Speakers at LEO's 12th International Virtual Conference
Andy Benzo, ATA President-Elect
Andy Benzo has a Law Degree and a Translation Degree from her native Argentina. She has worked as a freelance Legal Translator for over 30 years. She has been responsible for assignments involving international contracts, class action lawsuits, labor union agreements, and Trusts and Wills.
She joined the ATA in 1999 and is ATA-certified. She is the current Assistant Administration of the Spanish Division of the ATA (2020-2022). Furthermore, she is the Host of the SPD Podcast “Charlas de café”.
For many years, she was an instructor in the Translation and Interpretation Certificate Program at UCSD Extension. She taught several courses, including Legal and Business Translation, and Simultaneous and Consecutive Interpretation. Continuing her studies in the US, she obtained a Paralegal Degree from California State, San Marcos. Past Chair of the Bylaws and Governance Committee of NAJIT (National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators.) She is a Board member of RIUSS (Research Institute of the United States Spanish). Andy has given many presentations at ATA conferences and other forums nationally and internationally.
Bruce Adelson, Esq., Federal Compliance Consultant
Bruce is a highly-regarded expert in the areas of language access, disability access, and compliance. With his extensive experience and expertise, he serves as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Consultant to both the Idaho Supreme Court and New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts.
Prior to his current role, Bruce was a Senior Trial Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, where he worked to ensure compliance with federal laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities.
In addition to his consulting work, Bruce is also a respected member of the academic community. He currently serves on the faculty of Georgetown University School of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he teaches Implicit Bias in Health Care. Bruce has also taught at a number of other prestigious institutions, including Harvard University, Cornell University, Auburn University, The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, and the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Corinne McKay, French <>English Court-certified, ATA-certified, Master of Conference Interpreting
Corinne McKay is an ATA-certified French to English translator, a Colorado court-certified French interpreter, and holds a Master of Conference Interpreting from Glendon College. A full-time freelancer since 2002, she is also the author of How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator, a career guide for freelance language professionals with over 15,000 copies in print. In addition to her own translation and interpreting work, Corinne runs the online professional development platform Training for Translators. She served on the Board of the American Translators Association for seven years, including as ATA President from 2017-2019.
Cynthia Mauleón, Interpreter Trainer and Writer
Ms. Mauleón has over 30 years of experience in the interpreting field, serving in roles such as FEMA interviewer for Cuban refugees, medical interpreter in a Mayan village, OPI, agency interpreter, and staff interpreter/supervisor at a regional trauma hospital. She has also trained interpreters across more than 100 languages.
In addition to her interpreting work, Ms. Mauleón is a writer and intuitive healing practitioner. She holds a BA in International Studies from the American University (Washington, D.C.) and completed Interpreter and Translator training at the Universidad de las Américas (Puebla, Mexico) and the University of Minnesota.
Diego Cresceri, Founder and CEO of Creative Words
Diego Cresceri is the founder and CEO of Creative Words, a leading language service provider based in Italy. He holds a degree in Translation and Interpreting from the University of Genoa and has extensive industry experience, having worked as a translator, project manager, and chief operations officer prior to founding Creative Words.
As CEO, Diego is dedicated to driving the company's strategic growth, innovation, and advancement in artificial intelligence and machine translation. He regularly shares his expertise through workshops, seminars, and industry events worldwide.
Diego has held significant leadership roles in the language industry, serving as the president of the European Language Industry Association (ELIA). He currently contributes as an advisor to the Canadian Language Industry Association, is an active member of the Language Industry Expert Group (LIND) at the European Commission, and serves as the Chief Community Officer at the LangOps Institute.
Gulnara Shigabutdinova, Certified Medical Interpreter and Registered Court Interpreter
Gulnara Shigabutdinova has had a fulfilling career in interpretation since 2016, working as a certified medical interpreter and a Master-level court interpreter. Her passion for languages goes far beyond words — she has long been fascinated by how we communicate, why we speak the way we do, and how language shapes our thinking (and vice versa).
She gained valuable experience serving as Chair of the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) and continues to focus on uplifting the interpreter community, advocating for quality standards, and helping shape the future of the profession.
Jorge Mejia, Certified Interpreter and Director of Language Access and Interpreter Services
Jorge Mejia is a Certified Healthcare Interpreter (CHITM) with nearly 20 years of experience advancing language access in healthcare, particularly for underserved and Indigenous language-speaking communities. In 2024, he became Director of Language Access and Inclusive Services at Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC), where he is building the department from the ground up. Since joining VCMC, Jorge has expanded equitable access by hiring the hospital’s first trilingual staff interpreter (English, Spanish, Mixteco), securing contracts with local language service providers, and establishing dedicated trilingual interpreter coverage in the Emergency Department during critical evening hours. Previously, Jorge spent nine years at Natividad Medical Center as a Healthcare Interpreter and later Interpreter Services Supervisor, where he mentored interpreters, developed training programs, and improved communication for Indigenous language speakers from Mexico. A licensed trainer through Cross-Cultural Communications, Jorge is a sought-after speaker on supporting trilingual interpreters, advocating for Indigenous language needs, and promoting culturally responsive healthcare communication. Based on California’s Central Coast, he continues to collaborate with providers, administrators, and communities to bridge communication gaps and advance health equity across Ventura County.
Kathy Givens
A compelling voice for change, Kathy Givens is a dynamic public speaker dedicated to advancing social justice and inspiring resilience in communities worldwide. With a background rooted in advocacy, mentorship, service provision, and experiential knowledge of exploitation, Givens brings a unique perspective to the stage, drawing from her own journey of triumph over adversity. As an overcomer of human trafficking and gender-based violence, she intimately understands the transformative power of resilience, community, and leadership. She is committed to sharing this empowering message with audiences.
With a deep commitment to inclusivity, Givens fosters meaningful conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is known for her ability to navigate complex social justice issues with empathy and a call to action, encouraging listeners to become active participants in the fight for a more just and equitable world while avoiding over-sensationalism.
In 2021, Kathy joined the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking by presidential appointment. During her time as a Program Director, Kathy developed a trauma-informed restorative care program for adult survivors of trafficking.
Whether addressing large audiences or leading small workshops, Givens inspires individuals to harness their own resilience and become advocates for social justice in their communities.
Katharine Allen, Language Services Industry Expert
Katharine Allen is a community and conference-trained interpreter with over three decades of experience. She currently serves as Director of Language Industry Learning at Boostlingo, a SAAS technology company providing remote interpreting solutions. A founding member of both the American Association of Interpreting and Translation in Education (AAITE) and the SAFE AI in Interpreting Task Force, Katharine is a long-time industry observer of technology trends. Named a Multilingual Magazine Power Woman Influencer in 2024, she served for 10 years as co-President of InterpretAmerica, working to raise the profile of interpreting, and is a former president of the California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA). She holds an MA in Translation and Interpretation from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and is a licensed trainer and co-author of The Indigenous Interpreter®, The Community Interpreter® International, and The Remote Interpreter® textbooks and training programs.
Ludmila (Mila) Golovine
Ludmila “Mila” Golovine is President & CEO of MasterWord, a top-ranked global language services company. An advocate for human rights, Mila has dedicated her career to advancing linguistic equity and protecting vulnerable communities. She is a founding member of the SAFE-AI Task Force, Global Coalition of Language Rights, Mayan Languages Digitization & Preservation Project and serves as Strategic Partnerships Manager for Women in Localization Global Chapter.
Her commitment to combating human trafficking is reflected in her work with Texas Businesses Against Human Trafficking, United Against Human Trafficking Coalition, Nomi Network, World Childhood Foundation, and redM the Movement, whose work is aimed at eradicating human trafficking, child sexual exploitation and abuse.
In 2023 MasterWord became the first Vicarious Trauma-Informed language services company in accordance with the guidelines of the US Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, setting a precedent for trauma-informed practices in the language industry and reflecting her commitment to wellness for language professionals who often serve on the front lines of crisis response.
Her work has been recognized by CHIA’s Trainer of the Year Award, NCIHC Language Access Champion Award, EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Gulf Coast Area regional winner), and by the U.S. Congress.
Majd Haddad, MBA, Certified Interpreter and Interpreter Trainer
Majd is the founder of Glory Language Services and a Certified Healthcare Interpreter (CCHI) specializing in Arabic. With extensive experience in community interpreting and a background as a District School Community Liaison for Arabic language support, she is passionate about bridging communication gaps in healthcare and education. Majd holds a Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management from Jordan and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from California State University, Fullerton. Majd is a Certified Trainer for the Community Interpreter International program and also develops her own training programs to equip interpreters with advanced memory techniques, ethical frameworks, and effective strategies, enhancing both individual skills and organizational standards.
Miao (Maggie) Hong, Conference Interpreter and Translator
Miao Hong (Maggie) is a freelance conference interpreter and translator. Her clients include international organizations, government departments and agencies, institutions, and corporations. Ms. Hong is a federal court professionally qualified Mandarin interpreter, state court certified Mandarin interpreter, and National Board certified Mandarin medical interpreter. She also has a wide range of experience helping those in need through community interpreting. She is a frequent presenter at interpretation and translation conferences. As an advocate of the profession, she is an active participant in professional associations and had served in the roles of vice-chair, board director, and leadership council member for several national and local associations of interpreters and translators. She teaches interpretation and translation courses at CUNY and MIIS’s graduate programs as an adjunct faculty.
Renato Beninatto, Co-Founder of Nimdzi Insights
Renato is an experienced entrepreneur, consultant, and veteran in the translation industry. He is the co-founder and an advisor at Nimdzi Insights, a research and consulting firm specializing in language services.
With decades of experience in international consulting, market research, sales, and marketing, Beninatto provides strategic direction to help Nimdzi better serve its clients worldwide.
Before co-founding Nimdzi, Beninatto held leadership roles in various translation and localization companies. He is recognized as an expert in the translation industry, frequently speaking at industry events and contributing articles to publications.
Rosemary Ford, ASL Interpreter, System Director of Interpreter Services at St. Joseph Hospital
System Director of Interpreter Services, a member of Covenant Health since 2010. A nationally certified Oral Transliterator and New Hampshire advanced-screened/licensed American Sign Language interpreter since 2010, Rosemary oversees the Interpreter Services Department at St. Joseph Hospital-Nashua, NH, St. Joseph Hospital-Bangor, ME and St. Mary's Hospital-Lewiston, ME. She has established and implemented best practices across Covenant Health and it's 13 post-acute locations by creating policies/procedures and providing ongoing training on working with Limited English Proficient (LEP), Deaf/hard of hearing and individuals with disabilities. Rosemary has spearheaded the development of the Covenant Health Interpreter Services Department and has created a robust program that utilizes certified/qualified onsite interpreters, telephone and video remote interpreters, as well as professional translation services. In compliance with the ADA and Section 1557 of the ACA, an extensive array of auxiliary aids/services for individuals who are: D/deaf, hard of hearing, blind/low-vision or have a speech disability, are readily available throughout the hospitals. In addition to her role as a System Director, Rosemary leads St Joseph Hospital's Mobile Health Clinic's presence in the community to serve the marginalized and homeless, collaborating with the City of Nashua, local churches, social service agencies and our own parish nurses. Rosemary also works with SJH’s Business Health to support local business and corporations with their employee wellness initiatives.
Silvia Terribile, Research & Community Specialist, Slator
Silvia Terribile is a Research & Community Specialist at Slator, where she contributes to Slator conferences, events, and research coverage on language AI. She holds a PhD in Translation Studies from the University of Manchester, where she investigated productivity in the post-editing of neural machine translation in partnership with Toppan Digital Language. She has been teaching translation technologies at the Universities of Sheffield, Manchester, and Roehampton. She has previously worked on localization at Hogarth Worldwide and Turner Broadcasting System.
Victor Sosa
Victor Sosa is a leader in language access and interpreter services with over two decades of experience bridging communication gaps in healthcare and education. At Natividad Medical Center and across Monterey County, he has built innovative programs that expand equity, strengthen compliance, and improve patient outcomes for diverse communities, including Indigenous-language speakers.
Victor is recognized for developing interpreter training curricula, leading large-scale community language initiatives, and shaping cost-saving strategies that prove interpreter services are not only essential for safety and compliance but also for the financial health of institutions. With a blend of creativity, cultural insight, and data-driven strategy, he helps organizations prepare for the future of interpreting in an age of technology and fiscal pressure.
Yuliya Speroff, Certified Healthcare Interpreter and Interpreter Trainer
Yuliya Speroff is a nationally certified Russian<>English healthcare and social service interpreter, an experienced interpreter trainer and curriculum developer, and the Interpreter Supervisor at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA. Her experience as an interpreter trainer includes teaching both continuing education classes and basic medical interpreter training courses for major professional organizations across the United States. Yuliya is known for creating a supportive learning environment that empowers interpreters to build confidence, expand their knowledge, and strengthen their real-world practice.
Yuliya is also the author of medicalinterpreterblog.com, a resource hub for interpreters seeking practical tools and educational content. She was recognized as Interpreter of
the Year by the California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA) in 2021 and as Trainer of the Year by Americans Against Language Barriers (AALB) in 2024.
She currently serves on the board of directors for both the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) and California Healthcare Interpreting Association
(CHIA).
Hosts
Jinny Bromberg, Certified Interpreter and LSC Owner
Jinny, the Executive Director of LEO, has always been a trailblazer in the language industry, driven by her passion for different languages, cultures, and communication access. She founded the language services company Bromberg & Associates from her basement in 1999 as a single mother, juggling her baby daughter and business calls with a remarkable commitment to her vision. With a state-certified court interpreter background, Jinny's expertise extends to developing and implementing training courses and workshops to enhance the skills of interpreters and translators. A consummate workaholic, Jinny finds the endless opportunities to learn and the passion of people in the industry to be the most rewarding aspects of her job.