Beyond the Buzzwords: Making Sense of AI and Advocacy in the Language Services Industry
LEO's 7th International Virtual Conference

Location: Online
| Dates: June 22-23, 2023
| Time: 11-6 PM EDT / 8 AM-3 PM PDT (June 22)
11 AM-5:10 PM EDT / 8 AM-2:10 PM PDT (June 23)
Welcome to LEO’s must-attend conference that will take you on an insightful journey through the ever-evolving language services industry. Our expert-led sessions cover a wide range of topics that will inspire you and expand your knowledge base. We’ll explore the future of the industry, including the impact of AI, new technologies and globalization. We’ll have sessions that highlight advocacy as a powerful tool to promote equity and improve outcomes for marginalized communities, and much more. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to stay ahead of the curve!
Who is this for? Interpreters, translators, language company owners, court and hospital language service administrators.
Why join? The conference provides a fantastic opportunity to network with some of the best industry professionals, get CEUs, and have all your questions answered in breakout rooms. All from the comfort of your remote environment.
CEUs (numbers TBD below): ATA, DSHS, RID, CCHI, IMIA/NBCMI, AZ, CA, CO, DE, MD, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, NC, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI.
Can’t attend the live event? No worries! The recorded video of the conference will be available to everyone who registers.
Questions? Check out our Conference FAQ.
Review the agenda, explore sponsorship opportunities, and register for the conference by scrolling further down.
What Our Attendees are Saying
To my fellow interpreters: We are working so hard every day behind the scenes or in front of our little screen to bridge the language gaps. However, take a couple of days out of your busy schedule to attend LEO International Conference once or twice every year. It really shows you a big picture about interpretation and is an eye-opening learning experience. It's worth it.
Qing Xiu Sun
This was a great conference. Although it was remote, attendants got to participate via chat and share their stories and comments. Look forward to participating in next year’s conference.
Alegna Zavatti
Excellent presenters! Held me captivated for two days! I can’t wait for the next conference.
Dawn Dare
I totally love this!! love love Bruce! His information is very helpful, and he explains things in a way I can understand!! Looking forward to the next conference already!!
Veronica Lopez
Overall great conference with a wide variety of topics for the professional field. I very much enjoyed legal and regulatory compliance updates, advice and examples.
S.H.
The conference was exquisite!
Rosamaria Navarro
Thank you for this opportunity. I wish my entire Interpreter team could join. I will definitely recommend.
Claudia Romero-Montenegro
Very knowledgeable presenters, really enjoyed this conference. Thanks to all presenters and organizers.
Liz Lavoignet
The sessions in this conference were very informative, fun, and interactive with lots of examples, scenarios that are relatable to our profession. It helps greatly with what we face that is challenging in our work as interpreters.
Kasandra Parraga-Martinez
This is the second time I attended LEO's international virtual conference. I think it's even better than the first one. All the presenters are great, and the subjects relevant! Thank you so much for providing such high-quality conferences!
Huangyih Liao
I immensely enjoyed my first conference and hope to attend it every year from now on!
Paula Coulter
Breakout sessions were amazing. I’d like to see more of this. Especially on perhaps…terminology?? Where we could bounce questions/ideas off each other. We did some of that in the chat box with the word “sliding fee scale”. But it would be nice to go more in depth with our colleagues. It was nice to pick the brain of some of the experts. I loved being in the breakout room!!
Sherry Sheldon Holm
This was again a great conference, full of great and enriching information. Thank you, looking forward to the next one!
María Van Natta
I really enjoy these conferences! Thank you so much. I love the fact that we can listen to the conference at our own pace. With work and other obligations, it is hard to attend a conference, but this online way is fantastic!
Mariana Paz
GREAT CONFERENCE AS ALWAYS!! Informative, formative, and Life-changing.
Dietmar Perez
I enjoyed each topic/speaker. I am grateful for Bruce Adelson's extensive knowledge! Natalya Mytareva is very inspiring. It is exciting to learn of all the possibilities. Thank you for another wonderful conference!
Eileen Celis
Thank you for another wonderful conference! I can’t wait for the next one.
Roberto Estrada Castro
This Conference was amazing! I am so looking forward to the next one.
Valerie Velez Toro
Best conference ever!
Marcela R.
I am really happy I signed up for this conference. A lot of great information in general. Learned a lot. Very organized and practical tips.
Fabiola Suastegui
I appreciate all of the speakers and everyone at LEO! Yet again, a wonderfully organized and thought- and action-inspiring conference! Well done!
Lily Cheung
I registered for this conference to earn CEUs as an interpreter of the deaf with little knowledge of the world of language interpreters. I found the parallels fascinating and learned so much. The variety of topics chosen for this conference were great. Thank you.
Claire Troiano
You guys outdid yourselves. Enjoyed every minute. One of the best conferences I’ve been to. Invigorating. Thank you!
Diana S.
Previous
Next
Thursday, June 22
11:00-11:05 EDT
Opening Remarks
Speakers: Jinny Bromberg, LEO’s Executive Director, Elena Polonsky, LEO’s Marketing Director
11:05-12:25 EDT
What the Future Holds
We will discuss how language services will evolve to meet the changing needs of students and educators, the demands of a rapidly changing healthcare landscape, the impact of new technologies and demographic changes on language access in healthcare, the impact of globalization, the rise of machine translation, and the increasing demand for localization services.
Panelists: Giovanna Carriero-Contreras, Chair of AAITE, Veronika Demichelis, President-Elect of ATA, Diego Cresceri, President of ELIA
12:25-12:40 EDT
15 MIN BREAK
12:40-13:40 EDT
Tech-Savvy Freelancing: Navigating the Digital Landscape
As AI and automation continue to reshape industries, many freelancers are understandably concerned about the future of their work. But are these fears justified? This panel will explore the impact of AI on the freelancing industry, separating fact from fiction and offering practical insights on what freelancers should consider to remain relevant and grow their business. Our expert panelists will share their own experiences navigating the digital landscape, discussing the latest trends and tools that freelancers can use to stay ahead. From identifying new opportunities to building a strong personal brand, this panel will provide valuable insights and actionable tips. Join us for this thought-provoking discussion and gain the knowledge and skills you need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Panelists: Paul Tracy, Co-Founder Partners Interpreting, ASL Interpreter, Nora Díaz, Translator, Interpreter and Language Consultant, Lorena Ortiz Schneider, Founder of CoPTIC America, Katharine Allen, Interpreter and Founder of Words Across Borders
13:40-14:40 EDT
AI and the Language Industry: Staying Competitive in a Rapidly-Evolving Technological Landscape
This session focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence and the language industry, and how companies and linguists can stay competitive in a rapidly-evolving technological landscape. Attendees will learn about the latest trends in AI and language technology, as well as best practices for integrating these technologies into their workflow. We will discuss the opportunities and challenges posed by these new technologies, and how one can leverage them to improve their services and stay competitive.
Presenter: Laszlo K Varga, Senior Consultant at Nimdzi
14:40-14:50 EDT
10 MIN BREAK
14:50-15:50 EDT
Don’t Panic: Translation of Contracts With No Fear
For a professional interpreter, sight translation is a task that only rarely comes up — but when it does, it can be full of surprises. Written language holds a range of sophistication and complexity that can entangle even the most fluent interpreters. Contracts are notorious for the use of legalese, particularly that “fine print” jargon that we all so often ignore when we click “I Agree” on any given website. But what do you do if your job requires you to do an immediate, on the spot translation of sinister paragraphs full of Latin words, vague references, and deliberately long and twisty sentences? Luckily, there are a few tricks that can make this job, if not easy, at least very manageable.
Presenter: Gulnara Shigabutdinova, Certified Medical Interpreter and a registered court interpreter in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
15:50-16:50 EDT
Empowering Change Through Advocacy: Why It Matters
The year 2020 had been tumultuous, to say the least, changing paradigms in the world and making history. In particular, during the first half of 2020, our nation found itself drawn into two crises – not just the pandemic and its implications on minority health, but also matters of life and death. The speaker will discuss how the role of interpreters has evolved during these crises, and how advocacy can be used as a tool to promote equity and improve outcomes for marginalized communities. Attendees will come away from this session with a deeper understanding of the importance of advocacy in today’s world, as well as practical strategies for incorporating advocacy into their work as interpreters and language service professionals.
Presenter: Gustavo Negrete, Chair of the NBCMI
16:50-18:00 EDT
Winning at Advocacy
There is often discussion, talk, and exhortations for advocacy – advocating for self, for a cause, principle, law, or concept. But what does all this mean? Often, advocacy discussions focus on talking and maintaining the dialogue relevant to a particular goal or topic. But advocacy is much more than communicating. Boiled down to its essential element, in the end, advocacy is about winning – achieving the goal for which you are advocating. In our presentation we will focus on advocacy as “taking the win:” how to be successful with the positions you want to advance.
Presenter: Bruce Adelson, Esq., Federal Compliance Expert
Friday, June 23
11:00-11:05 EDT
Opening Remarks
Speaker: Jinny Bromberg, LEO’s Executive Director
11:05-12:35 EDT
Language Access, Health Care Disparities, and the Biden Administration
Two years in and the Biden administration is implementing myriad rules and plans that foster greater awareness of the connection between language access and health care disparities and inequities. From the US HHS Health Equity Plan to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Framework for Health Equity, there have been many significant developments coming out of Washington, which also include HHS’s proposed Section 1557 health care civil rights regulations. During our dialogue, we will discuss Biden administration efforts and the greater landscape of language and disability access and health equity.
Panelists: Bruce Adelson, Esq., Federal Compliance Expert, Carla Fogaren, National Consultant on Equity and Language Access in Health Care
12:35-12:50 EDT
15 MIN BREAK
12:50-13:50 EDT
Interpreting for the Psychosocial Evaluation
Get familiar with the who, what, where, and why of a psychosocial evaluation from the context of nursing, social work, criminal and immigration law. Learn about the ways psychosocial evaluation is different from mental health therapy. We will also cover the unique features of this type of evaluation so that the interpreter can anticipate the format and flow, ranging from syntax to emotionally charged content. Find out what skills you need for this type of interpretation and what you can do to improve those skills.
Presenter: Robin Ragan, CMI and state court interpreter, Professor at Knox College
13:50-14:50 EDT
CoreCHI-P: Elevating Healthcare Interpreting Standards through Certification
CoreCHI-P is a new certification program for healthcare interpreters that aims to elevate the standards of healthcare interpreting and improve patient outcomes. This presentation will provide an overview of the CoreCHI-P certification program, its requirements, and the benefits of becoming CoreCHI-P certified. It will also discuss how CoreCHI-P fits into the broader landscape of healthcare interpreting and the importance of standardized certification programs in ensuring quality healthcare services for patients with limited English proficiency. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the CoreCHI-P certification program and how it can help them advance their careers as healthcare interpreters while contributing to the improvement of healthcare services for diverse communities.
Presenter: Natalya Mytareva,CCHI Executive Director
14:50-14:55 EDT
5 MIN BREAK
14:55-15:55 EDT
Craiyon, Sydney, and ChatGPT, oh my!
Join us for a fun and informative presentation that will explore the ins and outs of working with “The Machine” in the language industry. Our speaker will share her experiences and insights gained from years of working with technology in translation and interpretation and provide practical tips and techniques for adapting to the rapidly evolving landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned language professional or just starting out, this presentation is sure to provide valuable insights and a good laugh.
Presenter: Caitilin Walsh, Certified Translator
15:55-16:00 EDT
Closing
16:00-16:10 EDT
10 MIN BREAK
16:10-17:10 EDT
Breakout Rooms
Space in each room is limited to 25 attendees. To join one of the networking rooms, send the request Admin@LinguistEducationOnline.com, specifying the room you’d like to join and any questions you might already have for the room’s expert host. Conference registration and advance breakout room registration are required to join this exclusive opportunity.
Room 1, hosted by Scott Mirsky, Attorney
Topics to discuss:
- Changes in California Since the Court’s Decision to Uphold Proposition 22
- Federal Trade Commission’s Efforts to Abolish Non-Compete Agreements
- Is It Better to be an Employee or an Independent Contractor
Room 2, hosted by Bruce Adelson, Federal Compliance Expert
Topics to discuss:
- Advocacy
- National Origin and Disability Discrimination
- Constitutional Rights
Room 3, Mireya Pérez, Owner / Podcast Host of Brand the Interpreter
Topics to discuss:
- Developing a Brand Strategy
- Creating a Content Plan
- Boosting your Brand on Social Media
Room 4, hosted by Janis Palma, Certified Interpreter and Translator, former NAJIT Director
Topic to discuss:
- Best Practices for Court Interpreting
- Ethical Considerations for Court Interpreters
- The Role of Court Interpreters in the Legal System and Tips on How to Get Certified
CEUs
ATA: 7 CEPs
RID: 0.8
Healthcare interpreting: 8 CCHI CEUs and 2 DSHS CEUs, 0.575 IMIA/NBCMI CEUs (5.75 hours) .
Court interpreting: 5 CEUs in AZ; 9 CIMCE hours in CA; 2 CEUs in MO; 6 general CEUs in OR; 8 CEUs in KY, MI, NM, OH, OK, PA, TN, UT and WI; 10 CEUs in TX; 6 General and 2 Performance credits in WA.
