ASLIS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Grants Manager - She / Her / Hers
Anna joined ASLIS in February of 2022, two days after her birthday. She grew up in the Twin Cities area, and graduated from Grinnell College with a BA in Anthropology. She eventually fell into IT work, and went back to school to get an AAS in Software Development in 2014. She loves combining her social science background and her systems analysis skills in her role as a grant manager. For fun, she knits, reads, and grows vegetables in her garden.
Job Titles:
- Greater MN Operations Manager / VRI Specialist / Staff Interpreter
Brandi started working with ASLIS in March of 2016, she oversees everything Greater MN and takes care of all things VRI. Brandi has been interpreting for over 20 years and has worked in a variety of settings including VRS, education, medical and mental health. She lives in beautiful Northern MN with her husband and children. When not working she enjoys spending time with friends and family playing cards, sitting by the fire, or spending weekends at the lake.
Cassie joined ASLIS in January 2018. She values education and has earned multiple college degrees: an AA Degree in Liberal Arts from North Hennepin Community College, an AAS in Sign Language Interpreting from St. Paul College, and an Individualized BA Degree in ASL, Communication, & Disability Services from Metropolitan State University. Cassie is an animal lover and in her free time enjoys reading, playing video games, and crocheting.
Job Titles:
- Interpreter Referral Specialist - She / Her / Hers
- Specialist
Job Titles:
- Chief Operations Officer
- Contract Administrator
- COO
Erin is the Chief Operations Officer at ASLIS. Starting in 2006, when she was hired as a referral specialist at ASLIS, Erin has experienced so much with the interpreting community and the ASLIS family. Erin's enduring loyalty and a willing curiosity to learn new things has guided her through many roles at ASLIS. Currently, Erin oversees the entirety of ASLIS's operations including grant projects, contracts and RFPs, as well as supporting IT concerns. Erin has a BA in Communications from Truman State University. In her free time, Erin enjoys playing games with her kids, gardening, reading, and experimenting with craft projects that reinforce the fact that she doesn't have the crafty gene.
Hilary Johnson is the Grant Support Specialist at ASLIS, running the Mentoring-to-Excellence Program and coordinating ASLIS Mentoring Services. A graduate of Bard College in 2011 with a focus in creative writing, Hilary later found her passion after enrolling in ASL 1 on a whim at Delgado Community College in Louisiana. While her goal is to become a freelance interpreter, she has found a home at ASLIS developing programs for other aspiring interpreters after moving to Minneapolis from New Orleans in late 2020. Hilary was recently selected to participate in the Catie Center's Dive-in Pilot Program Cohort in 2023; she is thankful for the opportunity to focus on interpreting while continuing in her role at ASLIS. Hilary enjoys exploring the parks, swimming, reading, and hanging out with her partner and friends in her free time.
Job Titles:
- Vice President / CEO - He / Him / His
Jason has been working behind the scenes with ASLIS since 2005. He obtained his BEI interpreter Certification in 2018. Jason has worked to expand ASLIS' services, including spearheading remote CART services, expanding VRI capabilities and launching video production interpreting. He enjoys playing video games, learning how to play the piano, rock climbing, and camping. With Pam (the company's founder) retiring, he is now CEO of ASLIS, ha
Job Titles:
- Greater MN Referral Operations Manager
Jenn Nelson has been with ASLIS since December of 2015. As the Greater MN Referral Operations Manager, she works alongside ASLIS' Regional Managers to manage the workflow and develop strategic practices. Jenn oversees ASL interpreting requests within Greater MN and collaborates with her team, interpreters, and customers to ensure each individual request achieves the best possible outcome. Building positive connections and trusting relationships with others has always been important to Jenn, as she has committed to better business practices within the Deaf Community in MN for 15+ years. Prior to her years at ASLIS, she coordinated services for a non-profit organization providing resources and support to families of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, and served on several DHH advisory boards. Jenn graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology, where she played collegiate tennis and earned the Outstanding Graduate Award, an award designated for graduates who excelled academically while demonstrating personal and social maturity as well as service to the community. She and her husband Dennis have four teenagers and two mini goldendoodles. In between shuttling kids to their activities and athletics, she enjoys hiking, gardening, ice fishing, hunting, and exploring the beautiful outdoors with her family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Internship & Springboard Coordinator / Interpreter Referral Specialist - She / Her / Hers
Kassy joined the ASLIS staff in August 2015. She grew up about an hour south of the Twin Cities on a hobby farm. When Kassy started college in 2006, her degree was Intercultural Communication; her passion for learning about different cultures and different approaches to communication morphed into a passion for ASL. After receiving her AA degree from Normandale Community College, she transferred to Saint Paul College where she eventually got her AAS in Sign Language Interpreting, then went on to get her Bachelor's from Metropolitan State University in Intercultural Communications with an Emphasis in ASL. Kassy loves theatrical interpreting and signing to music as well as getting to use sign language to communicate every day. She has a lot of past experience working in office settings, but is excited to put her skills to good use working for a company whose goals she supports. Outside of work, Kassy loves spending time with her husband, cat, and family, reading, doing yoga, watching movies, and learning about pop culture.
Job Titles:
- Accounts Payable - She / Her / Hers
Kris was born and raised in Wisconsin. She moved to Minnesota to attend the school formerly known as North Central Bible College and ended up staying permanently. She is married and had four kids, who range in age from six to twenty one; three boys and one girl. She has had a variety of jobs with flexible hours which allowed her to be a stay-at-home mom. These jobs included teaching aerobics, leading worship, and doing scheduling for her husband's clinic. Outside of work she enjoys reading, karate, knitting, crocheting, singing, playing piano, playing (attempting) guitar, and hanging out with her family.
Job Titles:
- Public Relations Specialist & Workshops Coordinator - He / She / They
- Public Relations Specialist and Workshops Coordinator
Lucas Freimuth is the Public Relations Specialist and Workshops Coordinator at ASLIS. They have been working at ASLIS since 2021. Lucas grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and graduated from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) in New York with AAS in Printing Production. Lucas discovered their passion for graphic design after enrolling and excelling in several classes at NTID; they later transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, graduating with a BA in Photography in 2020. However, photography proved to be a difficult career to pursue during Covid; they decided to become a freelance graphic designer until they got a job in ASLIS. They are grateful for this opportunity to improve their skills and grow with new experiences. Lucas enjoys exploring new places, partaking in photo shoots, and socializing with new people.
Job Titles:
- Interpreter Referral Specialist - She / Her / Hers
Megan joined the ASLIS team in December 2021. She discovered her passion for ASL and Deaf culture by chance when she signed up for an ASL 1 course at University of Minnesota Duluth as an undergrad; she fell in love with the language and pulled a complete career turnaround, shifting from a focus in communications to interpreting. She received her AAS in ASL Interpreting and Transliterating from St. Paul College that she now puts to good use at ASLIS where she wholeheartedly enjoys interacting with the community and interpreters. Megan spends as much time as she can on Lake Minnetonka during the summers with her husband and beloved pups. Some of her other favorite things include cooking, creating fun cocktails, and being with her closest friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Deaf Community Outreach / Interpreter Referral Specialist - She / Her / Hers
Melissa joined ASLIS in 2013 as an interpreter referral specialist. Her role has now grown and she manages Deaf profiles and Deaf outreach on top her referral role. She is always ready to lead the charge to manage tradeshow booths at Deaf events. Melissa is actively involved with the Deaf Resource Center and is excited to be a part of it as it expands and grows. She graduated from NTID with a focus on administrative assistance. Melissa is married with three children and two German Short Hair Pointers. She loves spending her time hiking or walking trails and state parks all over Minnesota. Melissa's loves the hot and humid summers and likes to pretend that the Minnesota winter's don't exist.
Job Titles:
- Grant Support Specialist
- Member of the ASLIS Grants Team
Hello! I'm Pam Boettcher, the newest member of the ASLIS Grants Team, focusing on mentoring programs. I'm excited to be here! I come from a long history of interpreting in varying capacities. I am from a very tiny town in Southern Minnesota where we don't even have a stop light, but thankfully, we do have pizza delivery. Living out here means I've spent lots and lots of time in my car. Now, thanks to Covid, I've discovered the whole work from home life. My car spends days parked happily in the garage, and my sneakers put on more miles than my vehicle. I'm blessed to be a mother of four, grandmother of one, and have been adopted by 3 white cats (whose affection is increased by the amount of black clothes I am wearing at the time). I love spring, summer, and fall, but could live without the snow. I garden, walk, and kayak - basically anything outdoors until the cold chases me in. Then I read, scrapbook, and do DIY stuff in my house, where there's always a project going on. I'm looking forward to working with ASLIS and the start of a new adventure!
Job Titles:
- Director of Referral Operations / Accounts Receivable - She / Her / Hers
Shannon started working at ASLIS in November of 2012. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BA in Communications, Cultural Studies and Cinema & Media Studies. While she was at the U she took 4 years of ASL classes but has gained most of her signing knowledge from working in the office. She has a dog named Ripley that she adopted from the humane society the same week that she started work at ASLIS. Ripley makes sure that she stays active no matter rain, shine or snow. She loves traveling to different places and finding the best hiking spots and visiting zoos. When she isn't out exploring the outdoors, you can usually find her working on some sort of craft including her annual handmade Christmas cards.
Job Titles:
- Head of Interpreter Compliance / Interpreter Referral Specialist - She / Her / Hers
Taylor joined ASLIS in March of 2013. Her interest in ASL and the Deaf community started in high school and propelled her to pursue it further into college. She received her BA in ASL Interpreting from St. Catherine University. Using sign language and remaining part of the Deaf and Interpreting communities is very important to her, and ASLIS helps her do just that! Outside of work Taylor spends a lot of time with her family and friends. Her interests include camping and hiking, playing board games and video games, as well as attending craft beer festivals and concerts. Some day she would love to have a cabin on a lake to retreat to on the weekends. Taylor lives in the Twin Cities with her Partner and two daughters.