Member-at-Large: Lori Pituk (Mobile)

Lori Pituk first became interested in learning American Sign Language over 30 years ago as a young woman in college. Several years after her fascination with the language began, Lori started a family with her loving husband Paul Pituk. The young couple would have three boys, and as fate would have it, the oldest and youngest were born Deaf. Since that point in her life, she has continued to further her knowledge of the language and Deaf culture in order to give her children the best possible environment to thrive.

Lori started her professional interpreting journey in El Paso, TX where she earned a degree in ASL Interpreting. She moved to Mobile, AL in 1998 and has served the local Deaf community there ever since. She holds national certification CI/CT with RID, and has been an active member of ALRID and RID for the past 25 years. Previous positions include serving on the board of ALBIT for ten years, as well as serving on the board of ALRID as Treasurer. Currently she serves on the board of ALRID as Member-at-Large.

In 2005, feeling an even greater need to serve the Deaf community, Lori decided to open a sign language interpreting agency. She has owned and operated LBP Interpreting ever since. In her spare time, she loves attending live music concerts and festivals, being with friends, and is a Jersey girl at heart!

Janice Rogers has been in the Interpreting field for 41 years. Janice has had the privilege of interpreting in religious, educational, musical and medical settings. Janice holds NADIII/ EIPA 3.8 Certification. Janice worked as an interpreter fir the Mobile County Public School System for 19 years (K-22). Janice also directed the American Sign Language Program and the Interpreter Training Program at Bishop State Community College for 14 years. Janice earned a Bachelor degree from Talladega College 1977 / Master Degree from Auburn University 1980. Janice completed 3 interpreting programs: University of Tennessee, University of Alabama / Bishop State Community College. Janice retired on December 31, 2017. Wanting to keep her mind sharp, she accepted a Language Coach position at the University of South Alabama where she presently assist students in satisfying foreign language requirements or as an elective in American Sign Language. Her desire is to help all who want to become an interpreter or help those who want to learn to converse with members of the Deaf Community. Janice is the owner of "JR's Interpreting Service". Contact info. (251) 586 - 2995 / janicerogers73@att.net.

Treasurer: Dani Lesley (Mobile)

Dani is from the Mobile, Alabama area and started her interpreting career in 2014. She  graduated from Troy's Interpreter Training Program in 2018. She also has a Master's degree in Management with a focus on Leadership earned in 2021. Dani has experience working in both educational and community settings such as medical, conference, mental health, VRI, VRS, and more. Dani currently works for AIDB Mobile Regional Center as a staff interpreter and at Convo as a VRS interpreter. Dani combines professional expertise with a personal connection, as a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) along with several other Deaf family members. 

Outside of work, Dani enjoys life with her wonderful husband and three kids, along with their two beloved dogs, embracing a fulfilling family life that celebrates communication in all its forms.

Central Region: Maria Stephens (Birmingham)

Maria Stephens is a nationally certified interpreter with over 15 years of experience in the field. Prior to seeking interpreter certification, she worked at the Louisiana School for the Deaf as a School Psychologist. She retired from the school system in 2020.

Maria became interested in ASL while working on her Master’s degree in psychology at Jacksonville State University. Her professor was interested in how people learn and process language and was conducting several research projects. Although Maria had minimal knowledge/skill in ASL, she volunteered to conduct the project being conducted at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. To oversee the project, Maria agreed to live in an apartment on the AIDB campus. By the end of the school year, she was conversationally fluent in ASL. After receiving her degree, Maria moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and accepted a job at LSD where she was able to utilize both her degree and her sign language skills.

Maria decided to pursue interpreter certification in 2008, after being laid off from LSD, transitioning to work in the public school system, and accepting part time employment with Sorenson. To date, she continues to work for Sorenson part time.

Although Maria is relatively new to Alabama (after 36 years in Louisiana), and very new to ALRID, she is looking forward to working with the board and assisting the Central Region in becoming even better! She admits that she will need a LOT of help and support, but is sure she can depend on Central Alabama to “come to her rescue” when needed. She is excited about this new chapter in her life and looking forward to facing the challenges ahead. She would like to thank everyone in advance for your patience and understanding, as well as your willingness to help.

Maria welcomes any suggestions or comments, and encourages anyone who would like to be involved to contact her.

Southwest Region: Niki Grady (Mobile)

Niki Grady, a seasoned NIC Master certified interpreter, has been a cornerstone in the field for over 30 years. Residing near the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama, she combines her professional expertise with her deep passion for serving the Deaf community. As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Niki brings a unique, personal understanding to her role. She is dedicated to her work with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, where her commitment to supporting the Deaf population shines through. Outside of her professional life, Niki is a devoted wife and mother and grandmother. Her hobbies include Cruising and anything beach related. She loves Football and Hockey and spending time with her Husband traveling.

North Region: Maretta Maple (Decatur)

Maretta Maple is a native of Alabama and has been in the field of interpreting since 1996, holding RID certification since 2005.  Maretta started her interpreting profession as an interpreter for Deaf Access and AIDB, later to take on a full-time position with Huntsville City and later Atlanta Public School Systems. She has worked as a freelance interpreter for various agencies throughout her career. Maretta participated in one of the first interpreter training programsAlabama established, which was piloted through the University of Alabama. She has been working for Sorenson Communications for 18 years and has had the wonderful privilege of attending serval of Sorenson’s' professional training courses which have been a great asset to her career. Maretta has a desire for the field of mental health and has taken 100 plus hours of training in mental health and is presently working on her Mental Health Q. 

Maretta has deaf family members which lead her desire to emerge into how to communicate successfully and respectfully with her family. A deep love for her family and people in general led to her furthering her knowledge and skills in making communication accessible to the hearing and deaf communities she serves. Maretta lived in Houston Texas for 13 years and while living in Houston, she acquired her Associate degree in Human Service with a focus on Substance Abuse and Counseling through Lone Star College, Houston Texas. Maretta has been married to her wonderful husband for the last 15 years and enjoys outdoor sports like fishing and camping with her husband. Maretta also loves fitness and holds her personal trainer certification with NFPT and her Group X certification with AFAA; Cycle Certificate with NASM. She also enjoys helping her customers cherish their special occasions by hosting organizational dinner parties and anniversary parties as an event coordinator, SpecialEvents2Remember2. 

Maretta looks forward to serving the Northern Region of Alabama in making available workshops that cater to the needs and growth of our interpreting peers.

Southeast Region: Jodie Jernigan (Montgomery)

AAD Representative: Ryan McDonald (Huntsville)

Ryan was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. Ryan became deaf at 5 months old due to spinal meningitis. She has attended and experienced a mainstream school with a deaf program, a public school (being the only deaf student), and a deaf residential program.

After graduating from Alabama School for the Deaf, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Art History degree from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Auburn University.

Ryan began her career as a Vocational Instructor for the Deaf at the Mobile Association for the Blind. During this time, she also worked for one year in partnership with the AIDB Mobile Regional Center as the Case Manager for the Deaf. She went on to join the Independent Living Center of Mobile as the Deaf Service Coordinator before joining the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services as a Deaf Support Specialist.

Ryan joined the team at AIDB’s E. H. Gentry Facility as a Vocational Evaluator for the Deaf before becoming a Rehabilitation Teacher for the Deaf. She then worked as a Program Coordinator at Mountain Lakes Behavioral Healthcare before becoming the Case Manager for the Deaf at the AIDB Huntsville Regional Center, While Ryan worked as Case Manager for the Deaf, she served as the Interim Director of the AIDB Decatur Regional Center, before becoming Director of the AIDB Huntsville Regional Center since November 2022.

She was past secretary for Alabama Association for the Deaf, and is currently president of Alabama Association for the Deaf. She is on the board for Alabama Licensure Board for Interpreters and Transliterators.

Past President: Belinda Montgomery (Montgomery)

Belinda Montgomery began her professional practice of and  involvement in the Interpreting field in 1984 and became a  member of ALRID and RID that same year. She has since  served on the ALRID board in many positions throughout the  years. She was President of ALRID, when the Licensure Law was debated before the House Legislative Committee and then signed into law in 1998.  

Belinda’s early interpreting experiences were as a CODA but  later extended within her community, this lead to opportunities  for statewide experiences in a variety of settings. She holds certification with RID, NAD, and the EIPA. She is also certified  as a Master Mentor. She has been honored to serve for more  than 20 years on the Alabama Licensure Board of Interpreters  and Transliterators (ALBIT).  

Belinda retired from the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation  Services in 2015. Upon retirement, she re-opened her  interpreting agency, Montgomery Interpreting Services, LLC, in earnest and has enjoyed providing quality interpreter services for  most of Alabama. She is also currently serving as an adjunct professor at Troy University in the Interpreter Training Program.  

A native of Montgomery, she enjoys traveling with her husband  and gatherings of her family which includes her 9 grandchildren.