2014 Conference Presenters

Todd Agan, CI and CT, BEI Master
Todd is the lead designated interpreter for a deaf physician at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio and is an adjunct faculty member at the San Antonio College interpreter training program. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in American Sign Language/English Interpretation in 1996 from Western Oregon University and has focused the majority of his professional efforts on interpreting for deaf medical professionals. With his unique experience, Todd believes that medical interpreting requires strong ethics, knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and how medical interpreters play a role in public health.

Paula Browning, CSC, NAD IV, NIC Advanced

Paula D. Browning (RID CSC and NIC Advanced, NAD IV) has an eclectic professional background.  Interpreting nearly 40 years, she has worked in venues such as Salk Institute, Deaf West Theatre, SERID, CAL-Ed, Alabama Interpreter Metamorphosis, and Alabama’s Mental Health Interpreter Training, as well as in educational, community, legal, mental health, and video relay.  Paula has presented workshops since 1982, but nationwide since 1997; has been a mentor/trainer in CSUN, Mississippi, Troy University, Georgia Perimeter College’s “Boot Camp,” in the Video Outreach Mentorship Program through PEPNet’s WROCC.  Recently she was published by the release of her DVD “Personal or Professional: The Ethics Conundrum.”   Quarterly workshops are hosted by her company, Interpreter Guild LLC, in Ocean Springs, MS, bringing in national presenters from all over the United States and encompassing participants from Louisiana to Florida to Tennessee.  For more information, go to www.Interpreter-Guild.com.


Amanda Eger, CI, NIC Master, SC:L
Amanda Eger graduated from the University of New Hampshire, Manchester in 2002 with a BS in Sign Language Interpretation. Amanda credits Glenna Ashton, The Scuderi brothers, Ali Blaylock and Jack Hoza as her early mentors and role models.  Upon graduating, Amanda has worked as an educational interpreter, a community interpreter, and has now worked for Gallaudet Interpreting Service as a staff interpreter since summer 2005.Amanda holds an SC:L and since 2010 her work has expanded to include legal work with police, prison facilities, and court systems in both Washington DC and the state of Virginia.

Shannon Grundy, CI and CT, SC:L
Shannon Grundy, CI/CT, SC:L has been interpreting professionally since 2001. She was a staff interpreter at Gallaudet University from 2009-2013 and is now working with TCS Associates in their Legal Program. She earned her AA degree in interpreting from Northern Essex Community College in 2000 and her BA degree in Legal Studies from the University of Massachusetts in 2008.



Jina Lynne, CI and CT
Ms. Lynne has worked as a certified interpreter since 1984 and established VISCOM Interpreting, Inc. in 2001. Her many years of experiences as a Freelance interpreter and business owner continue to contribute towards her continually developing perception of professionalism in the field.




Windell "Wink" Smith, NIC Master
Wink, NIC Master, enjoys researching and creating various workshops that focus on skill building through deliberate practice (RID Views, Winter 2012). Presenting workshops the last five years at national conferences (NAD, Silent Weekend, TerpExpo) regional conferences (RID I, II, III, IV), state conferences, and local workshops across the nation has given Wink experiences to enhance applications for interpreters of all levels. Wink is widely noted for the comfortable atmosphere he creates and the passion he exudes. Currently Wink travels full time performing, presenting workshops, and managing Winkshop, Inc, through which he has developed a dozen training DVDs. A fun fact: in 2013 alone, Wink traveled professionally enough miles to circle the earth over three times.

Shane Westmoreland, MA, NIC
Shane Westmoreland, M.A., is a certified American Sign Language Interpreter with more than 10 years of experience. His current specializations include medical and mental health interpretation. He currently serves as a staff interpreter at a network of hospitals in the metro Washington, DC area. Prior to his career in ASL interpretation, Shane worked as a Sexual Assault Victims Advocate for the State Attorney’s Office of Florida.He later earned a Master’s in Clinical Psychology, and is currently a doctoral candidate in the field of Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in neuropsychology. His research interests include the therapeutic alliances that form when working with an interpreter as well as the prevalence of compassion fatigue among interpreters.Shane was trained at Neuropsychology Associates of Fairfax to administer multiple psychological batteries and incorporate and integrate information from clinical interviews, and behavioral observations for individuals with suspected neuropsychological impairments. He is currently a psychology extern at the River School of Washington, D.C., a leader in clinical research and training in the area of child language and literacy as it related to hearing loss and aural rehabilitationHe has presented locally and nationally on a variety of topics including mental health and medical interpreting, interpreter ethics, Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

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