There are two separate session tracks running simultaneously. With the exception of Sunday morning, all sessions will run for four hours. Each day there is a morning and afternoon session. If you register for the full conference or a single day, you will choose with session you would like to attend as you arrive. An email will be sent a day or two before the event with final reminders and important information.

To register, click here

Presented by Bryan Kritzeck

Bryan Kritzeck was born and raised in Minnesota. One side of his family is five generations into the legal arena, most in law enforcement or in the courtroom setting. The other side of his family is familiar with the legal system for other reasons. Bryan began “interpreting” at the age of 18, in the year 2001. At the age of 21, he moved to California to study Deaf Studies at California State University, Northridge. He obtained his National Interpreter Certification (NIC) in early 2008. He finished his baccalaureate degree in late 2008 and lastly obtained his Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L) in 2014. 

Bryan is currently a staff interpreter for Superior Courts of California, County of Riverside. The county spans roughly 200 miles, from Corona, CA all the way to Blythe, CA.

Most recently, Bryan was appointed by the Chief Justice of California as a Region Representative for the Judicial Council of California’s Court Interpreter Advisory Panel (CIAP). CIAP advises the Judicial Council of California on statewide policies, Government and Evidence Code amendments regarding all things interpreter/interpretation related, regardless of the language. 

Presented by Raina Diallo

Born and raised in Southern Arizona, Raina graduated from the University of Arizona’s ITP program in 2010. From 2006-2018 she worked for the Arizona State Schools for the

Deaf and Blind, and served as a Lead Educational Interpreter for the Southeast Regional Cooperative before relocating to Southern California in 2018. She has served as a mentor and contributed to the development of professional development programs, designed to support new interpreters with developing confidence as they analyze, discuss and incorporate skills development and feedback to achieve state standards and various levels of certification. Raina works full-time as a Lead VRS Interpreter for Sorenson, but also loves interpreting in community, conference, medical and

cruise settings. 

Raina is married with two children. She enjoys reading, traveling, beach days, HGTV, being outdoors, and is active Rotary Club member with a passion for community service locally and abroad.

Presented by Bryan Kritzeck

Bryan Kritzeck was born and raised in Minnesota. One side of his family is five generations into the legal arena, most in law enforcement or in the courtroom setting. The other side of his family is familiar with the legal system for other reasons. Bryan began “interpreting” at the age of 18, in the year 2001. At the age of 21, he moved to California to study Deaf Studies at California State University, Northridge. He obtained his National Interpreter Certification (NIC) in early 2008. He finished his baccalaureate degree in late 2008 and lastly obtained his Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L) in 2014. 

Bryan is currently a staff interpreter for Superior Courts of California, County of Riverside. The county spans roughly 200 miles, from Corona, CA all the way to Blythe, CA.

Most recently, Bryan was appointed by the Chief Justice of California as a Region Representative for the Judicial Council of California’s Court Interpreter Advisory Panel (CIAP). CIAP advises the Judicial Council of California on statewide policies, Government and Evidence Code amendments regarding all things interpreter/interpretation related, regardless of the language. 

Presented by Marjorie Foster

With over 25 years of experience in the interpreting field, Marjorie Foster has worked extensively in post-secondary education and for more than two decades with national interpreting agencies across diverse settings, multiple states, and international environments. She also brings over 17 years of experience in video relay and virtual interpreting services. Marjorie holds a Master’s degree in General Linguistics, focusing on telecommunications between Deaf and hearing individuals and the interpreting needs of Deaf immigrant communities. She further expanded her expertise with a certificate in Protactile Language Theory in 2023 and passed the California Court Interpreter Written Examination in 2024. She has presented numerous workshops on ethics, freelance interpreting, business practices, and grassroots interpreting.

Her professional background includes serving as an adjunct lecturer in interpreter training programs and holding leadership roles within professional organizations. Her areas of specialization include aeronautical/pilotage, DeafBlind tactile interpreting, conference and platform work, grassroots settings, post-secondary education, medical,

business and warehouse environments, video relay and remote services, and the aerospace industry.

In addition to her interpreting career, Marjorie earned her Private Pilot License (PPL) for single-engine land aircraft (VFR), along with a Certificate in Pilot Training and an Associate of Science in Aviation in 2019.

Presented by Elizabeth Haddad

Elizabeth "Betsy" Haddad is a certified interpreter with 10 years of professional experience working locally and nationally. Experience ranging in Community, Freelance, K-12, Secondary Education, Performing Arts, Video Relay (VRS/VRI). She has a B.A. in Deaf Studies as well as an M.A. in Higher Education Leadership from CSU-Northridge. Betsy's interpreter training hails from an A.A. in Sign Language Interpreting from Riverside City College. Currently, she is employed as a staff interpreter at CSU-Northridge and mentoring with CSUN & RCCs interpreting programs. 

Moderated by Desere Patterson

Desere Patterson, MS, CI, CT, is a nationally certified ASL/English

interpreter, educator, and mentor with over three decades of experience

serving Deaf and hearing communities across a wide range of settings.

She currently serves as a full-time Assistant Professor in the Interpreter

Education Program at Riverside City College, where she teaches

interpreting, linguistics, ethics, and practicum courses, emphasizing

experiential learning and service-based education. Desere holds a Master

of Science in ASL/English Interpretation from the University of North Florida

and maintains national certifications from the Registry of Interpreters for the

Deaf, along with advanced credentials from the National Association of the

Deaf.

In addition to her academic role, Desere actively works as a community

and legal interpreter, including longstanding service with the Riverside

Superior Courts, and contributes as a mentor, trainer, and presenter within

the interpreting profession. Her diverse expertise spans legal, medical,

educational, performance, and video relay interpreting, as well as

specialized areas such as ProTactile interpreting. Recognized as

Interpreter of the Year by the Deaf Community of Riverside in 2024, she is

deeply committed to professional excellence, ethical practice, and

advancing equity and access.

Beyond her professional work, Desere is an engaged community leader,

contributing extensively to civic organizations such as the Boy Scouts of

America, where she has held multiple leadership and training roles at both

local and national levels. Her teaching philosophy centers on fostering

cultural competence, critical reflection, and linguistic fluency, preparing

future interpreters to navigate the complex cultural and social dynamics of

the communities they serve.

Presented by Kimberleh Weissman

With 15 years of experience as an ASL interpreter and 6 years as the ASL Interpreter Coordinator at Glendale Community College, Kim has dedicated her career to bridging communication gaps and fostering inclusivity. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from California State University, Northridge and an Associate’s Degree in ASL Interpreting, graduating summa cum laude from Los Angeles Pierce College's Interpreter Training Program (ITP).

Her extensive freelance experience spans a broad range of interpreting settings, including post-secondary education, platform interpreting for comedy shows, theater, and musical performances, as well as community interpreting in medical, legal, and other specialized settings. She has also contributed to numerous conferences and workshops, both as a presenter, consultant, and attendee, further shaping her understanding of the needs and challenges of the Deaf community.

Currently, Kim is pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) at Gallaudet University, with an expected graduation in May 2026. Her focus has evolved to include advocacy for Deaf equity and macro-level policy work, with a goal of supporting not only Deaf students but also the broader Deaf community. As ASL Interpreter Coordinator, she is committed to raising awareness and advancing initiatives that ensure equal access and opportunities for all. Always striving to further her personal and professional development, Kim has become a sought-after resource, colleague, and mentor in the field. She is inspired daily by her son, who serves as a constant reminder to model and practice compassion, patience, and empathy in all aspects of her life and work.

Presented by Andrew Leyva

In his 30+ years, Andrew has worked as a community ASL/English/Spanish interpreter and mentor. Currently, he holds multiple roles at California State University, Northridge

(CSUN): Staff Interpreter, Deaf Studies IEP instructor, and master’s candidate in Chicana/o Studies. His master’s curriculum project focuses on developing a curriculum for trilingual Latinx sign language interpreting students, integrating Dr. García-Fernández’s Deaf-Latinx Critical Theory and Saran Stewart’s Critical and Inclusive Pedagogy frameworks to enhance the cultural competencies of Latinx interpreters

serving the Deaf-Latinx community. When not interpreting, teaching, or writing, Andrew relaxes by spending time with his gatas, Sombra and Luna.

Presented by Kalei Lehua Bobbermin

Kalei Lehua (she/they) is an interpreter with their M.A. and B.A. in

English and completed their ITP in 2014. They have experience hosting

workshops for the Interpreters Guild at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire

about Elizabethan Language, with a focus on Shakespeare's works, and

they actively strive to incorporate language play into on and off-stage

interpreting settings.