Sarah LeClair
Growing up with six siblings, we played a lot of games like charades. I come from a Spanish heritage, but sadly we were not encouraged to speak the language. My high school offered several different languages, and I was automatically signed up for Spanish. I was sad because I wanted to learn American Sign Language.
I stood in line for an hour to talk to my freshman counselor, who was responsible for the schedules. He was surprised when he checked and noticed that I got the last spot available for the entire campus. That started the next eight years of exploring the language that we all love and respect.
After attending college in North Carolina, I returned home and my first job was at Kona Ice. Then RISE took a risk on me at the start of my professional career. After a six-year hiatus due to a move to Maine and then San Diego, I am now back with RISE continuing what started there thirteen years later.
Being back in Riverside has shown me how truly special our Deaf community is. We are blessed to be in the priceless moments of each other’s lives. This summer I will celebrate being married for seven years. Being a mom of a four-year-old and a two-year-old is my greatest joy. I am so thankful for my life and am very excited to see what is to come!
Douglas Beatty
Douglas Beatty has been serving in a dual role as a RISE Interpreter and Signing Aide since March 2024. He brings a deep personal and professional connection to his work, shaped by his experience as a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA). From a young age, Douglas naturally developed interpreting skills while supporting communication for others, reflecting RISE’s value of community connection through meaningful language access and advocacy.
Douglas’s commitment to service extends beyond interpreting. He previously served as an administrator for an Adult Residential Facility specializing in Deaf clients, where he supported individuals with unique communication and daily living needs. In addition, he regularly provides interpreting support within his church community.
These experiences demonstrate his ability to RISE to the challenge by meeting complex physical, cognitive, and communication demands with compassion and adaptability, while remaining people centered in his approach to care.
Outside of work, Douglas enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, participating in church outreach, and engaging in missions work. He also enjoys unwinding with board games and video games. Looking toward the future, Douglas aspires to open and operate an orphanage, combining his heart for service with his commitment to building supportive, trust-based communities.
A few fun facts about Douglas: he is trilingual, with Spanish as an additional language, and holds tri-national citizenship in the United States, Costa Rica, and Colombia. He has also embraced adventure—during a church mission trip to the Door of Faith orphanage, Douglas completed a thrilling bridge swing at Victoria Falls in Zambia, similar to a bungee jump.
Congratulations, Rebecca!
Please join us in congratulating Rebecca McAllister for passing the Qualified Mental Health Interpreter (QMHI) certification.
The path to QMHI certification includes Mental Health Interpreter Training, hands-on application, supervision, case study review, and a written exam focused on interpreting skills within mental health settings.
Congratulations, Amber!
Please join us in congratulating Amber Carlson on earning her Master’s in Interpreting Studies from Western Oregon University.
ASL Classifiers and Translation
Date: July 25, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Online
Click the flyer to view the full workshop PDF or visit the Workshops page for more details. Remember to use your employee coupon code that was emailed to you for a discount.
A few important notes
Office Closure
The office will be closed on July 3, 2026, in observance of Independence Day!
CPI Training
If you have been contacted for CPI training, please complete your online training as soon as possible. Contact us at CPI@RISEInterpreting.com if you have questions or do not see the link.
ABA Training Deadline
Don’t forget to complete your ABA Training by August 1, 2026.
School Year Availability
The 2026–2027 school year is about to begin. Please update your availability and watch for outreach regarding scheduling preferences.
Explore Wellbeing Events
Insperity offers a variety of free webinar sessions each week to help you manage stress, make healthy lifestyle choices, improve financial security, and get the most value from your wellbeing benefits.
Check out the Wellbeing Events Calendar for current sessions and details.
Upcoming Time Off
Please notify your Supervisor or Manager as soon as you begin planning any upcoming vacation or time off. Early notice allows us to coordinate schedules and ensure proper coverage.
Independence Day Context
Independence Day, widely known as the Fourth of July, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. In 2026, the holiday also marks America’s 250th anniversary, so consider how signs like INDEPENDENCE, FREEDOM, CELEBRATE, and HISTORY may need context depending on the setting.
July Birthdays
Wishing a very happy birthday to our July birthday crew!
Farley Butterfield
Erick Pacheco
Katy Becker
Reilly Hughes
Onya Jones
Yessenia Andrade
Tayde Karimi
Lauren Meeks
Jeannine Salinas
Erika Geddes
Pablo Potter
Jason Reynolds
Stephanie George
Jessica Cervantes
Amanda Egerer
Breeann Katz
Whitney Pavelich
Jorge Delgado
Lorena Ryle
Monthly Statistics
Cumulative
adjective
Definition: increasing by successive additions; made up of accumulated parts; or tending to prove the same point through repeated evidence.
Example: “The interpreter’s professional growth was cumulative, with each training adding to the skills learned before.”
Joke of the Month
I made some fish tacos last night. Ungrateful fish swam right past them!
Have something to share next month?
Send in employee highlights, department updates, photos, Deaf community spotlights, pet features, or peer props so we can continue celebrating the RISE team.
