Board of Directors

Full Bios

Shawn Norris

Shawn Norris, Ed K-12, NIC, CoreCHI, has been in the interpreting field for over fifteen years, serving as an interpreter and manager for several companies and government agencies. He currently works at Flagler Health+ in St. Augustine, Florida as the Coordinator of Interpreting Services, Section 1557 and ADA Coordinator, and ASL Interpreter. He created the Interpreting Services program and provided a more robust service to the community. Due to being raised by Deaf parents, Shawn has close ties to the local Deaf community and serves as an advocate and volunteer. He mentors new interpreters at work as a licensed interpreter trainer and volunteer. Previously, he established a local agency that provided interpreting services in ASL and Spanish. In addition to his extensive interpreting experience, Shawn is a long-time public speaker and has worked on several translation projects for a free Bible education work for the Deaf. Shawn's interests include spending time with his family, reading, and football.

Katryna Arias

Katryna Arias (BA, NIC, INHC) works as an interpreter in the Orlando area. She graduated from the University of South Florida's Interpreter Training Program in 2016 (GO BULLS!) and received her NIC in 2019. She specializes in post-secondary and conference interpreting, with additional experience in government, VRS, VRI, medical, legal, and mental health interpreting. In 2021, Katryna received her certification as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and in addition to interpreting, works as a Health Coach for Interpreters. She has a passion for supporting interpreters with their personal & professional development and also supporting interpreters in sustaining their health - mentally, emotionally, and physically - for long-term retention in the field. She has worn different hats for FRID - serving as the Professional Development Chair for over 2 years, and then recently coming back as the Vice President of Internal Affairs.

Outside of interpreting, Katryna loves working out at Orangetheory Fitness, traveling with her husband, and going to the theme parks with her nieces & nephews. 

James Smith

James Smith is originally from Kentucky but grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He currently resides in Pinellas Park, FL. His mother discovered that he was Deaf at 7-months-old, so they learned first Sign Exact English (S.E.E.) sign language together in 1978 and then ASL in 1988. His mother became a certified Interpreter and James followed in her footsteps and became a CDI. James attended Troy University's ITP, and worked as Language Mentor. He has enjoyed working in medical, mental health, police interrogations, and court interpreting. He received his certification in 2014 and became a certified instructor for C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team) and teaching workshops all over in Georgia and Florida. He was a long time member of GaRID (Georgia Registry Interpreter for the Deaf) and GADB (Georgia Association Deaf Blind), and has currently membership with FAD, FRID, RID Deaf Caucus group, and, of course, RID. He is also fluent in South Africa Sign Language!

James is married to his beautiful wife Zakhe and they have 2 beautiful daughters who are 15 and 6! They love to travel, going to the beach, camping, flying all over, and his favorite hobby is riding his street motorcycle! Looking forward to working with you all!e-President of External Affairs

Genaere Lowery

Genaere Lowery has been professionally interpreting since 2008, at the age of 15. With both of her parents Deaf, ASL is her first language. Her family grew up traveling serving various Deaf communities around the country. They were also a part of the still-running TV show, “Dr. Wonder’s Workshop” in 2007, which is performed entirely in ASL by a Deaf cast. She obtained the NIC in 2016, and the Supreme Court Qualification from the state of IN in 2017 through their Supreme Court Interpreter program. One of her greatest passions is, “bridging the gap,” and going above and beyond to ensure that the highest possible quality of interpreting services are provided to every individual, by looking for ways to increase standards for interpreters, and through continuing to create and push for awareness of Deaf rights.

David Maruca

Bio forthcoming

June Ann LeFors

June Ann LeFors is an instructor and the director of the ASL program at Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida. She is a freelance deaf interpreter and ASL translator in the central and northeast Florida areas. She is also an appointed member of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Advisory Committee for the Florida Department of Health and serves on the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind Board of Trustees. A state-certified K-12 teacher, LeFors previously worked at FSDB for 10 years in several roles: ASL specialist and evaluator, preschool teacher in the Early Learning Center, and as a parent advisor in the Parent Infant Program. She earned her master's degree in Deaf Education/ Deaf Studies from Lamar University and a bachelor's in Elementary Education from Gallaudet University. She and her husband, Eric (a physical education teacher at FSDB), have six daughters - three of whom are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.