Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of FRID have accepted the responsibility to carry out the business of the organization. The board works closely with many stakeholders, both internally and externally, as well as with individual members as they move FRID forward. 

President
Vice-President of Internal Affairs
Vice-President of External Affairs


Shawn Norris 
President@FRIDcentral.org

Email Me

 Katryna Arias
VPInternalAffairs@FRIDcentral.org
Email Me

James Smith

VPExternalAffairs@FRIDcentral.org

Shawn Norris, Ed K-12, NIC, CoreCHI, has been in the interpreting field for over fifteen years, serving as a n 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. Read Full Bio

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. Read Full Bio

James is originally from Kentucky, grew up in Georgia and currently resides in Pinellas Park, Florida. James attended Troy University's ITP and has enjoyed working in medical, mental health, police interrogations, court interpreting and as a Language Mentor. He received his CDI in 2014 and became a certified instructor for C.E.R.T. Read Full Bio

SECRETARY
TREASURER
MEMBER-AT-LARGE

 


Vacant
Secretary@FRIDcentral.org

Vacant

Vacant

This position is currently awaiting appointment.


This position is currently awaiting appointment.

This position is currently awaiting appointment.

DEAF MEMBER-AT-LARGE
REGION REPRESENTATIVE - NORTH


REGION REPRESENTATIVE - SOUTH


David Maruca

DMAL@FRIDcentral.org

Email Me

June Ann LeFors

RegionRepNorth@FRIDcentral.org 

Email Me
Brooks Jody Belcher

RegionRepSouth@FRIDcentral.org

Email Me


Read Full Bio

June Ann LeFors is an instructor and the director of the ASL program at Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida. She is a freelance deaf interpreter and ASL translator in the central and northeast Florida areas. She is also an appointed member of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Advisory Committee for the Florida Department of Health and serves on the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind Board of Trustees. A state-certified K-12 teacher, LeFors previously worked at FSDB for 10 years in several roles: ASL specialist and evaluator, preschool teacher in the Early Learning Center, and as a parent advisor in the Parent Infant Program. She earned her master's degree in Deaf Education/ Deaf Studies from Lamar University and a bachelor's in Elementary Education from Gallaudet University. She and her husband, Eric (a physical education teacher at FSDB), have six daughters - three of whom are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Read Full Bio


REGION REPRESENTATIVE - EAST
 REGION REPRESENTATIVE - WEST
 PAST PRESIDENT



Hope Diehl

PastPresident@FRIDcentral.org

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.  Read Full Bio

Daryl Everett works in VRS, community and travel interpreting. She holds a Master of Education degree from UNF. Daryl lives outside of Tampa but grew up in Jacksonville. She’s passionate about connecting to the Deaf and interpreting community and bringing people together to form lasting relationships. In her free time, she enjoys camping and paddle boarding with her two children as well as watercoloring and reading historical fiction and self-help books. Read Full Bio

Hope Diehl (BA, NIC) is a Florida native UCF alumna who has been interpreting in various settings in the greater Orlando area for over a decade. Her heart is in educational interpreting for D/HH youth who are mainstreamed and in medical interpreting specific to women’s health. When not working she is Super Mom to her mini-me daughter and they can be found outside exploring all that nature offers or at home living on the edge consuming raw cookie dough while trying out new recipes. Read Full Bio

FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF (FAD) REPRESENTATIVE  STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE  
 
Vacant
 

This position is currently awaiting appointment.

This position is currently awaiting appointment.

 

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 Smith 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.

David Maruca

Bio forthcoming

June Ann LeFors

June Ann LeFors is an instructor and the director of the ASL program at Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida. She is a freelance deaf interpreter and ASL translator in the central and northeast Florida areas. She is also an appointed member of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Advisory Committee for the Florida Department of Health and serves on the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind Board of Trustees. A state-certified K-12 teacher, LeFors previously worked at FSDB for 10 years in several roles: ASL specialist and evaluator, preschool teacher in the Early Learning Center, and as a parent advisor in the Parent Infant Program. She earned her master's degree in Deaf Education/ Deaf Studies from Lamar University and a bachelor's in Elementary Education from Gallaudet University. She and her husband, Eric (a physical education teacher at FSDB), have six daughters - three of whom are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Daryl Everett

Daryl Everett works in VRS, community and travel interpreting. She holds a Master of Education degree from UNF. Daryl lives outside of Tampa but grew up in Jacksonville. She’s passionate about connecting to the Deaf and interpreting community and bringing people together to form lasting relationships. In her free time, she enjoys camping and paddle boarding with her two children as well as watercoloring and reading historical fiction and self-help books.

Hope Diehl

Hope Diehl (BA, NIC) is a Florida native UCF alumna who has been interpreting in various settings in the greater Orlando area for over a decade. Her heart is in educational interpreting for D/HH youth who are mainstreamed and in medical interpreting specific to women’s health. When not working she is Super Mom to her mini-me daughter and they can be found outside exploring all that nature offers or at home living on the edge consuming raw cookie dough while trying out new recipes.

Florida Association of the Deaf (FAD) Liaison

This position is currently vacant.

The November 2019 Bylaws list the role of the FAD Liaison as being a communication link between FRID and FAD, serving as a non-voting member of the FRID Board of Directors, and other duties as designated by the Board of Directors or the President of FRID. To be considered for this position, applicants/nominees must be appointed by the FAD Board of Directors and will be exempted from the requirement to be members in good standing of FRID and/or RID. Applicants/Nominees may not serve concurrently on the Board of any other Affiliate Chapter of RID or the National RID Board of Directors. The term for the role of FAD Liaison will be determined by appointment of the FAD Board of Directors.


Student Representative

This position is currently vacant.

The November 2019 Bylaws list the role of the Student Representative as being responsible for being a communication link between the organization and students of the profession and other duties as designated by the Board of Directors. To be considered for this position, applicants/nominees must be Florida residents who are voting student members in good standing of FRID and RID at the time of their candidacy. Applicants/Nominees may not serve concurrently on the Board of any other Affiliate Chapter of RID or the National RID Board of Directors. The term for the role of Student Representative will be determined by the Board of Directors.

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