Cocktails & Connections 2018
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RSVP Here Event Details | Featured Guests | When & Where | Ally Sponsors | In-Kind Sponsors Tickets for Cocktails & Connections are sold out! You can still register...
Braden grew up in Frederick, Maryland and attended Maryland School for the Deaf. He has a bachelor’s in American Sign Language with a minor in Linguistics and a master’s in Interpretation from Gallaudet University.
In his spare time, he loves going out with friends, playing video games, and also has a huge affection for cats.
Sam grew up in Kansas, went east for college, then came back to Kansas and had a family. Eventually, his family ended up in the Pacific Northwest. Sam is very happy to be among forests and mountains. He enjoys smelling the refreshing breeze and the rain coming off the Sound.
Sam is excited to be part of Rosen Family Preschool. With an array of fun approaches, he hopes to encourage the creative force of play as a part of each child’s journey towards self-actualization. The kids of Rosen Preschool have already taught him a trick or two about creativity! He looks forward to seeing how each child grows.
Athina earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology, as well as her Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, MD. Through her graduate studies and work experience, Athina has gained valuable knowledge working with children and adults with a wide variety of speech and language impairments. Athina’s personal clinical interests include early intervention, feeding disorders, and motor speech disorders.
Athina was born and raised on the east coast but is excited to call the Pacific Northwest her current home. In her spare time, Athina enjoys traveling to new countries, hiking, and cycling.
Joel has degrees in Rehabilitation Counseling/Deaf Studies and Linguistics and was a Graduate Research Fellow with the Gallaudet University Linguistics Department. He worked for years at the Arizona School for the Deaf and as a Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf with the Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Joel also currently works as a Guardian ad Litem for Whatcom County Superior Court and volunteers as a mediator for the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center. He brings a passion for collaboration and communication to his work.
In his spare time, Joel loves to run trails, swim lakes, road bike, and play music with friends. Joel appreciates all life has to offer, especially new challenges, the outdoors, and the simple pleasures of time with loved ones and great local food. Despite appearances he can easily eat twice as much as you…seriously.
Ariele Belo is the Director of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services and Co-Executive Director of the Hearing, Speech, and Deaf Center (HSDC). She supervised staff within the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (Advocacy, Case Management, Information and referral, and Education & training programs) in Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellingham. HSDC serves 13 counties in Western Washington. Ariele works along with other Co-Executive Directors in supporting other programs (Audiology, Speech and Language, Parent-Infant Program, Rosen Preschool, and Interpreting Services) at HSDC.
Ariele is a native of Seattle and an alumna of the Hearing, Speech, and Deaf Center’s Parent-Infant Program (PIP). She had years of experience as an advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing. She is also a Qualified Deaf interpreter for Deaf and DeafBlind.
Since joining HSDC, she has graduated from Project LEAD (Leadership Effectiveness and Diversity), a United Way of King County program “which aims to increase the representation of people of color on nonprofit boards and in other positions of community leadership in King County”.
Ariele enjoys volunteering as her parents have always volunteered while growing up. Ariele is currently a board member of Deaf Spotlight. Deaf Spotlight inspires and showcases Deaf Culture and Sign Languages through arts.
Jena was born and raised on a farm in Kentucky. She attended Gallaudet University, where she earned BA in English and MA in Mental Health Counseling. After graduation, she worked in various fields for more than ten years, primarily in the nonprofit sector, with additional experience in education. Before working at HSDC’s Seattle office, she worked as a Program Coordinator/Lead Client Advocate at HSDC’s Tacoma office.
Jena strongly believes in the power of self-advocacy and empowerment in her work. During her spare time she enjoys hiking, reading books, and running her micro-business as an illustrator.
Thu-Ha earned her associate’s degree at Tacoma Community College and then transferred to the University of Washington Tacoma where she received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is profoundly deaf and has lived in Tacoma most of her life. She enjoys being involved in Deaf community activities as well as volunteering at several different organizations, such as Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS) and Sound. In her spare time, she enjoys doing arts and crafts.
Devin is a proud Washingtonian with a moderate to severe hearing reduction. He is a graduate of the University of Washington with a bachelor’s in the Community, Environment, and Planning (CEP) program and Anthropology a minor in Environmental Studies. After graduation, Devin spent years working with the homeless population in Seattle, advocating for and supporting their needs. Devin has also been involved in the local Deaf and hard of hearing community by educating, advocating, and supporting others with hearing differences.
Devin enjoys running, reading, doing yoga, exploring the outdoors, refereeing basketball, and showing off his wonderful smile.
Gina has been a sign language interpreter for over twenty years. She trained in Minnesota, but has been working on the West Coast for the majority of her career. After moving to Seattle, she specialized in medical and emergency medical interpreting before serving the community as an after-hours and on-call dispatcher and interpreter for more than ten years. Gina is excited to join HSDC Interpreting Services as the Program Manager. Her goal is to solidify HSDC’s ties with local freelance interpreters and to provide a superior level of service to the Deaf and hard of hearing community.
Gina is married to a long-time Seattle interpreter, and they have one son. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, knitting, and spending time with her family.
Cassie was born and raised in the Puget Sound area. She received her undergraduate degree in American Sign Language Studies and graduate degree in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education from Western Oregon University. After graduating, Cassie interned at Phoenix Day School for the Deaf in Phoenix, Arizona and Birney Elementary School in Tacoma, Washington. Both experiences showed her the benefits of a bilingual/bicultural approach to education for deaf and hard of hearing children.
Cassie is excited to support families and their deaf and hard of hearing children on their journeys. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, visiting family, and reading.
Anna was born and raised in the state of Montana. She received her undergraduate degree in social work and invested two semesters of post-baccalaureate studies in speech-language pathology before settling into her master’s in Deaf Education at Utah State University. During her graduate studies, Anna had the opportunity to intern for the New Mexico School for the Deaf as an Early Interventionist serving the community of Albuquerque and surrounding areas. Her teaching internship took her to the Louisiana School for the Deaf in Baton Rouge, where Anna taught a kindergarten classroom.
Both her studies and work experience have shown Anna the benefits and importance of teaching deaf and hard of hearing children, along with their families, using a bilingual/bicultural perspective. At HSDC, Anna is very excited to put her knowledge into action; working alongside parents in developing language plans that support accessibility in the home, supporting families in advocating for the rights of their deaf child, and most importantly, guiding families in creating meaningful and powerful relationships with their deaf child.
Karen’s association with HSDC started when she was a participant in the Parent-Infant Program as a toddler. These days, she’s the one supporting children and families impacted by hearing challenges! Karen’s fabulous communication skills, positive attitude, patience, flexibility, and listening skills make her an inspiration not just to the children she mentors, but to their families and her coworkers. As the only program in the Puget Sound to educate deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing infants and toddlers with both American Sign Language and English, it was a no-brainer for her to join PIP!
The first in her family to hold a graduate degree, Karen has a BA in Psychology and an MA in Deaf Education, as well as extensive training from Gallaudet University on the bilingual/bicultural approach to deaf education. Outside the office, Karen travels extensively (she was even in Germany the day the Berlin Wall fell!), gardens, researches her family history, and volunteers in the DeafBlind community. And if you ever want to make her day, just show up with some black licorice—she lives for it!
Nate is a teacher with nine years of experience in Deaf Education under his belt. Before coming to Rosen, he worked at Madrona K-8 School in the Edmonds School District, and at Woodlands Elementary in the Central Kitsap School District.
When he isn’t in the classroom, Nate can be found snowboarding, hiking with his dogs, watching sports, or hanging out with his wife and children. Born to Deaf parents, Nate is Deaf and fluent in both English and American Sign Language (ASL). He grew up nearby on Bainbridge Island before moving to Irvine, CA for high school. After that, he attended Gallaudet University in Washington DC, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in English.
Nate is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Deaf Education. He is very enthusiastic about the benefits of bilingual education for Deaf students and is excited to see Rosen Family Preschool grow as he enters his fifth year of teaching at HSDC.
Trista is a Puget Sound native and fifth generation Washingtonian. She graduated with honors from Western Oregon University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in ASL/English Interpreting. Trista has worked in interpreting services since 2008 and has served as an approved RID Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) Administrator and Licensed Test Administration (LTA) since 2010. As a CMP, Trista’s current goals are to provide, advertise, and expand Continuing Education Unit (CEU) opportunities for ASL interpreters and support events seeking RID CEU approval in partnership with HSDC. She has been committed to the service of HSDC’s interpreters and Deaf clients for nearly a decade.
Trista enjoys spending her free time with her family, reading a good book, sipping good wine or tea, and cycling.
Pamela grew up in the New York area and became interested in ASL as a teenager when she volunteered in a nursery program with Deaf children. It was an interest that stayed with her throughout her life. She majored in Radio/Television/Film and Theatre education at Northwestern University to pursue a career as a teacher of theatre and video production. As a drama teacher, she produced a play with a Deaf character, bringing in a Deaf student and ASL interpreter to work on the show. It was a fantastic experience for Pamela and her students, inspiring her to pursue a master’s degree in Deaf Education and Theatre.
Pamela earned her MA in Deaf Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. In New York, she trained at the Lexington School for the Deaf and PS47, a public school that supports ASL and English. She’s worked at the New York School for the Deaf, St. Frances De Sales School for the Deaf, and for NYC Public Schools as a teacher in a self-contained D/HH classroom. She was involved with the Shared Reading Project and helped establish an English language program for Deaf Students at Bergen Community College in Paramus, New Jersey. She has also studied ASL interpreting and will soon complete an online Graduate Certificate program in Early Childhood ASL and English Bilingual Education through Gallaudet University.
Pamela has two teenage sons and lives in Redmond, Washington with her doting husband and tiny dogs. She is delighted to be adding Preschool Director to her current pursuits as a teacher, parent, and knitwear designer.
Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center appointed Lindsay Klarman as Executive Director in 2014 after an extensive search. Formerly an Outreach & Education Specialist at the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS), Lindsay conducted research at UW for 13 years in developmental cognitive science, as well as speech and hearing sciences. She is also a certified sign language interpreter, has a Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University, and has served on numerous nonprofit boards.
Lindsay is excited to lead HSDC and connect with the community in her leadership role.
Born and raised in Seattle, Jason has a bachelor’s in English Literature from the University of Washington. While learning American Sign Language, he began volunteering for HSDC’s Development Department, where he now works.
Jason has connected with the Deaf community at HSDC and learned the importance of working to make the world a better place. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing, and being active.
Bryan started out as a Billing Specialist at Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center and has now worked as Facilities Manager for over nine years. He enjoys his work taking care of reservations, preparing for events, and making sure the building is in good shape. He also enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Buddy moved to Seattle at the budding age of 12. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in graphic design in 2009 at the Art Institute of California in Santa Monica. In addition to his work at HSDC, Buddy works as a freelance graphic designer, partnering with several deaf-owned firms, including local organizations Deaf Spotlight and deaffriendly.
When away from his desk, Buddy travels all over the world in search of new inspiration to feed his creative and curious spirit.
Don grew up in the Seattle area and earned a BA from the University of Washington. He has worked in finance for several local companies, including Nordstrom, where he spent time as an internal auditor and administered the online vendor compliance program. Upon completion of his CPA exams, Don worked with small business clients on accounting and tax issues, one of whom introduced him to Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center.
Outside of work, Don spends time with his wife and two young children and enjoys movies, food (both favorite restaurants and cooking), and the rare moments of quiet that let him read a good book. He looks forward to learning ASL, supporting Seattle’s Deaf community, and finishing his CPA credentialing while working at HSDC.
Andrea’s depth of administrative and project management experience benefits HSDC on many levels. She has worked in various industries, including recruiting, real estate, and technology, and she loves working to streamline processes and procedures in order to help organizations meet their goals. In recent years, she worked on a four-person team to create a robust new Enrichment program for Thornton Creek School. She also volunteers at Thornton Creek School’s Developmental Preschool.
Andrea enjoys spending time with her family, crocheting, metalsmithing, and following various nerdy pursuits. Ask her for a random bit of useless information!
Carol has been engaged with the local Deaf and DeafBlind communities for many years, and has a high level of cultural understanding and competence that make her especially suited to working as Director of Development. She has over 25 years of experience in leadership and philanthropy, with a passion for creating nonprofit giving opportunities in order to change the social landscape.
Carol worked previously at the Deaf-Blind Service Center (DBSC) and Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS). She looks forward to promoting the work of Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center!
Takeshi was born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Montvale, New Jersey. He has contributed a tremendous amount of his time working with children at twelve different Deaf schools and Deaf camps around the country.
Takeshi is a globetrotter who has traveled the world, including 49 states and 45 Deaf schools. His favorite country is Australia. He enjoys photography, traveling, sushi, and working with children.
Annie is Deaf and fluent in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English. Before joining Rosen Family Preschool and making the Pacific Northwest her permanent residence, she had 9 years of teaching experience at Texas School for the Deaf and California School for the Deaf – Riverside (CSDR).
Annie grew up in Southern California, eventually graduating from CSDR and attending Gallaudet University in Washington, DC for her Bachelor of Arts in English and Secondary Education. She continued her education at University of California – San Diego for her Master of Arts in Bilingual Education of ASL and English.
Outside of the classroom, Annie spends her time with her husband and dogs and cats. She also enjoys reading books, watching TV shows and movies, and doing yoga. Annie is very thrilled to be a part of Rosen Family Preschool and looks forward to learning from the team and students!
Kelly is originally from Portland, Oregon, and moved to Seattle in her mid-teens. She is a Northwest girl at heart, with a bachelor’s degree in Speech & Hearing Sciences from the University of Washington. She brings a wealth of knowledge from many different fields, including non-profit administration.
Kelly is an animal lover, yoga enthusiast, and amateur photographer. She has a passion for adventure, helping people, and experiencing cultures around the world.
Amber was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest (Seattle area), and is happy to be back home after many years away. She went to Western Oregon University for her Bachelors of Arts in ASL/English interpreting with a minor in Special Education. From there, she lived in Alaska for 5 years working as a school-based interpreter. She decided she was ready for a change, and went back to school three years ago, this time to Western Washington University for a graduate degree in Speech Language Pathology. She graduated last month with her Masters of Arts in Speech Language Pathology. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, paddle boarding, relaxing with her puppy, and time with friends and family.
Abigail grew up in Gulf Shores, Alabama and attended Troy University’s ITP. Abigail moved out to the Seattle to complete her senior year internship with HSDC. Once she received her Bachelors of Science in Interpreting Training, she took on a position as an Interpreting Services Coordinator at HSDC. She has loved the scheduling aspect of interpreting as well as her work with several interpreting mentors to prepare her to become a certified interpreter in the future. She looks forward to continuing her work with HSDC and the wonderful community she has met in Seattle!
Biography coming soon.
Dr. Omokawa worked as an Audiology Technician at HSDC, 2015-2020. She completed her fourth-year externship at the Puget Sound Veteran’s Affairs and graduated from the University of Washington’s Doctor of Audiology program June 2021. She enjoys working with diverse populations and pursues a career as an audiologist who actively works with patients in improving their access to language and communication. Dr. Omokawa is fluent in English and Japanese, and hopes to improve her ASL during her time at HSDC.
Outside of work, she loves trying different foods, hiking around the beautiful Pacific Northwest, playing cymbals with the Sounder FC band, and teaching music through her non-profit: Seismic Sound Drumline. If you go to a Sounder FC match, Dr. Omokawa would love to see you and say hi!
Biography coming soon.
Valdies was raised in Toronto, Canada. She went to Gallaudet University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in Photography. She has worked as a Medicaid Services Coordinator for Center for Disability Rights in Rochester, NY before joining HSDC as a program assistant. She recently came back to HSDC as a bilingual ASL and English Information & Referral Specialist.
In her spare time, Valdies loves cooking, photography and anything in the arts. She enjoys spending time with her adult son and traveling to new places. She has been a vegetarian for 14 years and enjoys dining out with friends and all things foodie.
Shannon was born and raised on the east coast. Okean holds a bachelor’s degree in Professions in Deafness with a concentration in Advocacy and Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Shannon is passionate in being a role model and educating the community about our rights. Shannon believes in doing what you love to do and you will never work another day in your life.
Outside of work, Shannon enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new places and trying new things.
Savannah Hagwood was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina with a Deaf mother, hearing father, and Deaf younger brother. She grew up using American Sign Language (ASL) and English. Savannah’s life and personal experiences led her to obtain her bachelor’s in Psychology at Gardner-Webb University. She became so fascinated with human interactions and behaviors that she then decided to attend Gallaudet University in Washington, DC for her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling.
Savannah’s background has given her a wide variety of opportunities, such as Intern Therapist, Support Service Provider for the DeafBlind, Direct Support Professional for Developmental Disabilities, and Community Advocate for Eastern Washington. As a strong advocate of bilingual ASL/English deaf education, Savannah is very excited to be a part of the growing PIP and Rosen Preschool programs at HSDC.
During her free time, you’ll find Savannah spending time with her Deaf dog, at the gym, exploring (food and coffee!), traveling, and with friends.
Trista is a Puget Sound native and fifth generation Washingtonian. She graduated with honors from Western Oregon University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in ASL/English Interpreting. Trista has worked in interpreting services since 2008 and has served as an approved RID Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) Administrator and Licensed Test Administration (LTA) since 2010. As a CMP, Trista’s current goals are to provide, advertise, and expand Continuing Education Unit (CEU) opportunities for ASL interpreters and support events seeking RID CEU approval in partnership with HSDC. She has been committed to the service of HSDC’s interpreters and Deaf clients for nearly a decade.
Trista enjoys spending her free time with her family, reading a good book, sipping good wine or tea, and cycling.
Don grew up in the Seattle area and earned a BA from the University of Washington. He has worked in finance for several local companies, including Nordstrom, where he spent time as an internal auditor and administered the online vendor compliance program. Upon completion of his CPA exams, Don worked with small business clients on accounting and tax issues, one of whom introduced him to Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center.
Outside of work, Don spends time with his wife and two young children and enjoys movies, food (both favorite restaurants and cooking), and the rare moments of quiet that let him read a good book. He looks forward to learning ASL, supporting Seattle’s Deaf community, and finishing his CPA credentialing while working at HSDC.
Hayden was born and raised in Houston, Texas and earned his Bachelors of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Texas at Austin. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with his Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. During his graduate studies, he worked with a wide variety of pediatric and adult clients in clinical, hospital, and school settings. He also completed the Hearing Loss Specialty Track, which gave him experience working with Deaf and hard of hearing children.
As a person who stutters, Hayden has a special interest in working with other children and adults who stutter. Outside of his clinical work, he leads the Seattle Adult Chapter of the National Stuttering Association.
Joel has degrees in Rehabilitation Counseling/Deaf Studies and Linguistics and was a Graduate Research Fellow with the Gallaudet University Linguistics Department. He worked for years at the Arizona School for the Deaf and as a Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf with the Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Joel also currently works as a Guardian ad Litem for Whatcom County Superior Court and volunteers as a mediator for the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center. He brings a passion for collaboration and communication to his work.
In his spare time, Joel loves to run trails, swim lakes, road bike, and play music with friends. Joel appreciates all life has to offer, especially new challenges, the outdoors, and the simple pleasures of time with loved ones and great local food. Despite appearances he can easily eat twice as much as you…seriously.
Tralynda is a multi-generational Washingtonian and a former local business owner. She brings over twenty-five years of experience in business operations along with an associate degree in accounting from Tacoma Community College.
Tralynda enjoys spending time with her family, she especially enjoys her grandma time! In her quiet time, she enjoys baking, crocheting and listening to music.
Tamika is from the Pacific Northwest, raised in Seattle. She has 15 years in the Medical Billing/Coding field. Also no stranger to the Nonprofit sector. Her family has a community based Nonprofit that started in Tacoma Washington and is currently based in St. Louis Missouri. She enjoys organizing events, spending time with family, cooking, yoga, hiking and traveling. She is currently pursuing a degree in Communications from Georgia State University.
Hailing from the Midwest, Lyn and her son have been in the PNW for the last 5 years. Coming from a deaf family of 22 generations, Lyn has been challenged with a coda child. For enjoyment, Lyn enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with her son.
Dr. Christopher Stefanile is proud to be an audiologist at HSDC, where he uses best practices in the field to help his patients move towards a better quality of life through better hearing and/or communication. Dr. Stefanile holds a clinical doctorate in audiology from Missouri State University, a Bachelor of Science in Audio Design Technology from The Art Institute of Seattle, and a Communication Sciences and Disorders Certificate from Northwestern University. He also maintains his Certification of Clinical Competence in Audiology from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Dr. Stefanile grew up in Issaquah, WA, where he worked for nearly a decade with children with communication challenges prior to pursuing a life as an audiologist. He has also worked as an audio engineer and acoustician, and has completed doctoral level research in the area of classroom acoustics.
In his spare time, he likes to play guitar, enjoy the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and hang out with his cat, Leo. Above everything else, Dr. Stefanile considers each patient he sees as an individual with unique needs who is deserving of the best possible healthcare, as well as dignity, equity, and respect.
Teuaililo is a married Deaf mother of three. Her two oldest daughters are CODAs and her youngest daughter is Deaf. Before becoming a team member for Rosen, she joined as a parent, Teu’s daughter graduated from PIP and Rosen Preschool.
Teuaililo was born at Fort Lewis, Washington. She is fluent in both ASL and English. She mostly grew up in Southern California. Teu attended California School for the Deaf-CSD Riverside and CSD-Fremont for a short time and moved back home to Washington State. Teu has 10+ years experience as a specialist for vulnerable deaf and/or blind (++) adults. Teu is an experienced pro tactile user. Teuaililo believes in the dignity and respect of all abilities from dawn to dusk.
Teuaililo comes from a large Samoan family. She is very family oriented and enjoys being a mother, a wife, and an aunt to many nieces and nephews. She enjoys movies, painting her nails and sitting down to eat dinner with family. Teu loves teasing her two amazing deaf nephews. She is a member of Deaf IslandSisters of the West Coast.
Teuaililo is truly excited to work and learn from the team and meet new students at HSDC-Seattle.
Kim is excited to be a part of the audiology team at HSDC, where they work alongside the audiologists and support staff to help with the day-to-day operations of the clinic, as well as supporting our patient’s needs with assistive technology! Kim previously worked at HSDC as a Clinic Scheduler before moving to their current role as Audiology Technician. Kim is originally from Southern California, and has slowly moved up the West coast, settling in Seattle last year. Kim currently studies Speech & Hearing Sciences at Shoreline Community College.
In their spare time, Kim likes to write, make and drink delicious coffee beverages, and take care of their plants.
Bio coming soon.
Sabrina is a Seattle native and learned ASL as a child from having a Deaf sibling. She is very passionate about advocating for the Deaf and hard of hearing community. Currently, Sabrina enrolled at Highline College, studying to be a psychologist, with a minor in Deaf studies.
In her spare time Sabrina enjoys making art (specifically photography), exploring nature, and traveling.
Angela grew up in the outskirts of Napoleon, Missouri, which is in the Eastern part of the Greater Kansas City area. She graduated from University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies, with an emphasis in Communication Consultancy, and a minor in Digital Media Productions. She has relocated to Seattle this year to be closer to her sister, the mountains and coastline, and pursue opportunities to connect with the PNW d/Deaf-Hard of Hearing community!
With the ability to code switch between two different languages, American Sign Language and English, Angela has been able utilize Total Communication as she navigates between the Deaf and hearing world. Angela is passionate about accessibility, equitable communication, and is so very curious-fascinated with our natural world, organic humanness and poetry. She strives to share creative content on her website that’s not only structurally and aesthetically diverse, but to also make an impact for individuals to be (and want to be) more inclusive. She has hope to be able to provide and share resources, conversations with members of our community, and discuss about ideas that promotes coexistence where we thrive more than survive – especially as Deaf-Hard of Hearing individuals within a hearing-dominated world.
Angela enjoys pursuing opportunities to continue her exploration of SoulGardening during her free time outside of work and is very much looking forward to getting settled in here in Seattle.
Brandon recently moved from Little Rock Arkansas to Seattle Washington permanently as part of the internship at HSDC. Brandon graduated with Bachelors of Arts from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in ASL Interpreting for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind- with a minor in Deaf Education and an Associates of Science in American Sign Language Studies.
Brandon is Hard of Hearing/Moderately Deaf and has come to find so much acceptance from friends and others in the community like him. From Deaf family to the big wide world, Brandon has continually found that there are places for those who experience the world like him. Because of this, he has made his goal to continually educate and inspire others to live to their fullest potentials, to not just reach for the sky or the stars, but to reach for impossibility and make those dreams achievable.
Amir grew up in Atlanta and lived in DC for several years. He played point guard in basketball. Amir is the first deaf person in his entire family tree. He is very fortunate to have a wonderful mom that he can able to communicate with in ASL. Not too many people—especially those that look like him—have the same form of communication. Amir enjoys sports, teaching ASL, traveling and chess. He enjoys experiencing new cultural foods, languages and movies. Recently, Amir married the love of his life and moved to Seattle from DC. He aspires to inspire kids and their families to improve their ASL skills and grow their bond with each other with this beautiful language. He is looking forward to an exciting opportunity at Rosen Family Preschool!
Talitha grew up in New Zealand and moved to Washington State in 2013. She graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor in Human Services and worked in housing services before joining HSDC as a Client Advocate. Talitha has been involved in coordinating social events for the Deaf community in both New Zealand and the United States, and loves seeing the power of shared experiences that happens when we gather and communicate freely. Talitha is passionate about making connections between people so that we can all thrive together as a human community.
In her free time, Talitha enjoys hanging out with friends and her two daughters, hiking, swimming, reading books, and appreciating good vegan food.
Bio coming soon!
Val comes to HSDC after working at a private audiology practice in Charlotte, NC for nearly a decade. While their previous experience didn’t involve ASL, Val has been taking classes through Visually Speaking and they’re excited about learning the language!
Outside of the office, Val enjoys keeping their hands busy through various art mediums, volunteering with queer youth, & exploring Seattle’s beautiful parks with their dog, Sagan.
Alassandra, originally hailing from Kansas and now proudly calling Seattle home since 2020, is thrilled to spearhead the reopening of the after-school care program. With a passion for nurturing young minds, Alassandra brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her role. Outside of the classroom, she indulges in her love for baking and event planning, adding a sprinkle of creativity to every endeavor. Alassandra is committed to creating a safe and engaging environment where children can learn, play, and thrive.
With a love for outdoor adventures and a commitment to education, Sierra brings a unique energy to our preschool community. When she’s not hiking, playing frisbee on the beach, she is dedicated to quality communication with our preschoolers as well as creating experiences that spark curiosity, and inspire their young minds to explore what’s around them.
Talitha grew up in New Zealand and moved to Washington State in 2013. She graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor in Human Services and worked in housing services before joining HSDC as a Client Advocate. Talitha has been involved in coordinating social events for the Deaf community in both New Zealand and the United States, and loves seeing the power of shared experiences that happens when we gather and communicate freely. Talitha is passionate about making connections between people so that we can all thrive together as a human community.
In her free time, Talitha enjoys hanging out with friends and her two daughters, hiking, swimming, reading books, and appreciating good vegan food.
Brandon Cross recently moved from Little Rock Arkansas to Seattle Washington permanently as part of his internship here at HSDC. He has Bachelors of Arts from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in ASL Interpreting for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind- with a minor in Deaf Education and an Associates of Science in American Sign Language Studies. Brandon identifies himself Hard of Hearing/Moderately Deaf and has come to find so much acceptance from friends and others in the community like him. From Deaf family to the big wide world Brandon has continually found that there are places for those who experience the world like he does. Because of this, Brandon has made it his goal to continually educate and inspire others to live to their fullest potentials, to not just reach for the sky or the stars, but to reach for impossibility and make those dreams achievable.
Jessica Kiely (she/her) was born and raised in the Bay Area, CA and moved to the Seattle area in 2013 to complete her BFA in Theater at Cornish College of the Arts. She started working in Deaf theatre and Deaf Education in 2015, and joined the PIP team at HSDC in 2021. She is also an actor and singer, birth doula, former wine professional, and novice gardener. In her time outside of work, she loves playing in the backyard and exploring the neighborhood with her spouse, two kids, and two pups, reading, learning languages, and hosting playdates, casual afternoons, and dinners for family and friends.
Summer is from Federal Way, Washington. Since graduating and earning bachelor’s degree from Western Oregon University’s ASL Interpreting program in 2016, Summer has worked in classrooms from preschool to college level throughout King County. She is excited to start a journey with HSDC in supporting d/Deaf children and families! Summer loves cats and enjoys reading, time with friends, and working in the community.
Bio coming soon.
Bio coming soon.
Born and raised Deaf, Cat Cassidy, a dedicated educator, passionate advocate for Deaf children, a twin, and photographer.
She is a proud mother of three and being their mom is her most favorite purpose.
Beyond teaching and advocacy, Cat is passionate about photography, capturing moments that tell stories and evoke emotions. She is also an avid cat lover and bookworm, finding solace in literature and the companionship of feline friends.
Cat’s mission is to empower Deaf children to embrace their identities and thrive in a world full of possibilities, while also sharing the beauty of life through her lens.
Malvana Ramborger, a third-generation Deaf woman from an artistic family. She is a professional daydreamer who adores cats, books, and animated films. Malvana’s passion lies in capturing people’s stories through her art and perspective. She recently graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration. Malvana is excited to contribute to Deaf education by integrating art and creativity into children’s lives. Her life goal is to become a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) educator, aiming to support Deaf children in pursuing opportunities in the STEAM field in the future.
Eon grew up in Seattle, Washington State, along with her Korean immigrant family. Her parents migrated from their country to pursue a better life and deaf education for her and her deaf twin sister. When she was 3 years old, her parents took the Parent Infant Program (PIP) at the HSDC and learned ASL for her and her deaf sister. She enjoys reading books and drawing in her free times. She believes in the importance of using both ASL and English bilingually and preventing language deprivation. She is looking forward to working with kids to help them thrive at the Rosen Family Preschool!
Theresa M. Luciano is an experienced Senior Vice President in commercial banking and sales management, with a demonstrated history of working in the banking and investment industry.
Theresa was born and raised in Seattle, WA. She has been in the banking industry for over 25 years with a primary focus in commercial lending and relationship management, specifically lending and treasury management sales to nonprofits. She joined BECU as a Sr. Business Relationship Manager covering the Western Washington Market, she has worked at large nationals as well as community banks where she has helped build and rebuild the business lending division. She is active in her community and has served on the Board of Directors of Lifelong and continues to serve on the Board of Directors of Mt Baker Housing a nonprofit affordable housing developer.
Outside of her work Theresa loves to cook for family and friends, believes that breaking bread and sharing meals, family recipes, curiosity of all culture unties us. Her motto is food is love. Theresa has been married to her husband Bob for over 26 years, and they share two boys, Nicholas is 17 and Bobby is 15. They have two fur pups, Finn and Pappy. They reside in the Seward Park neighborhood.
Jason Wei is a senior executive, entrepreneur, and accessibility advocate. As Founder and CEO of Discover Live, he pioneered live, interactive virtual experiences that bring culture, education, and adventure directly to people of all backgrounds and abilities. His vision focuses on breaking down physical, economic, and social barriers through innovative technology and thoughtful program design.
With over two decades of leadership across Fortune 500 companies and mission-driven startups, Jason has built high-performing teams, forged strategic partnerships, and delivered transformative results. His expertise spans general management, business development, marketing, digital strategy, and product innovation.
Under his leadership, Discover Live has collaborated with corporations, nonprofits, educational institutions, and government agencies to create programs that foster lifelong learning, cultural exploration, and cognitive well-being. He is especially dedicated to accessible solutions for older adults, underserved communities, and individuals with different abilities. Recognized for innovations such as audio-described travel, multilingual programming, and inclusive platform design, Jason has advanced the field of accessible virtual exploration.
He also holds advanced degrees in management and actively engages with thought leaders in aging, accessibility, and community health. His rare blend of entrepreneurial drive and corporate leadership distinguishes him as a catalyst for organizational growth. Combining operational rigor with creative problem-solving, Jason delivers visionary thinking and pragmatic execution that empower people to connect, communicate, and thrive.
Rock Sherman is a retired Executive from FedEx Corporation. His global experience working and living in Europe, Asia and the United States spans 39 years. He managed the TNT European Road Network company while integrating it into FedEx Corporation. He was a Member of the FedEx Europe Board of Directors. Rock is a four-time recipient of the FedEx Five Star Award – the company’s highest honor.
In addition to work duties, Rock is extremely involved in his community. He served as Secretary and Board Member of Century College in MN, on the Advisory Board of the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Business, Co-Chair of the Minneapolis/St Paul Market Council and Member of the 2024 Minneapolis World’s Fair Committee.
While serving in the US Air Force flying fighter jets, Rock sustained hearing loss and has helped to champion opportunities for the hearing impaired at FedEx.
Rock has been happily married for the past 39 years to his wife Katherine. They have two children, Alexandra and Zachary and two granddaughters Cassandra and Elizabeth.