelance interpreting work across diverse environments, including medical, K-12, and post-secondary settings. Additionally, Stefanie brings over 16 years of experience in law enforcement and over four years of service at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont. Stefanie is also a certified ADA Coordinator.

Rosemary Bocian, MA, EA, NIC, is a highly experienced American Sign Language interpreter and IRS credentialed Enrolled Agent. She earned her Bachelor’s in ASL Interpretation and a Master’s in Deaf Studies from Gallaudet University. From 2011 to 2020, Rosemary worked fulltime as a freelance ASL interpreter in the D.C. metro area. In 2017 she coauthored The Interpreter’s Quick Guide to Self-Employment, a resource used by interpreter training programs nationwide. Following its release, she also began leading workshops, including the 2019 RID National Conference. That same year, Rosemary initiated a professional transition by earning her EA credential and co-founding Quick Guide Tax, a firm devoted to offering personalized tax and financial services to interpreters and self-employed professionals. Today, drawing on her interpreting background, she specializes in freelance interpreter taxation. As a licensed EA, author, and experienced speaker, Rosemary excels at translating complex tax concepts into clear, accessible guidance, empowering clients to confidently navigate self-employment.

Dr. Lisa Prinzi has worked as an interpreter for more than 20 years with specialized training in educational interpreting and as an interpreter educator for eight years. Lisa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of American Sign Language and Interpreting Education (ASLIE) at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID). She teaches core interpreting skills courses in the bachelor’s degree program and courses in the Certificate in Educational Interpreting. Her research focuses on interpreting in educational environments and professional development for educational interpreters.

Daniel Maffia is the interpreting program director, practicum coordinator, and a lecturer with the department of American Sign Language and English Interpreting Department’s Interpreter Education Program at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf teaching at both the Bachelors and Master's degree level. He obtained his bachelor's degree in Interpreting at the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2009. In 2010 he became certified and in 2014 earned his Masters in Interpreting Studies with an emphasis in Teaching Interpreting from Western Oregon University. Daniel served as a staff interpreter in the Department of Access Services at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Daniel continues interpreting as a video and community interpreter. Daniel is the co-author of the Introduction to VRS Curriculum Guide book. He is currently the Vice President of CCIE.. Daniel’s research interests relate to reflective practice, Demand-Control Schema, and self-care in which he presents workshops for interpreters nationally and internationally.

Rosemary Bocian, MA, EA, NIC, is a highly experienced American Sign Language interpreter and IRS credentialed Enrolled Agent. She earned her Bachelor’s in ASL Interpretation and a Master’s in Deaf Studies from Gallaudet University. From 2011 to 2020, Rosemary worked fulltime as a freelance ASL interpreter in the D.C. metro area. In 2017 she coauthored The Interpreter’s Quick Guide to Self-Employment, a resource used by interpreter training programs nationwide. Following its release, she also began leading workshops, including the 2019 RID National Conference. That same year, Rosemary initiated a professional transition by earning her EA credential and co-founding Quick Guide Tax, a firm devoted to offering personalized tax and financial services to interpreters and self-employed professionals. Today, drawing on her interpreting background, she specializes in freelance interpreter taxation. As a licensed EA, author, and experienced speaker, Rosemary excels at translating complex tax concepts into clear, accessible guidance, empowering clients to confidently navigate self-employment.

Corey Axelrod founded 2axend in 2017 after observing the challenges his father, Rick Axelrod, faced when advocating as a Deaf individual for his right to quality communication access in healthcare during his tumultuous battle with Multiple Myeloma, an incurable cancer of the bone marrow.

As a member of a multigenerational Deaf family, Corey has been long exposed to the various systemic barriers impacting his family and the greater Deaf and hard of hearing community. Corey is committed to eliminating these barriers and guiding organizations to create equitable experiences for his community.

Corey also currently sits on Northwest Community Hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council and serves as a member of the ASTM International F43.06 Subcommittee on Captioning Standards. In June 2021, Corey completed his third-term as president of the Illinois Association of the Deaf, Illinois’ leading civil rights organization of, by and for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Illinoisans.

Steve Sandy, like Hoy, is Deaf. Steve attended Model Secondary School for the Deaf and Gallaudet University in Washington, DC and then went to work for the Federal Government where he has worked for the past 23 years. He is currently with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service-Columbus - Defense Commissary Agency as a researcher and lead and is also a finalist for the FEA handicap federal Employee of the Year.

For the past eighteen years Steve has done extensive research on his idol, Dummy Hoy.In 1989, Steve became President of the Ohio Association of the Deaf, a statewide advocacy group that was founded in 1940 as the Ohio Deaf Motorist Association. Among items on the organization's agenda was a measure supporting Hoy's inclusion in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.Steve was one of the people who were instrumental in getting Dummy Hoy inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.