Holly’s first introduction to IdahoRID was in 1991; in 1994, she was asked to chair a Fundraising Committee.  Honored to be trusted with such a task for a organization she so loved, she jumped in with both feet.  She is a two-time past Treasurer of IdahoRID and has served on various committees.

Holly owns an interpreting practice based in Boise, Idaho, and also enjoys VRS interpreting.  Holly is an accomplished platform interpreter and interpreter educator, holding national certifications including CI, CT, NIC Master and Specialist Certificate: Legal.  She earned her MA in Organizational Leadership from George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon in 2004. Holly thoroughly enjoys the challenges of legal interpreting and performing arts interpreting.  She lives in Meridian with her husband and three children.

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Mike has been a student of sign-language since 1989, when he worked at Camp Tatiyee in Pinetop, Arizona. He continued his studies when the camp finished at a local college in Arizona.  He served a Deaf Program mission for his church in Chicago, Pennsylvania and New York, and learned a great deal mainly due to immersion in the deaf community. When he returned, he moved to Utah and began interpreting at Utah Valley State College. This allowed him to expand his vocabulary and have a variety of experiences in a wide range of classes. He continued working there until 2001 while also doing free-lance interpreting and running EverSmith Inc., an interpreting agency with his wife, Jerusha.

In 2001, Mike went to work full-time as a staff interpreter for Network Interpreting Services in Idaho. He passed RID CT certification, and in 2002 RID CI certification. His most recent achievements are the RID NIC Advanced certification, and the SC:L legal certification Specialty Certificate.  He continues to love interpreting and sign-language.  It’s perfectly suited to his eclectic personality, and, as he has a wide range of interests and hobbies, he is able to have a wide range of experiences through interpreting.  The situations he encounters never fail to challenge or impress him--he has found his career for life.

 

Brenna Andrew, B.Sc.; CT, NAD IV, was drawn into this profession through people she loves. Having extended family members who are Deaf, then courting and marrying a Deaf man, led her down paths she could only imagine. She has worked with and among the Deaf, blind, and Deaf-blind since 1974. Recently, she retired as a full-time post-secondary interpreter and as adjunct faculty for sign language classes. She holds a B.Sc. in Interpreting from Idaho State University and RID CT and NAD-IV certifications.

Brenna loves the work she does and has been in a gamut of settings including elementary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, scouts, legislature, public trainings, state agencies, private businesses, weddings, reunions, funerals, medical, legal, and mental health.  Her favorite role is that of grandmother to three precious "missketeers," born within 11 weeks of each other. What fun!

Lynne previously served IdahoRID as the scholarship chairperson. She has been professionally interpreting for a number of years, and having parents who are Deaf, she has been involved in the Deaf community since she was a child.

 

Lynne has RID NIC Master certification and has 16 years of freelance experience, 10 years of K-12 educational interpreting experience, and more than five years of Video Relay experience.  She is a mother of three and a proud grandmother of one.   

Julie Melton has been an active member of IdahoRID for over 25 years. Julie has served on the IdahoRID Board as President, Vice-President and currently enjoys service as Member-at-Large.  She is RID Certified, earned an Advanced Plus rating on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview, and above a 4.0 on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment. She has specialized in Educational Interpreting (K-Graduate School Level)  and also has worked in various community settings. Teaching/Mentoring fellow interpreters in rural settings as they continue their professional development is close to her heart. Julie is currently Assistant Professor in the Sign Language Studies/Educational Interpreting Program at Idaho State University, and is a trained mentor through the Western Region Interpreter Education Center.

Melanie is currently an educational interpreter in the Boise School District.  She has worked in the Nampa and Boise Schools for 14 years.  She has worked primarily in the elementary setting, but has also been involved in Special Education, Jr. and Sr. High School levels.  She is also working in the video relay setting and has done so for the last 5 years.  Melanie graduated from Idaho State University with a B.S. in Educational Interpreting and has her NIC certification.

Melanie enjoys golfing, hiking, running and is an avid football fanatic.  She also enjoys spending time with her two young boys and husband.

"Roots amazingly set a course for  our lives when we are young and oblivious to the direction that our lives are being led." 

 

As the youngest child of Deaf parents, interpreting was never considered part of the future.  Having grown up on the East Bay of San Francisco, it was through a hearing friend that  Marlene attended Ohlone College to study interpreting for two years.

Marlene moved abruptly to Idaho in 1983 to take advantage of a job opportunity for her spouse. In 1991, the school district was looking for an interpreter and Marlene jumped in with both feet.  After fifteen years in the school system, Marlene moved on to other opportunities that broadened to other avenues of interpreting. Through the encouragement of friends, certification became attainable:  CI, CT, & NIC.   Her hobbies include walking and spending time with her grandchildren.

Mike Holman is a computer "nut".  Mike has been working with computers since high school (20+ years ago).  Mike started working on Apple II and currently enjoys developing websites and creating multimedia for hearing and Deaf.  Mike has an Associate's degree with ITT-Tech in Computer and Electronics Engineering Technology.  Mike is currently working on his Bachelor's degree in Web Development.

 

Mike has been interpreting for over 20 years.  Mike has developed his signing skills primarily with Deaf associates.  Mike has interpreted in the educational (20+ years), freelance (12+ years), and Video Relay Service (1 year).  Mike plans on using his technological abilities and apply them where ever they are needed and of benefit.