Our first Chapter of CORE in Denver, Colorado began in July 2019. The first Kickoff for Cycle 1 consisted of four Coaches, eight Mentees, and eight Mentors. We look forward to continuing to partner with the Deaf community and the interpreting community in Denver to make CORE possible. If you are interested in joining us in Denver, please email us at coreinterpretersco@gmail.com.
TOTAL PRO BONO HOURS clocked since estd: 261
COACHES
LIZ CHITTENDEN
Liz Chittenden, MA, NIC, has been working in the field of interpreting for over 25 years. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Teaching ASL from Columbia University in NYC, a Bachelor's Degree in Interpreting from California State University, Northridge, and an AA degree with IPP certificate from Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA. After living and working on both coasts, she found home in Colorado where she met her native CO husband. She currently works in the freelance and virtual world as an interpreter. She loves to partner with interpreting students and recent grads in a mentoring role, as well as partner with working interpreters seeking growth in her areas of specialty and learn from them. Liz works heavily in the education, medical, theater, and church settings, striving to raise the level of access provided to those who use our services. She excels at working with others to expand their sign and spoken word choices to arrive at a more accurate product. In the past she has taught ASL at PS47 in NYC as well as in Colorado when the program needed extra support, as well as worked at Pikes Peak State College in various classes and mentoring roles. When she married her Deaf husband over 10 years ago, her view of what we do and why we do it made a drastic shift. She uses the lessons she has learned to provide a unique perspective to those in the field. In her free time, Liz loves to hang with her family and precious dog, tend to her aeroponic garden, and sneak away to Trader Joes to stock up on food to cook any chance she gets.
ILAH JACKSON
Ilah Jackson, M.Ed., CI/CT is currently the Interpreting Preparation Program Department Chair at Pikes Peak State College in Colorado Springs, CO. Ilah began her interpreting career in 2000 after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Sign Language Interpreting from the University of New Mexico. Ilah worked freelance in Albuquerque for 6 months before moving with her family back to her hometown of Durango, CO to work at Cortez High School. In the fall of 2002, the Jacksons moved to Colorado Springs where Ilah continued working in the educational field as well as building her freelance work. In 2006, Ilah was asked to be a long-term sub at (then) Pikes Peak Community College to finish out the semester for one IPP course and recently celebrated her 16th year with the institution. In 2015, she received a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Currently, Ilah primarily interprets in VRS, although she has experience in all venues of interpreting with the exception of legal interpreting. When not in the classroom or interpreting, Ilah and her husband like to spend time fishing and Jeeping in the San Juan mountains.
MARCIE MURPHY
Marcie Murphy, CI, CT, has interpreted for 29 years in a variety of situations including Educational, Community, International, Video, and Conference interpreting. She is back for another cycle of coaching with CORE Colorado. Marcie earned her degree in interpreting in Boston and participated in the year long Visiting Interpreter Program (VIP) at Gallaudet University. She was a staff interpreter at Gallaudet and a faculty member in the Interpreter Training Program at San Antonio College. She has been both a coach and mentor and has presented a variety of workshops. Marcie worked as a Professional Development Specialist at Sorenson Communications Colorado Springs Center. She was recognized by the president of Pikes Peak Community College (PPCC) as the New Faculty Member of the Year (2008). Marcie was a staff interpreter at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind for seven years. Currently, she is a freelance interpreter in Colorado and is mentoring both community interpreters and PPCC second year students. Originally from Boston, Marcie has lived in Aurora, CO, PA, DC, MD, Germany, TX, and now resides in Colorado Springs with her husband Tim and their two children Aidan and Abigail.
AUDREY McCANN
Audrey McCann has been interpreting professionally for over 15 years. She has held BEI Master and RID NIC Advanced certifications for more than 10 years. She has worked in numerous settings such as medical, mental health, technical, corporate, platform/performance, trauma informed, religion, video relay, and tactile. Raised in Austin, Texas by her Deaf family, she recently relocated to the Denver area with her husband to be the call center manager of Convo relay after having held a variety of lead and managerial positions in her time working in VRS. She is passionate about providing access to the Deaf community and is a staunch advocate of interpreters providing pro bono services as appropriate.
Support Crew
Haley Hegeman
Haley Hegeman has been interpreting in the community and in post secondary education for six years. She graduated from Florida College in 2009 with her BA in music and then graduated with her AAS in interpreting from Pikes Peak Community College in 2016. She is currently the treasurer for Colorado RID, has been the conference chair for the last two major conferences, and is supporting a new chairperson for the next state conference. She was a mentee in the inaugural cycle of CORE Colorado in 2019 and fell in love with powerful and positive mentoring for those in “the gap”. She previously served as the CORE CEU liaison for workshops and worked as a tech facilitator during CORE meetings. When she is not doing things related to interpreting, you can find her behind a camera lens, playing percussion with the local community band, tending to her mini indoor jungle, being the honorary aunt that feeds the kids sugar and gives them back, or hanging out with an alpaca or two. Haley is beyond thrilled to serve the interpreting community as a coordinator of CORE Colorado!
Kelly Major
Kelly graduated from the Interpreter Preparation Program at Pikes Peak Community College in 2012, and has worked in a variety of settings ever since, primarily Post Secondary and VRS. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Sociology from UCCS. After graduating the IPP, she was a mentee in the School to Work Program through Sorenson, and has since been passionate about supporting others who are entering the field of interpreting. Kelly has served in various positions for Colorado RID, including Secretary and on the conference planning committee. As of 2019, she also works for a wonderful budgeting software company called You Need A Budget (YNAB) as a Customer Support Specialist, where she advocates for accessibility within the company. In her free time she loves spending time with her family (including her animals) and friends, trying local restaurants, learning various crafts, reading, building LEGO, and catching up on her favorite TV shows. While she hasn't traveled much in the last few years due to the pandemic, she hopes to start seeing more of the world again soon! She’s excited for the opportunity to serve the interpreting community through CORE!
ELIJAH AYERS
Elijah Ayers, BA, NIC holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Interpreting from Gallaudet University and an Associates of Applied Science in Interpreting Prep from Pikes Peak Community College. Elijah currently resides in small neighborhood just south of 5 Points in Denver. A historically black neighborhood with deep roots and a colorful history. Elijah has been interpreting in Colorado for about 5 years now. Most of the work being in either the medical, or post-secondary settings. When he is not interpreting, you can find Elijah doing anything outdoors. This is, but not limited to: skateboarding, snowboarding, running, hiking, dancing just to name a few. Elijah also has a fond love for cars and everything mechanical. While serving in the military, Elijah developed an interest in fixing vehicles in his off time. Which led to his obsession. Elijah’s favorite animal is the Octopus. The reason being: that if he had eight arms, he could do more in the kitchen.
EMILY WYTIAZ
Emily Wytiaz is an Educational Sign Language Interpreter in Denver, Colorado. Born and raised in metro Detroit, Emily moved to Durango, Colorado for college and outdoor pursuits. Majoring in Sociology and minoring in Anthropology, she has long been interested in people, culture and issues of environmental and social justice. Most recently, she has been proud to work with the Denver Classroom Teachers Association as a Board Director and Association Representative for educational interpreters in Denver Public Schools. When not at work, (bonus if work and any of the subsequent things collide!) Emily likes to read, cook, travel, hike, camp, and be with loved ones.
CALENE CARRANO
Calene Carrano, NIC, is a Denver native and has been working as a freelance interpreter in the Denver area since graduating from Gallaudet University in 2018. Calene was a mentee in Denver’s Cycle I pilot program. Recognizing the tremendous impact mentorship has played in the development of her skills and trajectory of her career, Calene felt compelled to look for more opportunities to stay involved with the organization. She is now a Support Crew team member and is looking forward to giving back to the organization, local Deaf and interpreting communities.
Heather Black
Heather Black completed a bachelors in Communication with an emphasis in Leadership at the University of Colorado Springs Colorado and graduated from the American Sign Language Interpreting Program at Pikes Peak Community College. She has worked at The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind since 2015. She has been interpreting in the community and in the education system since 2016. She holds an Educational Interpreter Authorization for K-12 schools, demonstrates ability and duties with a professional and courteous attitude, is dedicated to keep building her experience, and bringing creativity, knowledge, and drive to help propel talents in other environments, as well. She brings a high level of integrity, loyalty, and commitment to learning new paths toward finding that success. When she is not working, you can find her playing sports and video games, or throwing dodgeballs at middle/high school students at her church where she is dedicated to being a Godly role model for those students and leaders alike.
Jaclyn Tyrcha
During her 12-year career as a teacher and in the past 3 and half years working for Sorenson as a center director and currently as a Regional Trainer, Jaclyn Tyrcha often finds herself being called to work in the field of Interpreting within many domains (language mentor, deaf interpreter, educational interpreting, workshops/training). She is excited about this opportunity with CORE and is happy she can continue to teach and use her skills, knowledge, and passion. She’s energetic, kind, creative, fun-loving, supportive, positive, and a Colorado Native. She lives in Broomfield with her best friend and has 2 adult children, and her 18 year old cat, Moemoe. They love doing things together. “Forced” Family Fun (FFF) is something they often do. Things she likes includes: going on walks, hiking, reading, road trips, coffee, food, traveling, theatre, yoga, camping, & Hot Springs. Things she loves include: her cat Moemoe, family, friends, Star Wars, dinosaurs, quotes, goats, making malas, meditation, & laughing. Things she dislikes include: onions, scary gory movies, pettiness, boogers, getting stuck in traffic, and weirdly long nails.
CARMELA ROYBAL
Carmela Roybal, BEI Intermediary, Level Three, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Colorado State University. She has been a Deaf interpreter for over 12 years and became BEI Certified in 2016. Her favorite interpreting jobs are in the medical field and legal. Carmela has completed her mentoring hours to obtain the Colorado Legal Credential Authorization and is awaiting final approval.
She wears several hats other than working as a Deaf interpreter. She is General Manager of a local interpreting agency and teaches ASL at Pikes Peak State College (formerly Pikes Peak Community College). She also is a Deaf mentor for the Pikes Peak State College IPP program. Carmela works with families who have Deaf babies/children and teaches them literacy skills. In her free time (when she has it), Carmela enjoys traveling and going to the theater. You can find her most of the time watching plays straight from Broadway at the Denver Center of Performing Arts. Carmela also enjoys reading, watching movies, and hiking. Carmela has a CODA daughter, Kat, who is a psychology student at CU Boulder and a 15-year-old stubborn Yorkie dog (he knows he’s loved very much still).
KRISTEN HAMILTON
Kristen Hamilton grew up Deaf in a hearing family using spoken English as her primary language during that time. At age 16 she began learning ASL and since has used it regularly. She graduated from California State University, Northridge with a BA in Child Development with a Special focus on Child Mental Health. She then obtained her MSW from the University of Southern California in Social Work with emphasis on Family and Individual Therapy. She worked several years at Psychiatric Institute of Washington, DC and St John’s Hospital Deaf Mental Health Clinic in Santa Monica, California as a Deaf Therapist working with Deaf individuals and their families. When her first child was born she retired to raise a family. Kristen’s husband and and three children are all hearing but are bilingual with ASL being the primary language used in the home. In 2015 she began teaching ASL I at Pikes Peak Community College (now State College). Since then she has taught ASL I, II, and III as well as mentored in the Interpreting Preparation Program. She maintains a strong focus on educating the community about ASL as a foreign language that is distinct from English. Her dream is to see true equality and inclusiveness of the Deaf community within the greater hearing community. She also would like to see Americans becoming more and more bi/multi-lingual; be it ASL, Spanish, or French to honor and respect our primary neighbors. During her free time she enjoys studying as much as she can about ASL, reading (historical fiction), hiking, backpacking, camping, quilting, and putting together lego kits. People who know her know that she is a devout baseball fan following the Rockies, Cardinals, and Dodgers.
