TheDeafBee:SpotlightonStaff ASpecialFeaturefromDeafandHardofHearingServiceCenter,Inc. MICHELLEBRONSON ExecutiveDirector AllOffices Deaf YearswithDHHSC:6 Whatkindofeducationdidyouhave?Iwasmainstreamed,andI graduatedfromcaliforniastateuniversity,fresnowithab.a.in psychologyandm.s.inmarriageandfamilytherapywithapupil PersonnelServicescredential. Whatdoyouwantourcommunitytoknowaboutyou?Iaman optimist,andibelieveinamazingtransformationsthatoccurwhen peopleworktogetherasateamtobringaboutpositivechanges.iamapersonoffaith,andi appreciateeachperson suniqueness. Whoisyourrolemodel?Dr.PaulOgden Whatdoyouwanttoseeinthefuture?Ilookforwardtoseeingmorecommittedindividualsjoin DHHSC sstaffandboardofdirectorsandbenefitingfromtheirknowledge,skills,andexperienceto developmoreprogramsandservicesfortheagencyandthedeafcommunityasawhole. JESSELEWIS OperationsDirector AllOffices Deaf YearswithDHHSC:9 Whereareyoufrom?IgrewupinthebeautifulstateofMaryland. Whatkindofeducationdidyouhave?Iwasmainstreamed,with interpretersforallclasses.iusedseeandpseuntilcollege. Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?Ireceivedmy B.A.degreeinHumanCommunicationsfromCSU,MontereyBay.My emphasiswasinjournalism. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?Literacyforalldeaf, encouragingcommunityinvolvement,andimprovingcommunicationin families. Whatdoyouwanttoseeinthefuture?Moreappreciationinthe communityofourdifferences.weareallpeople! KATHYYOSHIDA DirectorofInterpreting AllOffices Hearing YearswithDHHSC:22 Whereareyoufrom?IgrewupinCollingswood,NewJersey,asmall townacrossthebenfranklinbridgefromphiladelphia. Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?Igraduated fromthehospitaloftheuniversityofpennsylvaniaschoolofnursingin 1967andcompleteda25weekintensiveInterpreterTrainingProgramat CSUFin1981. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?Ibelieveitisimportantfor peopletohavecompleteaccesstoinformationsotheycanmakeinformeddecisions,grow mentallyandspiritually,andenhancetheirqualityoflife. Whatdoyouwantourcommunitytoknowaboutyou?Ilovemyjob,myco workers,andthe communityweserve.
SUSANCOULTER EducationalServicesManager FresnoHeadquarters HardofHearing YearswithDHHSC:10 Whatkindofeducationdidyouhave,wheredidyougoto collegeandwhatdidyoustudy?mainstreamedwithout interpreters;attendedsanjosestateuniversity,bsdegreein OccupationalTherapyin1983. Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?JobPlacementServices, EmploymentSpecialist,Counselor,andProgramManager. What'sthemostinterestingthingthathappenedtoyou?Withan internshipthatinvolvedallgroupactivities,asahardofhearingpersoniwasnotabletohearin groupsituations.iwasabeginningsigner.ididnotknowhowtoadvocateformyself.idid attempttobutmyrequestforasignlanguageinterpreterwasmetwithargumentsof confidentiality.ididn thavethetrainingtoknowwhatmoretosayorwheretoturn.ifailedthat internship.throughmyworkatdhhscilookbackandseehowfarwehavecomeandhowmuch Ihavelearnedaboutadvocacy. Whydidyougetintosocialservices?I fell intosocialservices.ilearnedsignlanguagewheni was21yearsold.evenwheniwasnotyetfluentiappliedforajobworkingwiththedeaf.ididn t getthejobbutonepersonontheinterviewpanelofferedmethecontractedemploymentwiththe DepartmentofRehabilitation.Theexperiencefromthisjobandimprovementinmysigningskills ledfromonejobtothenextuntilsocialworkbecamemyfieldofinterest. DAVIDDENTON HumanResourcesManager AllOffices Hearing YearswithDHHSC:2 Whereareyoufrom?Fresno,CA. Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?CSUFresno, Bachelor'sofScienceinBusinessHumanResources Whoisyourrolemodel? MichelleBronsonandJesseLewis Whatpastjobshaveyouworked? RiversideGolfCourse What'sthemostinterestingthingthathappenedtoyou?Ihave beento40ofthe50states PAULBARNETT CommunicationAssistant/Bookkeeper FresnoHeadquarters Hearing YearswithDHHSC:19 Whereareyoufrom?Fresno. Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?Fresno StateUniversity B.S.inSocialWelfare. Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?Interpreterintheschools. Whatdoyouwantourcommunitytoknowaboutyou?Ienjoy writingfiction. Whoisyourrolemodel?RobertKennedyandMartinLuther King.
DIANALEE ClientServicesSpecialist FresnoHeadquarters Hearing YearswithDHHSC:Firstyear Whereareyoufrom?BornandraisedinFresno,CA. Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?CSU FresnoforCommunicativeSciencesandDisorders. What'sthemostinterestingthingthathappenedtoyou? TravelingtoTaiwantoadoptmybeautifuldaughter.Weareso blessedtobeinamerica. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?Equalaccessandamorecleardefinitionas towhatthatmeans. Whatdoyouwanttoseeinthefuture?Lesstalkofequalaccessandmoreaction. BETHLILLEY ClientServicesSpecialist MercedOutreachOffice Hearing YearswithDHHSC:Firstyear Whereareyoufrom?SouthCarolina. Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?Iwentto FresnoStateforBAinInterpreting;lookforwardtogoingbackto schoolformym.a. Whydidyougetintointerpretingandsocialservices?Igotinto interpretingwiththesupportofthefresnostatedeafstudies Program.ItookASL1and2tofulfillGErequirementandfromthere becamemoreinterestedindeafcultureandasl.ichangedmymajor frombiologytoaudiologytointerpreting. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?Community involvement,servicesfordeaf Blind,andequalrightsforminorities. SHELLEYSTOUT ClientServicesSpecialist SouthValleyOutreachOffice Deaf YearswithDHHSC:2 Whereareyoufrom?Hanford Whatkindofeducationdidyouhave?Igraduatedfrom FremontSchoolfortheDeaf,butmainstreameduntil8thgrade first. Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?Golden WestCollege,HuntingtonBeach AAinSociology;Collegeofthe Sequoias,Visalia AAinEarlyChildhoodEducation;andFresno PacificUniversity,Visalia BAinEarlyChildhoodEducation Whydidyougetintosocialservices?Iliketoworkwithpeopleand Ibelieveinempoweringthemtobesuccessfulinlife. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?Havingaccesstocommunication, Deafrights,jobsforthedeaf,andbeingsuccessfulinlife.
WAYNEJOHNSON CoordinatorofClientServices CentralCoastOutreachOffice Hearing YearswithDHHSC:15 Whereareyoufrom?Iamalife longresidentofsalinascalifornia. Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?Instructionalaideforcommunity collegecabinet makingclass,tubingfabricatorathanggliderfactory, commercialphotographer. Whydidyougetintosocialservices?Becauseitwasanopportunity toassistandbenefitothers. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?Righttoequalaccess througheffectivecommunication,bustingmythsheldbyhearing community,improvingqualityoflifefordeafandhardofhearing throughinformationandeducation. Whatdoyouwantourcommunitytoknowaboutyou?Thatifyou haveaneed,iamheretoassistwithinthebestofmyability,the policiesoftheagencyandthelaw. BECKYEDENS PAUL Interpreter&BreastCancerEducator FresnoHeadquarters Hearing YearswithDHHSC:1 Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?Iwentto CollegeoftheSequoiasaswellasFresnoStateandGallaudetUniversity. Mymainfocuswastheaterandinterpreting. What'sthemostinterestingthingthathappenedtoyou?Imetmy nowhusbandwhileonadatewithoneofhisfriends. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?BreastCancer Awareness,Equalityforallindividuals,DeafCultureAwareness. Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?MyfirstjobwasaBlockbuster,whichwasaperfect fitbecauseilovemovies.ihavealsoworkedasawaitressandsigningaide! Whatdoyouwantourcommunitytoknowaboutyou?Ihaveastrongpassionformy work.ilovetheprocessofinterpreting,itchallengesmymindeveryday. KATIECARLSON Interpreter FresnoHeadquarters Hearing YearswithDHHSC:3 Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?Igraduated fromcaliforniastateuniversityindecof2007withtwob.a.degrees. Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?PhysicalTherapistAssistant, MedicalAssistantforanOphthalmologist What'sthemostinterestingthingthathappenedtoyou?Irecently learnedalittlebitofirishsignlanguagefromdeafirishnatives! Whydidyougetintointerpreting?Incollege,Isimplyfellinlove withthebeautifullanguageandthetreasuredcultureandvalues. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?Inthefieldof interpreting,themostimportantissueformeiscontinuingtopursue thehighestlevelofexcellenceinthisprofessioninordertoserve consumerswiththebestservicepossible.
ANGELICAMARTINEZ CoordinatorofClientServices MercedOutreachOffice Deaf YearswithDHHSC:2 Whereareyoufrom?Oakland,California Whatkindofeducationdidyouhave?Iwenttoanallhearing CatholicSchoolwithoutaninterpreter.Ibasicallyreadlipsand workedextrahard. Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?CertifiedNursingAssistant, PreSchoolTeacher,PrivateSecurityandSFPoliceCadet, VolleyballCoaching. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?Ilovetheideaof helpingfamilyandthemostimportantissueformeismakinga difference! Whatdoyouwanttoseeinthefuture?ALearningCenterfor parentsofdeafandhardofhearingchildrenandthosewhowant tobecomeaninterpreter,withmedirectingit! RAZONDAMUNYARADZI Interpreter FresnoHeadquarters Hearing YearswithDHHSC:4 Whereareyoufrom?I'mfromOhio Whydidyougetintointerpreting?AlthoughIdonothaveDeaffamily members,interpretingappealedtomebecauseiappreciatelanguage, culture,andempowerment.iwantedtobecomeimmersedwithout havingtotravelveryfar!tomysurprise,ifoundawholenewworld rightbeforemyeyes. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?Tome,themost importantissuesregardinginterpretingincludetothecodeofconductandfollowingthe shiftintheprofessionfromconduit/processmodelstothatofapracticeperspective,inkeeping withrecentdevelopmentsinthisfieldassupportedbyridacrosstheu.s. Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?IattendedColumbusStateforan interpretingdegree,ohiostateforadegreeinspeech&hearingscience,gallaudetforspeech pathologygraduatecoursesandpracticum,andfresnopacificforadegreeinteachingesl Whatdoyouwanttoseeinthefuture?IwanttoseeDHHSCcontinuetoofferthewonderful servicesitdoes! BRITTANYKING Interpreter SouthValleyOutreach Hearing YearswithDHHSC:FirstYear Whereareyoufrom?Bakersfield,Ca Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?Fresno State Interpretingandsomesocialwork Whatdoyouwantourcommunitytoknowaboutyou?Iam enthusiasticaboutinterpreting! Whoisyourrolemodel?JesusChrist Whatdoyouwanttoseeinthefuture?MoreDeaf/Interpreting awarenessinthecentralvalley.
CATHYMURPHY BillingClerk FresnoHeadquarters Deaf YearswithDHHSC:9 Whereareyoufrom?IamfromChulaVista,CA. Whatkindofeducationdidyouhave?Iwasmainstreamedfrom kindergartento12thgradebuthadnointerpreters.gladimadeitout alive! Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?Iwouldliketoseethe hearingcommunityeducatedondeafculturetoreduceignorance. Whoisyourrolemodel?Mymomwasmyrolemodel. Whatdoyouwanttoseeinthefuture?Iwouldliketosee interpretingrevenuesreachoveramilliondollarssotheinterpreting departmentcanreceivearaiseforworkingsohard. CHERYLPARREIRA ClientServicesSpecialist FresnoHeadquarters Deaf YearswithDHHSC:4 Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?OhloneCollege, Fremont,CA.MymajorwasEducation,butnowIamattendingFresno CityCollegeandmymajorissocialwork. Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?JackintheBox,WellsFargoBank, CaliforniaSchoolfortheDeaf,Fremont(Bestjobever!!),assistantfor SystemMedicalConsultation,Inc.,andAlcohol&DrugPrevention ProgramSpecialist. What'sthemostinterestingthingthathappenedtoyou?Best thinghappenedtomethatimarriedmywonderfulhusband,anthonyparreira anditraveledalloverworld. Whatdoyouwantourcommunitytoknowaboutyou?Iamafriendlypersonandenjoy workingwithourdeafcommunity,empoweringthemtobeindependentbecausewecandoit! Whatdoyouwanttoseeinthefuture?IwanttoseeadomesticviolenceprogramaddedtoDHHSC (myvisionandpassion),andiwanttobecomeacertifieddeafinterpreter. ERINURIBE Interpreter FresnoHeadquarters Hearing YearswithDHHSC:1 Whereareyoufrom?BornandraisedinFresno,Ca. Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?Sign LanguageInterpretingatFresnoState. Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?LibraryAssistantatFresnoState, EducationalInterpreting... Whatdoyouwantourcommunitytoknowaboutyou?IlovewhatI do! Whoisyourrolemodel?KathyYoshida
SHANNONSIMONELLI InterpreterCoordinator FresnoHeadquarters Hearing YearswithDHHSC:4 Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?Igraduated withabaininterpretingfromcsufresnoin2004. Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?EducationalinterpreterinJr.High& Highschools,DHHSCreceptionist,andBordersBooksandMusicstaff. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?Fosteringtheskillsof fledglinginterpreters,workingwithinterpretersandinterns/students whohaveawillingnesstoputinthetimeandefforttobecomeaquality interpreter,nurturingthegrowthofotherinterpreters. Whatdoyouwantourcommunitytoknowaboutyou?Ididn'tgrow upinthedeafcommunity,yetiloveservingandbeinginvolvedwiththis amazinggroupofpeople. Whoisyourrolemodel?KathyYoshida.Shehasanamazingcapacity toloveothersandservesthecommunitywithanopenandwillingheart, withnostringsattached. STACYCONSTANTINO ResourceSpecialist/VolunteerCoordinator Fresno Headquarters Hearing YearswithDHHSC:FirstYear.Whereareyoufrom?Fresno,CA 2.Whoisyourrolemodel?MyDeafmother. 3.Whatareyourpastjobs?InterpretingatFresnoCityCollege in1998andagainin2000. 4.Whydidyougetintointerpreting?Lackofcommunication islackofeducation. 5.Whatdoyouwanttoseeinthefuture?BetterandmoreopportunitiesfortheDeafand HardofHearing. KYRASCHLEEF AccountsReceivable FresnoHeadquarters HardofHearing YearswithDHHSC:FirstYear Whereareyoufrom?IgrewupintheMidwestbutspentseveralyears inlasvegasandthebayareabeforemovingtofresno. Whatkindofeducationdidyouhave?Iwasmainstreamed.Used CART(computer assistedreal time)captioningincollegesinceiwasn't proficientinasl. Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?Imajoredin EnglishformyB.A.andlatertookacertificationcourseinbookkeeping. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?Keepingasmuch informationandcommunicationinavisualmediumaspossible. Whatdoyouwanttoseeinthefuture?Betterandhigher quality captioningforeverythingshownontv,dvd,andonline.betterpsas andeducationabouthowtointeractwithdeafandhardofhearing people.
MAXREIS STEPHANIEFLERCHINGER BreastCancerEducator FresnoHeadquarters Deaf YearswithDHHSC:2 Whereareyoufrom?Denair,California,smalltown. Whatkindofeducationdidyouhave,wheredidyougotocollege andwhatdidyoustudy?iwasmainstreamed.igraduatedfrom FresnoState(CSUF)andgotmyMAdegreeinDeafEducation Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?StaffCounselorataDeafcamp, InspectoratAhwahneehotelatYosemiteNationalPark,DHHSCfor severalgrant fundedprograms,andaslinstructor. Whydidyougetintosocialservices?IamdeafandIloveworking withotherindividualslikemyself.thefunpartaboutmyjobisthat therearenocommunicationbarriers. Whatdoyouwanttoseeinthefuture?ADeaforHardofHearing individualwinanelectionfortheunitedstatessenateorpresident.
JOSEGARCIA FacilitiesCoordinator FresnoHeadquarters Deaf YearswithDHHSC:3 Whereareyoufrom?IamfromSanBenito,Texas. Whatkindofeducationdidyouhave?Iwasmainstreamedat BullardHighSchool.Istudiedtheartsandphotography. Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?Mypreviousjobsinclude Rudy'sandVeterans'AdministrationHospital. Whatdoyouwantourcommunitytoknowaboutyou?The communityknowsmeasbeingasillyperson. Whoisyourrolemodel?MyrolemodelisJimCarrey. LISAHUFFMAN ASLInstructor FresnoHeadquarters Deaf YearswithDHHSC:FirstYear Whereareyoufrom?I'mfromFresno. Whatkindofeducationdidyouhave,wheredidyougoto collegeandwhatdidyoustudy?iwenttoregularschoolat Rooseveltandtookbothmainstreamedclassesanddeafclasses. Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?IworkedChildDevelopment/ CampusClubforalongtime. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?IvalueourDeaf CommunityandIcareforfamilieswhoIcanserve. Whoisyourrolemodel?MichelleBronsonandRosaOcampoaremyrolemodels. JERREDHORSMAN ComputerSupportTechnician FresnoHeadquarters Hearing YearswithDHHSC:FirstYear Whereareyoufrom?Fresno,California,bornandraised. Wheredidyougotocollegeandwhatdidyoustudy?Iamcurrently enrolledinfresnostatewithamajorinbusinessadministrationandan EmphasisinInformationSystems. Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?IhaveworkedinInformation Technologydepartmentsformultipleschooldistricts. Whatarethemostimportantissuestoyou?Ensuringthatpeople's needsaremet,thatinformationsystemsmaintainsecurityandthatall dataisrecoverableincaseofdisaster. Whatdoyouwanttoseeinthefuture?Ihopetoseemanybusiness opportunitiesthatleadmetolargemanagementandenterprisesystems typeenvironmentswithafocusoninformationsystemsdesignand engineering.
JAYMEROBERSON MaintenanceAssistant FresnoHeadquarters Deaf YearswithDHHSC:FirstYear Whatkindofeducationdidyouhave,wheredidyougoto collegeandwhatdidyoustudy?igraduatedfromhoover HighSchoolin2003.Istudiedconstructionfortwoyearsat FresnoCityCollegefrom2004 2006. Whatpastjobshaveyouworked?Mypreviousjobsinclude TJMaxx,UniversalDataTech,andAthleticDesigns. What'sthemostinterestingthingthathappenedtoyou?Iwas surprisedwheniwasonthenewsforbeingahooverhighschool teambasketballplayerandwheniwasinthenewspaperswithmy bestfriend,marlon,whenweplayedagainsteachotherinfootball. Whatdoyouwantourcommunitytoknowaboutyou?Iama realmanwhoisdeaf.ibelievedeafpeoplecan!deafpeopleare justascapableashearingpeople. Whoisyourrolemodel?MyrolemodelisMichaelJordan.