Board of Directors

Full Bios

Shawn Norris

Shawn Norris, Ed K-12, NIC, CoreCHI, has been in the interpreting field for over fifteen years, serving as an interpreter and manager for several companies and government agencies. He currently works at Flagler Health+ in St. Augustine, Florida as the Coordinator of Interpreting Services, Section 1557 and ADA Coordinator, and ASL Interpreter. He created the Interpreting Services program and provided a more robust service to the community. Due to being raised by Deaf parents, Shawn has close ties to the local Deaf community and serves as an advocate and volunteer. He mentors new interpreters at work as a licensed interpreter trainer and volunteer. Previously, he established a local agency that provided interpreting services in ASL and Spanish. In addition to his extensive interpreting experience, Shawn is a long-time public speaker and has worked on several translation projects for a free Bible education work for the Deaf. Shawn's interests include spending time with his family, reading, and football.

Katryna Arias

Katryna Arias (BA, NIC, INHC) works as an interpreter in the Orlando area. She graduated from the University of South Florida's Interpreter Training Program in 2016 (GO BULLS!) and received her NIC in 2019. She specializes in post-secondary and conference interpreting, with additional experience in government, VRS, VRI, medical, legal, and mental health interpreting. In 2021, Katryna received her certification as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and in addition to interpreting, works as a Health Coach for Interpreters. She has a passion for supporting interpreters with their personal & professional development and also supporting interpreters in sustaining their health - mentally, emotionally, and physically - for long-term retention in the field. She has worn different hats for FRID - serving as the Professional Development Chair for over 2 years, and then recently coming back as the Vice President of Internal Affairs.

Outside of interpreting, Katryna loves working out at Orangetheory Fitness, traveling with her husband, and going to the theme parks with her nieces & nephews. 

James Smith

James is originally from Kentucky but grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He currently resides in Pinellas Park, FL. His mother discovered that he was Deaf at 7-months-old, so they learned first Sign Exact English (S.E.E.) sign language together in 1978 and then ASL in 1988. His mother became a certified Interpreter and James followed in her footsteps and became a CDI. James attended Troy University's ITP, and worked as Language Mentor. He has enjoyed working in medical, mental health, police interrogations, and court interpreting. He received his certification in 2014 and became a certified instructor for C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team) and teaching workshops all over in Georgia and Florida. He was a long time member of GaRID (Georgia Registry Interpreter for the Deaf) and GADB (Georgia Association Deaf Blind), and has currently membership with FAD, FRID, RID Deaf Caucus group, and, of course, RID. He is also fluent in South Africa Sign Language!

James is married to his beautiful wife Zakhe and they have 2 beautiful daughters who are 15 and 6! They love to travel, going to the beach, camping, flying all over, and his favorite hobby is riding his street motorcycle! Looking forward to working with you all!e-President of External Affairs

Genaere Lowery

Genaere Lowery has been professionally interpreting since 2008, at the age of 15. With both of her parents Deaf, ASL is her first language. Her family grew up traveling serving various Deaf communities around the country. They were also a part of the still-running TV show, “Dr. Wonder’s Workshop” in 2007, which is performed entirely in ASL by a Deaf cast. She obtained the NIC in 2016, and the Supreme Court Qualification from the state of IN in 2017 through their Supreme Court Interpreter program. One of her greatest passions is, “bridging the gap,” and going above and beyond to ensure that the highest possible quality of interpreting services are provided to every individual, by looking for ways to increase standards for interpreters, and through continuing to create and push for awareness of Deaf rights.

Kayla Ellison

Kayla Ellison (she/her/hers) received two bachelor’s degrees, in Sign Language Interpretation and German Studies, from the University of South Florida in 2018. She is passionate about advocating for the needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth in the K-12 education system, where she currently works as an educational interpreter and a freelancer. Kayla holds her National Interpreter Certification (NIC) as well as a score of 4.8 on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA). Her educational journey led her to Saint Catherine’s University where she is currently a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies and Communication Equity program. Outside of the interpreting field, she loves to travel/experience diverse cultures and learn from everyone she meets.

Mary Hoover

Mary (NIC, MEd) has been in the ASL/English interpreting field since 2008. She's worked in most settings, but now specializes in religious and medical. A graduate of both USF and UNF, she advocates for higher education in the field, but believes much more language and cultural competence is gained experientially from/among the Deaf community. Mary is married to Erik Hoover, who is also in the field as a Deaf Interpreter and interpreter assessment specialist. Together they have five children, and they spend their free time enjoying the blessing of "contained chaos".

David Maruca

Bio forthcoming

June Ann LeFors

Bio forthcoming

Mark McDonald

Mark McDonald went through an Interpreter Training Program in Fairmont, West Virginia. Starting professionally interpreting in 2006. His love and passion for sign language eventually lead him to South Florida where he currently works in community, educational, and VRS fields. He enjoys combining his 2 passions; ASL and Harley Davidson motorcycles while riding together with groups of hearing and Deaf bikers across the beautiful coastlines of Florida.