Our Mission.
RID is the national certifying body of sign language interpreters and is a professional organization that fosters the growth of the profession and the professional growth of interpreting.
Meet the Team.
Star Grieser, MS, CDI, ICE-CCP
Chief Executive Officer
Cassie Robles Sol
Human Resources Manager
Ashley Holladay
CMP Manager
Emily Stairs Abenchuchan, NIC
CMP Specialist
Catie Colamonico
Certification Manager
Jess Kaady
Certification Specialist
Tressela Bateson
EPS Manager
Martha Wolcott
EPS Specialist
Ryan Butts
Director of Member Services
Kayla Marshall, M.Ed., NIC
Member Services Manager
Vicky Whitty
Member Services Coordinator
Neal Tucker
Director of Gov’t Affairs and Advocacy
S. Jordan Wright, PhD
Director of Communications
Jenelle Bloom
Communications Manager
Brooke Roberts
Publications Coordinator
Jennifer Apple
Director of Finance and Accounting
Kristyne Reeds
Finance and Accounting Manager
Bradley Johnson
Staff Accountant
Julie Greenfield
Executive Assistant and Meeting Planner
Meet the Board.
Dr. Jesús Rēmigiō, PsyD, MBA, CDI
President
Shonna Magee, MRC, CI & CT, NIC Master, OTC
Vice President
Special Election Coming Soon!
Secretary
Kate O’Regan, MA, NIC
Treasurer
Mona Mehrpour, NIC
Member-at-Large
Glenna Cooper
Deaf Member-at-Large
Christina Stevens, NIC
Region I Representative
M. Antwan Campbell, MPA, Ed:K-12
Region II Representative
Jessica Eubank, NIC
Region IV Representative
Rachel Kleist, CDI
Region V Representative
Purpose Statement
RID’s purpose is to serve equally our members, profession, and the public by promoting and advocating for qualified and effective interpreters in all spaces where intersectional diverse Deaf lives are impacted.
Vision Statement
We envision qualified interpreters as partners in universal communication access and forward-thinking, effective communication solutions while honoring intersectional diverse spaces.
Values Statement
The values statement encompasses what values are at the “heart” or center of our work. RID values:
- the intersectionality and diversity of the communities we serve.
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging (DEIAB).
- the professional contribution of volunteer leadership.
- the adaptability, advancement and relevance of the interpreting profession.
- ethical practices in the field of sign language interpreting, and embraces the principle of “do no harm.”
- advocacy for the right to accessible, effective communication.
Pillar One: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility & Belonging
Pillar Two: Organizational Transformation
Pillar Three: Organizational Relevance
Pillar Four: Organizational Effectiveness
RID Region I
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
RID Region II
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland & District of Columbia (Potomac Chapter), Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
RID Region III
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
RID Region IV
Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming
RID Region V
Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington
Region I Northeast
Welcome to Region I
Welcome colleagues and friends of Region I. By browsing this site and clicking on the links below, you will catch a glimpse of what our chapters are up to and see the great energy that is Region I! We are proud to represent and introduce you to some of the most dynamic and forward-thinking individuals in the interpreting field.
STATES: Connecticut,Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
Region I President’s Council
| AFFILIATE CHAPTER |
| Connecticut RID |
| Maine RID |
| Massachusetts RID |
| New Hampshire RID |
| New Jersey RID |
| Central New York RID |
| Genesee Valley RID |
| Long Island RID |
| New York City Metro RID |
| Pennsylvania RID |
| Rhode Island RID |
| Vermont RID |
Region II Southeast
Welcome to Region II
Welcome to the Region II page! We are excited to have a place where information will be continually updated to notify everyone on the events occurring in the region, as well as provide contact information for all Affiliate Chapter presidents. We welcome any comments/suggestions to make the site substantive and informative.
STATES: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland & District of Columbia (Potomac Chapter), Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
Region II President’s Council
| AFFILIATE CHAPTER |
| Alabama RID |
| Florida RID |
| Georgia RID |
| Mississippi RID |
| North Carolina RID |
| Potomac Chapter RID |
| South Carolina RID |
| Tennessee RID |
| Virginia RID |
Region III Midwest
Welcome to Region III
Welcome to the Region III Web page! Here you will find chapter links, regional conference information and the awards available to members. This site will be updated regularly, so be sure to check back for new information in the coming months.
STATES: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
Region III President’s Council
| AFFILIATE CHAPTER |
| Illinois RID |
| Indiana Chapter RID |
| Kentucky RID |
| Michigan RID |
| Minnesota RID |
| Ohio Chapter RID |
| Wisconsin RID |
Region IV Central
Welcome to Region IV!
Greetings! Welcome to RID Region IV (RIV); the home of countless passionate members and dedicated leaders. It is the vision of our RIV members and leaders to promote a community that inspires personal and professional transformation by offering cutting edge and innovative opportunities, honoring the evolving and diverse needs of its membership. We trust that you will find information on this Web page that supports this vision and hope you will make this site a frequent stop on your professional journey.
STATES: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming
Region V Pacific
Welcome to Region V
Welcome to RID Region V! Take a look and you will find a region that boasts tropical islands, snow capped mountains, wine countries, ski slopes and canyons. The beauty goes beyond the landscapes of our states; it is also seen in the members and leaders who make us Region V!
STATES: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington
Region V President’s Council
| AFFILIATE CHAPTER | |
| Alaska | |
| Arizona | |
| California Chapters: | |
| Central CA RID | |
| Northern CA RID | |
| Sacramento Valley RID | |
| Southern CA RID | |
| San Diego County RID | |
| Hawaii RID | |
| Idaho RID | |
| Nevada RID | |
| Oregon RID | |
| Utah RID | |
| Washington State RID |
From Around the Region
Dr. Jesús Rēmigiō, PsyD, MBA, CDI
President
Dr. Rēmigiō is Hispanic and the first generation in his family to have graduated from college. He received his Psy. D from William James College, and his MBA from Salem University. He is currently the Director of Equal Opportunity Programs and Title IX Coordinator at Gallaudet University. Jesús’ experience and intersectional identities enable him to offer a unique set of perspectives that will benefit the membership of RID and the Deaf, & DeafBlind community, and the hearing community that it serves. He is a past President of the Rhode Island Association for the Deaf and continues his service as a board member for the Rhode Island School for Deaf. Jesús has been a Certified Deaf Interpreter for about 10 years, interpreting primarily in the medical, and mental health settings.
Shonna Magee, MRC, CI and CT, NIC Master, OTC
Vice President
Shonna Magee (MRC, CI and CT, NIC Master, OTC) has over 26 years of experience interpreting, presenting, providing interpreter diagnostics, and mentoring. She specializes in emergency management, vocational rehabilitation, VRI, and medical interpreting. She has served as a professor of interpreting and ASL at Daytona State College and a professor of ASL at Pensacola State College. She received her Bachelor’s in interpreting from the University of Cincinnati and her Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of South Carolina where she was the Statewide Coordinator of Deaf Services for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department. She is currently the Director of Operations at SIGNature Access Solutions LLC and SIGNature CEUs LLC.
Andrea K Smith, MA, CI & CT, SC:L, NIC
Secretary
Andrea K Smith, MA, CI & CT, SC:L, NIC has been an interpreting professional for twenty years, primarily in legal settings with an emphasis on domestic violence and sexual assault. She works as the staff interpreter at the ACLU Disability Rights Project in San Francisco. She received her Master’s degree from the European Masters in Sign Language Interpreting with her thesis on Signposting: Neutral Channel Communications in Deaf-Hearing Interpreting Teams. She recently completed a two-year assignment in Ireland and engaged in community collaboration on the development of the Irish Sign Language interpreter regulations. Her current research examines Deaf professionals and designated interpreters in pursuit of her PhD at the University of Wolverhampton. In her personal time, she travels extensively with her spouse and twins.
Kate O’Regan, MA, NIC
Treasurer
Kate has over fifteen years of experience as a thought leader and agent of change and enjoys the challenges and successes of working with teams and creating systemic access. Kate is a former founder of a social impact organization that was a vehicle for change by investing revenue into the local Deaf Community efforts, access and programming. Kate’s experience building a company that had real impact for the local community also afforded her the opportunity to partner with organizations and institutions in creating access within their systems. She has led hospital leadership, private corporation personnel, universities, and non-profit organization leaders through the process of maximizing their resources while creating a system of service provision that allows their constituents peace of mind. With her professional expertise, she brings a level of innovation and sustainability, while maintaining a culture of respect and principles that honor each entity’s unique structure, culture and operations.
Academically, Kate is a graduate of Northeastern University’s Interpreter Education Program and holds a Master’s degree in Social Impact from Claremont Lincoln University. After a decade of coordinating interpreting services at the post-secondary level, Kate dedicated herself to providing reputable, accessible Deaf-centric services by listening to and working directly with Deaf consumers.
Kate and her husband live in rural Maryland with their energetic children and enjoys taking advantage of all the countryside has to offer, while continuing her love of learning and positively contributing to our communities.
Mona Mehrpour, NIC
Member-at-Large
Mona Mehrpour is a heritage signer of ASL and the daughter of two deaf parents. Over the past 15 years, she has interpreted in a variety of settings, including educational interpreting in K-12 and post-secondary settings, video relay, medical, community, theater and public services throughout Northern California. Throughout her interpreting journey, she has completed an interpreting training program, received a 4.0 on the EIPA, and became a nationally certified interpreter (NIC). Mona currently resides in Virginia, continuing her interpreting journey by engaging in both community and virtual work. She also volunteers and serves Deaf-Parented Interpreters Member Section as Chair under the Registry Interpreters for the Deaf. As an immigrant and a child of immigrants from Iran, Mona grew up in multiple deaf communities which is her source of inspiration for continual growth. She thrives on the connections she makes with her peers in dialogues about personal development and dissecting interpreting work in order to understand the decision-making processes to provide the best possible access for our diverse deaf communities.
Glenna Cooper
Deaf Member-at-Large
Glenna has over 25 years of experience in program management, supervision, training, grant writing and marketing on local, state and federal levels. She is currently an Associate Professor and was the faculty chair for the ASLE program, including the ASL Studies and Interpreter Education and the World Language at Tulsa Community College. Glenna is currently an Oklahoma QAST State evaluator. For 12 years, she was a division director for a national deaf organization. She was a national logistic coordinator responsible for the management and operation unit and the Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network (CEPIN) training program.
She previously was one of several Deaf FEMA certified instructors for the CEPIN program with TDI to provide deaf culture and competency trainings to emergency responders and consumers with hearing loss. Glenna implemented the Oklahoma Domestic Violence Awareness Program for the Deaf and Hard of hearing communities and providers to improve communication and accessible services with funding from the US Department of Justice and Oklahoma District Attorney Council. She also worked with the Department of Health and Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust to develop and implement the Oklahoma Tobacco Awareness program for deaf and hard of hearing cultural needs. For several years, Glenna previously managed a telecommunication relay call center with 250+ employees for Ameritech/Southwestern Bell and CSD in Ohio. She was the Oklahoma account manager for Sprint Telecommunication Relay Service during its early formation. In addition, Glenna serves on the subject matter expert team to review the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s FEMA/Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties’ Special Needs Planning Guidebook for Emergency Managers.
She is president of the Oklahoma Association of the Deaf and served on Oklahoma Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf as Deaf Member-at-Large. For the last 30 years, Glenna served on the City of Tulsa Mayor’s Commission on Concerns of Tulsans with Disabilities; Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse State Task Force member; Tulsa Community College Interpreter Training Advisory Committee Member. She previously was Governor’s appointee for Oklahoma State Department of Human Services Advisory Board, 1993 and Governor-appointed board member on Oklahoma State Independent Living Council, 1991-1994 and recently Governor Henry-appointed board member and elected secretary for Statewide Independent Living Council.
Glenna holds an MA in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University and a BA-LS in Leadership Administration from the University of Oklahoma and resides in Owasso, Oklahoma. She is married to Timi Richardson and has three children; Matt teaches ASL at Broken Arrow Public School, Kelsey advocates for the Indigenous Indian with her Masters in Law, and Jonathan works for Congressman Hern at the US Capitol in D.C. Glenna loves to relax at the lake house, boating and enjoying family time in her spare time.
Christina Stevens, NIC
Region I Representative
M. Antwan Campbell, MPA, Ed:K-12
Region II Representative
M. Antwan Campbell first joined the interpreting profession through his younger brother and is a 2003 graduate of Gardner-Webb University where he received his BA in ASL and in 2007, he received his Master’s in Public Administration from UNC-Pembroke. He has taught several workshops geared towards improving the skills of educational interpreters and those who work with Deaf/Hard of Hearing students across North Carolina and the surrounding states. He is currently working as the Educational Consultant for Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Interpreter Support with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
He has worked within the educational system for over ten years in a variety of settings from elementary to post-secondary and on a variety of levels from being in the classroom to supervising outside of it. He has received his Ed:K-12 interpreting certification from RID. He is actively engaged in the affiliate chapter, North Carolina Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, NCRID, as he is currently serving as its Past President. He has served the local community in a variety of ways to include mentoring new and beginning interpreters throughout the state as well. It is truly evident that Antwan has a passion for education and improving the standards for all students. He currently resides in Raleigh, NC.
Jessica Eubank, NIC
Region IV Representative
Jessica Eubank is an interpreter from New Mexico native. Jessica recently finished a term as the President of the New Mexico RID before transitioning to the Region IV Rep position. She has worked as an interpreter in a variety of settings including K-12, Community freelance, VRS/VRI etc. Jessica is currently the staff interpreter for a state agency where she provides interpreting services for advocacy on communication access issues, as well as oversee a mentoring program that helps new interpreters gain their footing in the field by providing support and mentorship they need to prepare for longevity in our field. This is work that she very much enjoys.
Rachel Kleist, CDI
Region V Representative-Elect
Located in Northern California, Rachel has been a Certified Deaf Interpreter since 2016. But Rachel’s journey into the possibility of becoming a Deaf interpreter began in 2008 when she was first asked to do sight translation. In 2012, Rachel took her first interpreting-related workshop and started thinking that perhaps it was a definite possibility that Deaf individuals could interpret.
Rachel teaches in an Interpreter Preparatory Program (IPP) and provides training for Deaf individuals interested in learning more about the possibility of becoming a Deaf interpreter. Rachel has also served on her local Affiliate Chapter, SaVRID (Sacramento Valley Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf), in various positions. General Member-at-Large, Secretary, and Treasurer. Rachel enjoys participating in and listening to many different communities, talking with and seeing different perspectives. Rachel looks forward to continuing that work, that passion, but on a larger scale – specifically as the RID Region V Representative.
Chief Executive Officer
Star Grieser, MS, CDI, ICE-CCP
Star grew up in south Florida – Stuart and Jensen Beach, Florida – where she developed her love for the outdoors and the open sea. She attended NTID (SVP ‘94) and graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Professional and Technical Communication, and McDaniel College with a Master’s in Deaf Education (2001).
Star has always been active in advocacy and has worked among the Deaf and interpreting communities, be it mental health care, Deaf education, and more recently as Program Chair for the ASL and Interpreter Education Program at Tidewater Community College, Chesapeake, VA, for one and half decades, to becoming the Director of Testing for CASLI in 2017, and now as the CEO of RID since 2021.
She currently holds a RID certification as a Certified Deaf Interpreter. Star is also ICE-CCP, a Certified Certification Professional by the Institute of Credentialing Excellence. She enjoys traveling, bicycling and can usually be found with a book in her hand.
CMP Specialist
Emily Stairs Abenchuchan, NIC
Born and raised under the Florida sun, Emily is no stranger to the laid-back lifestyle and the occasional alligator sighting. However, her journey didn’t stop at the state line. She ventured to Gallaudet, where she navigated our nation’s capital for several years. Despite the fast-paced lifestyle, she kept her Floridian spirit intact, always carrying a bit of sunshine wherever she went. Following her Washington, DC escapade, Emily found herself embracing the slower pace of life in Iowa. Surrounded by endless fields and friendly faces, she discovered the beauty and charm of Midwestern hospitality.
Emily’s heart belongs to her big family and the Deaf Community. Having spent 10 years in private practice as an interpreter, she joins us as a CMP Specialist at RID. Now home in Florida with her husband, daughter, and Aussie Mika, their home is a lively blend of laughter and love. When they’re not busy conquering daily life, Emily and her crew love to hit the road to explore new horizons and are always up for a good adventure. Her downtime is often spent soaking up the freshwater springs and basking in the beauty of Florida’s natural wonders. It’s these moments, surrounded by family and nature, that truly define Emily’s approach to life – always filled with a genuine love for the journey.
Human Resources Manager
Cassie Robles Sol
Cassie was born and raised in California. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management in the Human Resources field and has experience in the hospitality, education, and beauty industries. She enjoys spending time with her family and cooking in her spare time.
CMP Manager
Ashley Holladay
Ashley was born in Vermont and raised in Maine and New Hampshire. After high school, she attended the University of New Hampshire and earned her Bachelor of Science in sign language interpretation. Upon completion of her degree, Ashley worked as an educational interpreter in a local school district. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with her friends and family.
EPS Manager
Tressela Bateson
Tressela, known as Tressy at RID, was born in West Virginia and grew up there until her family relocated to Virginia. After graduating from MSSD, she obtained her BA in Psychology from California State University, Northridge, and then attended Gallaudet University for a Masters of Arts in School Guidance and Counseling. Tressy worked in the counseling field, including 14 years in Mental Health Counseling before a career change to teaching ASL. She taught at Clemson University for 6 years during the development of Clemson’s ITP. Her combined experience working with ASL Students/future interpreters as well as the empathy and expertise gained in counseling makes her a valued addition to the Ethical Practices System.
Certification Manager
Catie Colamonico
Certification Specialist
Jess Kaady
Born and raised in the Portland, Oregon area, Jess graduated from Western Oregon University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish. Her passion for studying languages and communication styles along with seven years living abroad in Mexico led her to begin her journey as a freelance Spanish/English interpreter. She later became an ASL/English interpreter and is currently an aspiring trilingual (Spanish/English/ASL) interpreter. In her free time Jess enjoys singing, playing guitar and piano, volleyball, and engaging in conversations about differing perspectives and experiences.
EPS Specialist
Martha Wolcott
Martha was born and raised in Colorado where she currently lives. She attended a variety of Deaf schools and mainstream classes before graduating from MSSD. Martha then graduated from Gallaudet in Psychology, she also studied interpreting, social work and sociology during her time there. She worked at the Financial Aid office at Gallaudet and managed short-term rental properties in a small mountain town before joining RID. Outside of work, Martha enjoys snowboarding, sewing and creating, reading books, and watching TV shows.
Member Services Director
Ryan Butts
Ryan is a native New Yorker. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. Before coming to work at RID, she worked at the University of Mary Washington in a community based program for minority students. In her spare time, Ryan enjoys going out with friends and spending time with her family.
Member Services Manager
Kayla Marshall, M.Ed., NIC
Kayla was born and raised in North Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Management, a Master of Education in Recreation and Fitness Administration, and an Associate of Applied Science in Sign Language Interpreting. Kayla lived in west Texas for three years during graduate school, working at a community college. After making Deaf friends there, and learning more about Deafness and interpreting, Kayla pursued a career in Interpreting. Kayla has been nationally certified (NIC) since 2021, and enjoys educational and vocational interpreting the most. In her free time, Kayla enjoys spending time with her husband, new baby boy, and two pups. Traveling, reading, binge watching TV shows, and swimming are a few of Kayla’s favorite hobbies.
Member Services Specialist
Vicky Whitty
Vicky was born and raised in Upstate NY (not NYC) and is currently residing in the Sunshine State! She is happily married to her college sweetheart and a first-time mom to her beautiful child and a sassy Pomeranian girl.
Vicky holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, back in the winter of 2018. Before joining RID, Vicky was teaching American Sign Language for about 3 years at a public high school in Orlando. In her free time, she loves to check out and explore the hidden gems in the Central Florida area, seeking out any local coffee shops and spending quality time with friends and family.
Government Affairs, Public Policy and Advocacy Director
Neal Tucker
Neal was born and raised in Boston, MA. He has spent over a decade of his career working in areas intersecting with disability rights and government affairs at local, state, and federal levels. His passion for influencing and implementing positive change is the driving force behind his professional pursuits with the approach of, “Leave the world a better place than you found it.” He is honored to work for RID, knowing that he and his team have a direct impact on the lives of the diverse Deaf and ASL-using communities.
Neal serves on the Board of Directors as Treasurer of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network (DHHCAN), a national coalition of organizations representing the interests of deaf and/or hard-of-hearing citizens in public policy and legislative issues relating to rights, quality of life, equal access, and self-representation. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Atlas Preparatory Charter School, which prepares and empowers all students for success on their post-graduate paths through educational excellence, character development, and community engagement. Neal was appointed to the Institute of Credentialing Excellence’s (I.C.E.) Government Affairs Committee to leverage his expertise for a one-year term (2025-2026) to engage in efforts at the local, state, and federal levels affecting the credentialing community. Most recently, Neal joined the Board of Directors of the Aspen Camp of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to support their mission, providing diverse experiential, educational, outdoor, and recreational experiences for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to connect with nature, others in the signing community, and with themselves.
Communications Director
S. Jordan Wright, PhD
Dr. Wright is a Critical Theorist, researcher, and Director of Communications for RID. Jordan was raised in Buffalo, NY, and matriculated at California State University, Northridge where he formally learned ASL and finished with a BA in English Literature at the University at Buffalo. In 2017, Jordan completed his Ph.D. at Gallaudet University and has since held a variety of academic positions at Lamar University and RIT/NTID, which led to his current position with RID which combines three of his favorite passions: writing, data, and Deaf Studies. Dr. Wright has extensive experience in the world of publishing and enjoys escaping down various rabbit holes with a thirst for knowledge and curiosity which fuels his passion. An avid traveler, Jordan enjoys seeking out new horizons, and new experiences, and immersing himself in different languages and cultures all over the world. Dad to two whippets Savior and Omega, Jordan is an animal lover and sometimes prefers the company of animals to people.
Affiliate Chapter Liaison
Dr. Carolyn Ball, CI and CT, NIC
Carolyn has been a member of RID since 1994. However, her involvement with the Deaf Community began in 1982 when she met a Deaf young man at a baseball game in Idaho Falls, Idaho. This chance meeting at the baseball game influenced Carolyn’s career and life forever. After the baseball game and many years of college, she has been teaching interpreting in higher education for the past thirty-years. Carolyn has served on several national boards and loves to be involved in the Deaf Community. She enjoys researching the history of interpreters and interpreter educators and how to become effective leaders. In her free time Carolyn enjoys hiking, biking and spending time with her family.
Communications Manager
Jenelle Bloom, PCM
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jenelle graduated from Gallaudet University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies. Jenelle focuses on strengthening accessibility and creating audience-specific content. Outside of work, Jenelle loves spending time with her fur children, joining animal rescue missions, and screenplay writing. She maintains an open-door policy for discussions of any kind, loves a good joke, and always makes time for vegan snacks.
Publications Coordinator
Brooke Roberts
Born and raised in sunny Tampa, Florida, Brooke embodies her dedication and passion for education, community service, and the arts. She graduated from Gallaudet University with a degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, and a Minor in Dance. As a creative writer and book lover, Brooke recognizes the power of the written word and its ability to educate and inspire. As Editor in Chief of VIEWS, Brooke is driven to create content that is relevant and engaging to our members. An unwavering ally to Black, Brown, and Indigenous people, Brooke is committed to using her role to go beyond highlighting diverse perspectives. Through a collaborative framework, Brooke works to transform the traditional publication pipeline into a lasting communal bridge with a foundation in equity and authentic representation.
Director of Finance and Accounting
Jennifer Apple
Jennifer, originally from northeast Ohio, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Gallaudet University and is working towards certification as a Certified Management Accountant. Jennifer thrives on the challenges and opportunities presented by non-profit accounting and finance. Jennifer holds RID’s mission and service to the Deaf community close to heart. When not at work or doting on a family of six, Jennifer engages in a love of cooking, reading banned books, going for long hikes and bike rides, supporting local farmers, and learning new and interesting things.
Finance and Accounting Manager
Kristyne Reeds
Kristyne was born and raised in Canada. She graduated from Gallaudet University with a Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting & Business Administration and a double minor in Economics & Finance. She has 7 years of supervisory and managerial accounting experience in the hospitality industry. During her free time, Kristyne loves spending time with her friends and cats, hiking, and exploring new nature places.
Staff Accountant
Bradley Johnson
Bradley is a Minnesota native and is also known as Brad. He graduated from RIT with two degrees, an Associate in Applied Science in Applied Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Before onboarding with RID, he has been a financial professional for nearly 30 years with a background in Healthcare, Human Resources, Information Technology, Innovation, and Interpreter Agency in several non-profit organizations, state agencies, and a private university. Bradley enjoys exploring different cuisines, breweries, and wineries, traveling, reading business books, and spending time with family and friends in his free time.
