Sorenson Communications, LLC is a provider of industry-leading communication products and services for the Deaf. The company’s offerings include SVRS®, the highest-quality video interpreting service; the ntouch® VP and the ntouch VP2 videophones, designed especially for use by Deaf individuals; ntouch PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; ntouch for Mac®, software that connects users to SVRS by using an Apple® computer; and ntouch Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via tablet and mobile devices.
Gary Widerburg
Gary Widerburg has been with the Public Service Commission of Utah since 1999 and currently serves as Commission Administrator. Gary’s responsibilities include preparing and analyzing financial statements, custodian of Commission records, approving orders, tariffs and other legal documents issued. He is also the Public Information Officer and manages the Relay Utah program.
Gary’s educational background includes Bachelor degrees from the University of Utah in psychology and economics and a Master’s degree in administrative law from West Virginia University.
Gary is married to his college sweetheart of 26 years and has four children. He enjoys traveling, outdoor activities and classic automobiles.
Sprint
Sprint Accessibility for All
Sprint Accessibility offers communication products and services to eliminate communication barriers for customers who are Deaf, DeafBlind, have a hearing or vision loss, and cognitive, speech or mobility disabilities.
Through innovation and a desire to make communication access available to all people, we have expanded our accessibility solutions to include each of the following and we are not stopping there, we work to anticipate the future needs of our customers and have already begun working on next generation solutions today – Sprint Accessibility has communication solutions for today, tomorrow, and the future
Sprint’s broad portfolio of accessibility services include:
Rochelle Garrow
Rochelle is the administrator for the Minnesota Department of Commerce – Telecommunications Access Minnesota (TAM) program. She is responsible for all aspects of Minnesota Relay including contract management, outreach development and oversight, public relations, reporting, and regulatory compliance. She is also responsible for administration of the TAM Fund, which includes financial (budget and surcharge) management and oversight of contracts with other state agencies receiving funding.
Rochelle graduated from the College of Saint Benedict with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and minors in Sociology and Philosophy. She has been employed by the state of Minnesota for over 22 years, and has worked with the TRS program for 17 years. Rochelle served nine years on the NASRA board, and currently serves as a co-chair of the FCC Disability Advisory Council’s Relay and Equipment Distribution subcommittee.
Hamilton
Hamilton Relay has been providing telecommunications relay services for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have difficulty speaking since 1991. Hamilton Relay is a division of Hamilton Telecommunications®, a diversified telecommunications service provider headquartered in Aurora, Nebraska. Established in 1901 as a small regional telephone company, Hamilton Telecommunications has grown to not only provide local telephone service and relay services, but also provide Internet service, local telephone service, data center services, information systems, business-class Ethernet and digital IPTV for its customers.
In the beginning, Hamilton Relay provided Traditional Relay Services (TRS) within its own home state. Over the years, Hamilton expanded services, not only to the states where we provide TRS, but nationally as well through the provision of Captioned Telephone services. Hamilton Relay provides Traditional Relay in numerous contracted states, as well as Captioned Telephone (CapTel®), including Hamilton CapTel for PC/Mac, Smartphones and Tablets.
Hamilton Relay focuses on what matters most to relay users: fast connect times and highly professional Communication Assistants who facilitate calls seamlessly.
Most importantly, Hamilton Relay understands that each relay user is unique. So we listen to our customers and work to match the right services to specific situations. Not just filling a need, but empowering and enhancing the lives of our customers.
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is free 24-hour service that provides equal communication access via the phone to individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have difficulty speaking. Relay services available through Hamilton Relay include:
Sherri Collins
Hello NASRA! I am happy to be a part of the conference planning committee this year and look forward to seeing everyone in Minnesota.
For those that don’t know me, I am the Executive Director of the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (ACDHH) – I just celebrated 20 years in my position and am proud of the fact I am the first and only Deaf lobbyist in the nation!
I have been involved in the relay industry since the ADA was passed in 1990 and with NASRA for many years. I always learn so much at these conferences – especially because my perspective comes from being a consumer of TRS services in addition to my role as a leader and advocate for the Deaf and hard of hearing.
Outside of work, my husband and I love to travel (internationally) as much as possible and are always on the hunt for the next interesting place to visit!
Steven Peck
Hello NASRA! As a member of the planning committee, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at NASRA in Colorado. Since 2002, I’ve been attending NASRA and have always found the conference to be a wealth of information and with a great group of people to share information and learn from each other’s experiences. Currently, I work as the TRS Program Manager for the Washington State Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Additionally, I manage the Assistive Communication Technology (ACT). Through these programs, I work with various state agencies to ensure communication access technology available to services at state agency Offices. I’m presently serving my 2nd year on the iTRS Advisory Council as one of the two NASRA representatives. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to participate and discuss various TRS related topics with the TRS Fund Administrator and a great group of people on the council.
Other than work, I enjoy spending time with our close-knit family, which includes six grown children and six grandkids from ages 2 to 12. We get together at various family events, which includes visiting the Oregon and Washington state beaches, camping, hiking, campfires and making s’mores. We also enjoy watching the grandkids play football, soccer and piano recitals. We just love to have fun together! With my microelectronics background, I’ve developed a fun hobby of fixing broken iPhones, iPads and other types devices for the past 2 years now.
Linguabee
Sign language interpreting is complex. Booking a service provider shouldn’t be.
Linguabee empowers you to conveniently select the professional, highly qualified, credentialed interpreter(s) that is best suited for your particular request.
Discover what it feels like to enjoy a transparent and empowered booking experience.
Sabrina Fields
Hello NASRA! My name is Sabrina Fields and I am with Telecommunications Access of Maryland (TAM). I have been the Contract Manager for MD Relay for the past two years, but have been with TAM in some capacity for about nine. Leaving my TEDPA family was hard, but I have appreciated the great welcome by NASRA. I have enjoyed working with wonderful members of the Conference Planning Committee and am excited for the superb conference ahead in beautiful Colorado. I am looking forward to seeing many familiar faces as well as meeting new ones. Since the last conference in Maryland, I gave birth to my son, Wesley. If you ask nicely, I’ll make sure you get a chance to meet my little love bug while we are in Golden! See you all soon!
Holly Bise
Hello NASRA! As this year’s conference planning chair I want to say that I am so excited to see everyone in Colorado. Colorado has been home to me for the last 9 years, and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Between all the sunshine, the perfect cool summer nights, the crisp fall mornings, and the powder-like snow, this place really has it all. I hope that you’ll come early or stay late to check out everything there is to do; whether you prefer a trek through the mountains or having a a drink on one of Golden’s quaint patios, it’ll be worth your time here. Thank you for bringing the conference to Colorado!