Simultaneous interpreters provide a service that is mentally taxing and requires constant upkeep. Aside from research and preparation, interpreters must regularly practice their simultaneous interpreting techniques to maintain and improve the quality of their renditions. Reflective practice is a common
technique used to enhance any interpreting skills, however, a rubric to evaluate our own performance and a path towards improving deficiencies is
essential to level up one’s interpreting. This hands-on session will apply deliberate practice principles to enhancing simultaneous interpreting skills.
Participants will engage in skill enhancement exercises, and evaluate their performance with a rubric.

Carola Lehmacher is a multi-lingual freelance translator and interpreter with over fifteen years of experience working with government and industry at
executive and operational levels. She holds two university degrees in Translation Studies and a master’s degree in Conference Interpreting. She is a
Federally Certified Court Interpreter (FCCI) and a Master Licensed Court Interpreter in Georgia. Carola works as a conference interpreter for various
local and international clients and is one of the voices of a major news network. Moreover, she is a licensed trainer of The Community Interpreter®
International, teaches the Orientation Workshop for aspiring court interpreters for the GA Commission on Court Interpreters, and dedicates many hours to
volunteer. She is the past Chair of the AAITE Ethics and Standards Committee, past President of AAIT, the Georgia chapter of ATA, and currently serves
as Advisory Member to the Georgia Commission on Court Interpreters, and member of the Positions Paper Committee of NAJIT.

In courtroom proceedings, objections—ranging from “hearsay” and “leading” to “relevance” and “speculation”—serve as pivotal procedural tools. For
court interpreters, these interruptions present unique challenges that require swift judgment, contextual understanding, and role clarity. At the witness
stand, however, the interpreter must navigate real-time exchanges involving judges, attorneys, and witnesses, often under pressure to pause, resume, or
withhold interpretation based on courtroom protocol. The session will examine the decision-making process interpreters face in these moments and invite participants to think judiciously about their intervention while fostering dialogue on a frequently overlooked but critical aspect of court interpretation.

Carola Lehmacher is a multi-lingual freelance translator and interpreter with over fifteen years of experience working with government and industry at
executive and operational levels. She holds two university degrees in Translation Studies and a master’s degree in Conference Interpreting. She is a
Federally Certified Court Interpreter (FCCI) and a Master Licensed Court Interpreter in Georgia. Carola works as a conference interpreter for various
local and international clients and is one of the voices of a major news network. Moreover, she is a licensed trainer of The Community Interpreter®
International, teaches the Orientation Workshop for aspiring court interpreters for the GA Commission on Court Interpreters, and dedicates many hours to
volunteer. She is the past Chair of the AAITE Ethics and Standards Committee, past President of AAIT, the Georgia chapter of ATA, and currently serves
as Advisory Member to the Georgia Commission on Court Interpreters, and member of the Positions Paper Committee of NAJIT.

Tingting Qin is a state court certified Mandarin interpreter, a professionally qualified Mandarin interpreter for the federal courts, DOJ immigration court interpreter, CCHI Certified Healthcare Interpreter, and ATA Certified English to Chinese translator. She is the current president of MICATA and has been serving the association since 2016. She specializes in court proceedings, depositions, immigration interviews, conferences, business meetings, psychological evaluations, clinical trials, and more. With a BA in English education, an MA in English linguistics, and an MBA, Tingting is passionate about the language profession and committed to advancing it with other professionals.

It’s no secret that the world is changing at an unprecedented pace. It often feels like we’re just being swept along by an uncontrollable current. But
change also creates opportunity, and each and every one of us can build resilience to not just survive, but thrive in the face of change. In this keynote,
we’ll explore the trends shaping our industry and how new mindsets, entrepreneurial strategies, and a strong community will help us develop the
resilience to have fulfilling careers for decades to come.

Ben Karl, MBA, CT, is an ATA-certified French-to-English and Mandarin-to-English translator and copywriter specializing in corporate communications,
marketing, and user experience. He was elected president-elect of the American Translators Association (ATA) in October 2025. A member of ATA’s
Board of Directors since 2021, he served as chair of ATA’s Advocacy Committee from 2021 to 2025 and on the Membership Development Committee from 2019 to 2025. He is the outgoing chair of the International Federation of Translators’ (FIT) Translation Standing Committee, which he served on from 2019 to 2025 and for which he received an esteemed Gold Pin Award in recognition of outstanding service to the federation at the XXIII FIT World Congress in Geneva, Switzerland.

As healthcare systems navigate shifting policies and the rise of artificial intelligence, language access professionals remain steadfast in their mission: to uphold clarity, ethics, and human connection. Yet, the nationwide shortage of qualified healthcare interpreters threatens this stability. Children’s Hospital
Colorado responded by designing an innovative, sector-based training program that accelerates staff interpreter growth from entry-level to senior-level within one year. This program leverages the electronic health record (EHR) to define “interpreting sectors”—clinical domains such as inpatient, outpatient, and specialty care. Entry-level interpreters progress through these sectors under the guidance of senior interpreter preceptors, mastering each domain before advancing. This structured approach ensures interpreters develop deep expertise as pediatric healthcare specialists while maintaining quality and ethical standards, even amid operational and technological change. In this session, participants will explore how this model fosters resilience and leadership among staff interpreters, positioning them as steady voices in an evolving healthcare landscape.

Nancy Casillas has a BA in Modern Languages from Metropolitan State University of Denver. She is currently the Operations Supervisor for the Medical Interpreter Department at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She has over 18 years of experience in the medical interpreting field as a Spanish medical interpreter before transitioning to the program coordinator role. In her program coordinator role, she developed a new entry medical interpreter training program and provided provider education on interpreter services. Nancy has also co-led multiple efforts to improve language access system wide. She previously served as a co-chair for Team Member Resource Group Unidos and is a current co-chair for CHCO’s first Spanish-speaking Family Advisory Council.

Bernie Zarrazola currently serves as the Program Coordinator for the Medical Interpreter Department at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Bernie began interpreting in 1997, initially supporting persons experiencing homelessness, and later joined the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) System as a
staff interpreter. During his time at UNMH, Bernie also worked as a trainer for Bridging the Gap®, helping develop the hospital’s Dual-Role Interpreter
Program. After relocating to the Denver area in 2017, Bernie continued working as a staff interpreter before stepping into the coordinator role, where he carries forward the CHCO Entry-Level Medical Interpreter training program. In addition to overseeing interpreter training, Bernie is deeply committed to
education and collaboration, actively engaging with CHCO team members and faculty to integrate medical interpreter services into clinical practice. His
passion for language access and health equity continues to shape patient-centered care across the organization.

Presenter Marybeth Timmermann will describe the many different professional hats that a language professional must wear in order to run a successful small business as a translator and/or interpreter. Doing the work of translation or interpreting is only one “department” of your small business: the production department. But in order to succeed as a small business owner, you must also attend to marketing, customer service, branding, accounting, legal affairs, IT, security, research & development, executive strategy, and long-term planning.

Marybeth Timmermann is an ATA-certified professional French to English translator specializing in academic writing for scholarly publication, literature, certified documents, and revision/proofreading. She is a longtime contributing translator and editor to The Beauvoir Series, a multi-volume collection of the writings of Simone de Beauvoir in English translation. She also works with direct clients translating philosophy, fiction, academic records, and official documents. You can connect with her by email, on LinkedIn, or on her website.

The first session will provide an overview of the scale, as well as the most common locations and methods, of illegal drug trafficking in the United States. The presentation will list governmental organizations combating drug trafficking and their interception methods. The session will also outline the most typical drug-related offenses prosecuted in the U.S. court system, both at the state and federal levels. At the end, participants will be given a session-specific English glossary of drug-related terminology and acronyms they can fill out with equivalents in their target language.

Aida Zamilova-Judah is from Russia and speaks Russian and English. Aida holds a B.A. in English Language & Literature and an M.A. in English, with an
emphasis in Technical Writing & Rhetoric. She has nine years of experience as a proofreader and marketing writer-editor at a U.S. public accounting firm.
Aida has been a certified Russian court interpreter in Missouri since 2011. She has significant experience interpreting in the state and recently in the federal courts, as well as for client-attorney conferences, depositions, mediations, examinations under oath, forensic interviews, medical appointments and business meetings. In addition, she translates legal and personal documents and has worked as a translator in the automotive, oil and gas, and other industries.

Pediatric oncology presents unique challenges for medical interpreters, who must navigate complex terminology, emotionally charged conversations, and culturally sensitive topics while supporting families through one of the most difficult journeys of their lives. This nationally accredited webinar provides an in-depth introduction to childhood cancers, including common diagnoses such as leukemia, brain tumors, lymphomas, and neuroblastoma. Participants will explore the phases of cancer treatment, key members of the care team, and the interpreter’s role in ensuring accurate, compassionate communication throughout the care continuum. The session emphasizes the importance of cultural humility, trauma-informed interpreting, and ethical decision-making in high-stakes scenarios such as diagnosis disclosure, end-of-life conversations, and clinical trial discussions. Special attention is given to disparities in outcomes among Latino children and the impact of language access on health equity. Interpreters will leave with practical tools, vocabulary, and strategies to enhance their readiness and resilience when working in pediatric oncology settings.
Whether you are new to this specialty or seeking to deepen your knowledge, this webinar will help you better support patients, families, and providers with professionalism, empathy, and confidence. What sets this exam apart is its performance component, which elevates national certification by providing interpreters of all languages the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for healthcare interpreting without the logistical challenges of creating bilingual performance tests. During this presentation, participants will have the opportunity to engage in mock exam exercises, gaining firsthand experience with the efficacy of this innovative method for assessing and predicting interpreting skills. Join us as we aim higher and establish new benchmarks in the field of healthcare interpreting!

Paul Spacek is the Education and Development Program Manager for Language and Accessibility Services at Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he has worked for 12 years. In his role Paul serves as a coach, mentor and instructor for interpreting students, new hires and staff interpreters, and is also involved in the development and presentation of continuing education workshops and webinars and community outreach. Additionally, he designs and presents educational materials for the hospital system about how to work with interpreters and provide better care to limited English proficient families. Paul is a nationally certified Medical Interpreter through the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreting, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Kansas, a certificate in Medical Interpretation from Johnson County Community College, and a Master’s degree in Adult Learning and Leadership from Kansas State University. Paul has presented previously at Medical Interpreter Conferences including, MICATA, NATI, CCHI and NCIHC.

The translation landscape is rapidly evolving with machine translation systems (like Google Translate and DeepL) and generative AI platforms (such as ChatGPT and Claude) becoming increasingly sophisticated. This presentation addresses the critical need for translators to develop competencies in effectively leveraging these technologies to enhance their core translation skills. After reviewing fundamental translation tasks and competencies—source text analysis, terminology management, subject-matter research, transfer operations, post-editing, and various review tasks—this session will use examples to demonstrate specific ways MT and AI tools can complement rather than replace these skills. A significant focus will be on developing custom AI assistants tailored to specific translation tasks, domains, and language pairs, with practical demonstrations across multiple platforms. We’ll also address ethical considerations when implementing AI tools, including transparency with clients, data privacy, and maintaining professional standards.

Jason Jolley is a tenured professor of Spanish and associate dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities at Missouri State University.
He has over 15 years of administrative experience and previously served as head of the Department of World Languages and Cultures. His teaching and
research focus on Latin American literature, machine translation, language learning, translator training, and open educational resources. He presents
regularly at national and international conferences and has served in leadership roles with the Central States Conference and the Mid-America Chapter of the American Translators Association. He also runs the Professor Jason Spanish and Portuguese YouTube channel and has worked extensively as a professional translator in the investor relations sector.

The second session will cover the most widespread illegal drugs and related paraphernalia, physiological consequences of their use, and their slang names. The session will also briefly survey the court-ordered drug rehabilitation programs in Missouri. The presentation will wrap up with
another English glossary of court-related drug terminology, expressions, and slang that participants can fill out with their target language equivalents.

Aida Zamilova-Judah is from Russia and speaks Russian and English. Aida holds a B.A. in English Language & Literature and an M.A. in English, with an
emphasis in Technical Writing & Rhetoric. She has nine years of experience as a proofreader and marketing writer-editor at a U.S. public accounting firm.
Aida has been a certified Russian court interpreter in Missouri since 2011. She has significant experience interpreting in the state and recently in the federal courts, as well as for client-attorney conferences, depositions, mediations, examinations under oath, forensic interviews, medical appointments and business meetings. In addition, she translates legal and personal documents and has worked as a translator in the automotive, oil and gas, and other industries.

In this fun and interactive session, seasoned Medical Interpreters Alicia Ponte and Paul Spacek will discuss the linguistic concept of ‘refranes’ or ‘idioms’
and how figurative language adds color to speech, yet also can complicate interpreting sessions. Alicia and Paul will go back and forth sharing turns of
phrase in English and Spanish, discussing what they mean and how to find equivalents in the target language. We will also discuss strategies for what to
do when you are unfamiliar with a particular phrase, and how to handle these words in a way that feels natural, maintains the flow and doesn’t de-rail the
converstion. This session will be best suited for those who are fluent in English and Spanish.

Paul Spacek is the Education and Development Program Manager for Language and Accessibility Services at Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he has worked for 12 years. In his role Paul serves as a coach, mentor and instructor for interpreting students, new hires and staff interpreters, and is also involved in the development and presentation of continuing education workshops and webinars and community outreach. Additionally, he designs and presents educational materials for the hospital system about how to work with interpreters and provide better care to limited English proficient families.
Paul is a nationally certified Medical Interpreter through the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreting, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish
from the University of Kansas, a certificate in Medical Interpretation from Johnson County Community College, and a Master’s degree in Adult Learning
and Leadership from Kansas State University. Paul has presented previously at Medical Interpreter Conferences including, MICATA, NATI, CCHI and
NCIHC.

Francisco “Paco” Martínez, MA, CHI-S™, was born in Mexico City and raised in San Luis Potosí, where he earned a BA in Management before completing an MA at Northwest Missouri State University. He also holds a British Council certification as an Overseas Teacher of English. With over 30 years of experience teaching languages in Mexico and the United States, Paco later transitioned into healthcare interpreting, earning national CHI-S™ certification in 2014. He serves as a commissioner with CCHI and has been a board member of MICATA since 2019. His earlier professional work included translation and interpreting for companies, universities, and government agencies in Mexico. Since 2016, Paco has managed the Culture and Language Coaching Program at Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas City, where he co-developed the curriculum for the bilingual pediatric residency (CHiCoS) and has helped expand behavioral health services for Spanish-speaking communities through Adelante KC.

How often in a translation or interpreting session have you felt, “I wish they would just do…. this way!” or “It would be better for everyone if they did…”?
Language professionals have the inherent opportunity to make a positive impact beyond the scope of their services. That opportunity requires translators and interpreters to identify stakeholders and share observations and solutions in a manner that builds trust. These initiatives, when properly timed and intentionally conducted, can help advance social and health equity for all. This presentation discusses ways of developing a lasting impact beyond the tangible results of the work provided.

Tatiana González-Cestari, PhD, CHI-Spanish has 23 years of combined experience as a pharmacologist, researcher, professor, leader, and remote
interpreter. She is the Director of Language Service Advocacy at Equiti where she focuses on hospitals’ language access best practices and impact on
quality, compliance, and financial metrics. Tatiana is part of the NCIHC Policy, Education and Research Committee and co-author of The Remote Interpreter textbook. Tatiana has mentored, developed training, presented at national and international events, published peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed articles, and lectured at various universities. Tatiana obtained her pharmacy degree and her Ph.D. in pharmacology from Universidad Central de Venezuela.

What really is an automatic weapon? How does a revolver work? Is the ammunition for a shotgun different than an AK-47? As judicial interpreters and translators, we frequently encounter firearm terminology and function being discussed in court or in evidentiary documents used in court. It is essential to gain an understanding of these concepts in order to be able to properly interpret or translate in this arena. This session will go in depth into the inner workings of all types of firearms, their names, their ammunition, and how they work. Gain confidence to work with these concepts by acquiring a clear understanding of this subject matter.

Jason Daniel lived in Mexico for 6 years before returning to the U.S. in 2007, when he became court certified in the state of Arkansas. In 2011, Jason
obtained his Federal Court Interpreter Certification, and in 2016 he achieved CMI medical interpreter certification. In 2008, he began serving as a Staff
Spanish Interpreter at the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts, Office of Court Interpreter Services, and became Director of Court Interpreter
Services for Arkansas on January 1, 2020.

What if we told you the secret to better interpreting isn’t about knowing more words? Think of it this way: your language skills are what people hear, but your cognitive skills are the high-performance engine that makes it all happen. While you’re listening, remembering, processing, deciding, and self-correcting (all at lightning speed), your brain is doing the real heavy lifting. These mental superpowers are what separate good interpreting from great interpreting. They include memory, listening comprehension, oral production, information processing, decision-making, and self-monitoring. Here’s the kicker: they work the same way no matter what language you speak or what setting you work in. They’re universal, trainable, and often overlooked in interpreter training.
At a time when AI tools increasingly replicate surface-level language tasks, these human cognitive competencies remain the cornerstone of accurate,
ethical interpreting. This session shines a spotlight on those often-overlooked mental muscles and why strengthening them can transform the way you work. The Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) has spent more than a decade studying interpreter performance through ongoing Job Task Analyses—research that defines what interpreters do on the job. In 2023, CCHI took this work to another level by asking a different question: how do interpreters think while they do it? This led to the groundbreaking EtoE Project, which identified ways to measure the mental skills that support competent interpreting across all languages. This isn’t your typical sit-and-listen session. Join us for interactive exercises that give your linguistic skills a rest while strengthening your interpreting mind.

Vonessa Costa is the Operations Manager of Medical Interpretation and Translation at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Vice Chair of the Certification
Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI). Previously, she directed language access at Cambridge Health Alliance and led the Cross Cultural
Communication Institute at CCCS, Inc. Vonessa holds a CoreCHI-PerformanceTM credential, served as secretary of the Forum on the Coordination of Interpreter Services, and participated on the America’s Essential Hospitals Education Committee. She graduated from the America’s Essential Hospitals Fellows Program and received the 2019 MassAHEC Tony Windsor Award for her advocacy in language access and the professionalization of healthcare interpreters.

This presentation will explore the boundaries and intersections between community, legal, and court interpreting. We will begin with a comparison
between community and legal interpreting, while examining the role of the interpreter in these settings. The discussion will then delve deeper into the
specialized domain of court interpreting, outlining how it differs from general legal interpreting in terms of setting, procedural constraints, among others.
The presentation will also address key ethical considerations such as impartiality, confidentiality, and role boundaries, all of which can vary depending on the interpreting environment.

Carola Lehmacher is a multi-lingual freelance translator and interpreter with over fifteen years of experience working with government and industry at
executive and operational levels. She holds two university degrees in Translation Studies and a master’s degree in Conference Interpreting. She is a
Federally Certified Court Interpreter (FCCI) and a Master Licensed Court Interpreter in Georgia. Carola works as a conference interpreter for various
local and international clients and is one of the voices of a major news network. Moreover, she is a licensed trainer of The Community Interpreter®
International, teaches the Orientation Workshop for aspiring court interpreters for the GA Commission on Court Interpreters, and dedicates many hours to
volunteer. She is the past Chair of the AAITE Ethics and Standards Committee, past President of AAIT, the Georgia chapter of ATA, and currently serves as Advisory Member to the Georgia Commission on Court Interpreters, and member of the Positions Paper Committee of NAJIT.

Do guns actually have their own “fingerprints”? Ever wonder how forensic firearm and toolmark examiners do their job–or WHAT their job actually is?
Can a bullet in a victim’s body actually be matched to a proverbial “smoking gun”? Delve into the world of forensic firearm and toolmark examiners to learn specifically how they work with guns, bullets, shell casings, and other fun tools, in order to then be confident to interpret and translate this subject matter in court or for evidentiary translations.

Jason Daniel lived in Mexico for 6 years before returning to the U.S. in 2007, when he became court certified in the state of Arkansas. In 2011, Jason
obtained his Federal Court Interpreter Certification, and in 2016 he achieved CMI medical interpreter certification. In 2008, he began serving as a Staff
Spanish Interpreter at the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts, Office of Court Interpreter Services, and became Director of Court Interpreter
Services for Arkansas on January 1, 2020.

This session is aimed at helping interpreters understand why psychologists do what they do in initial therapeutic contacts or in psychological assessments. This session will lead participants through the information obtained in an initial intake or evaluation. We will explore what is different between initial therapeutic contacts and assessment and how those differences become important in a continuing relationship, such as therapy, or a one-time evaluation, such as for Disability Determinations or Worker’s Compensation. This will help to explain the expectations that the psychologist has of the interpreter and what the interpreter can expect from the psychologist.

David Lutz has been a licensed psychologist for over 40 years. He was a full-time faculty member at California State University, San Bernadino for seven
years, and most recently at Missouri State University for 31 years. He also has been in private practice for all of that time. Since his retirement from Missouri State University seven years ago, he has been in full-time private practice, most recently in Overland Park, Kansas. He has been considered a “key provider” of disability evaluations in Missouri, meaning that he has been one of the highest volume producers in Missouri for many years. He has conducted over 13,000 evaluations for the Social Security Administration and over 1,000 for the Veterans Administration. In addition to his psychology degrees, he has a major in Spanish obtained in 2018.

This presentation will explore and compare the codes of ethics that govern professional conduct in healthcare, legal, and educational settings. By examining the ethical principles and standards of practice of each field, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how ethics influence decision-making. Through a comparative analysis, the session will highlight both the similarities and differences between these codes, providing valuable insights into how each field addresses ethical dilemmas and challenges.

Carola Lehmacher is a multi-lingual freelance translator and interpreter with over fifteen years of experience working with government and industry at
executive and operational levels. She holds two university degrees in Translation Studies and a master’s degree in Conference Interpreting. She is a
Federally Certified Court Interpreter (FCCI) and a Master Licensed Court Interpreter in Georgia. Carola works as a conference interpreter for various
local and international clients and is one of the voices of a major news network. Moreover, she is a licensed trainer of The Community Interpreter®
International, teaches the Orientation Workshop for aspiring court interpreters for the GA Commission on Court Interpreters, and dedicates many hours to
volunteer. She is the past Chair of the AAITE Ethics and Standards Committee, past President of AAIT, the Georgia chapter of ATA, and currently serves as Advisory Member to the Georgia Commission on Court Interpreters, and member of the Positions Paper Committee of NAJIT.

The objective of his session is to familiarize Spanish Court Interpreters with the new federal charges of Entry of Military Property for any Purpose
Prohibited by Law and Penalty for Violation of Security Regulations and Orders being brought in border Districts like Texas and New Mexico. We’ll
analyze current complaints that include violations of 8 USC 1235/Entry without Inspection, plus violations of 8.18.50 USC 1382/Entry of military property for any purpose prohibited by law and 8.18.50 USC 797/Penalty for violation of security regulations and orders. We’ll review the steps of the process from complaint to sentencing: This will include general scripts of initial appearance, detention hearing, change of plea hearing and sentencing hearing. Participants will receive a glossary related to the new charges of entering a military zone. The session will be in English and Spanish with English and Spanish examples. Audience: Spanish court interpreters and others interested.

Marcela Renna is a State and Federal Certified Spanish Interpreter (FCCI), and an ATA Certified English> Spanish Translator (CI). She holds a double-bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Teaching of English as a Foreign Language from the Lenguas Vivas University in Pehuajó, Argentina and a master’s degree in education with emphasis in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as staff
interpreter for the United States District for the District of New Mexico. She worked as a freelance interpreter in the legal field in the Kansas City area since 2001 until 2021 when she moved to Las Cruces, NM. She is a former instructor in the Legal Court Interpreting Certificate Program at Johnson County Community College, and last but not least, a former MICATA President, Vice-President, and board member.