About Us
Shelly Browning MA, CI, CT ~ Founder
Shelly holds an AA degree in Sign Language Interpreting, a BA degree in Cultural Anthropology and an MA degree in English as a Second Language. She took her first sign language class at the age of 13 in order to be able to communicate with her Deaf cousin. Since then, she has made a life long career of joyously working within the Deaf community in a variety of settings ranging from Deaf schools, to employment development for the Deaf, and most notably as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia, North Africa where she taught at a small school for the Deaf in the Sahara desert. She has worked as a freelance sign language interpreter since 1990 in a variety of settings including business, corporate, mental health, medical, and technical environments. She particularly enjoys working in educational settings and has experience interpreting in all levels of education from kindergarten classrooms to PhD programs. Outside of sign language interpreting she enjoys traveling, yoga, hiking, gardening, and aromatherapy.
Nicole Raines AA, CI, CT ~ Office Manager
Nicole obtained her AA degree in Sign Language Interpreting in New Jersey and has since established herself as a reputable interpreter in California. She has experience interpreting in K-12, college and university settings. She has also worked in Video Relay Interpreting, medical, mental health and business settings. She enjoys Video Relay Interpreting due to the great variety of challenges in her work. In her free time, she delights in spending time with her children Max and Izzy, traveling throughout the US, reading, and exploring the wine country of Napa and Sonoma counties. Nicole has been with The Nature of Interpreting since its inception and has been an instrumental force in the evolution of the agency.
Teresa Sedano, BA, CI/CT ~ Office Zen Master
Teresa graduated with a BA degree in Sociology from Northern Arizona University and completed the American Sign Language Interpreter Training program at American River College in 1991. Teresa continued to pursue her love of interpreting and combined it with her passion for theater by establishing “StageSigns, Inc”, a non-profit organization which provided interpreting for theatrical productions from 1999-2003. Teresa currently enjoys freelance work along with focusing on her new business, Healthy CEU’s for Sign Language Interpreters, which provides opportunities to earn professional continuing educational units with a focus on healthy maintenance and longevity for our profession. Teresa helps us all to keep our zen by applying her positive and healthy outlook on life to our office practices.
Jean Browning ~ Future CEO
Jean is the niece of Shelly Browning and is aspiring to someday take over the family business. Jean has a knack for picking up languages quickly. Her mother is a native of El Salvador and Jean is fluent in Spanish and often does interpreting for her mother and family friends. She would like to study Italian and French and someday add spoken language services to The Nature of Interpreting, LLC agency. She is currently in the 5th grade and enjoys math, art, music, dancing, animals, and traveling.
Our Interpreters
The Nature of Interpreting, LLC proudly offers some of nature’s finest interpreters.
The sign language interpreters who we provide are carefully screened for their professionalism and accuracy and are certified by either the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) or the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), the governing board for sign language interpreters. We adhere to the code of professional conduct of our profession which includes; possessing appropriate skills for a specific interpreting situation, confidentiality, professional distance, respect for consumers, ethical business practices, and continued professional development.
It is with great pleasure, that we introduce you to a few of our illustrious team of interpreters:
Louann Pironti BS, CI/CT
Louann is a 20 year American Sign Language Interpreting professional, 2 term Past-President of Northern California Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (NorCRID) and graduate of Mills College, where she proudly earned a BS in Computer Science. Louann interprets in every imaginable community venue and has 5 years in video relay interpreting as well as running her own agency, Streamline Conference Interpreting, which specializes in technology and gaming event interpreting. Louann holds three certifications in aromatherapy and she keeps her Zen by practicing aromatherapy with Shelly.
Matthew Parkhurst, MA, NIC
Matt is a graduate of California State University, Northridge. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from CSUN in Deaf Studies, a Master of Arts degree in Deaf Education, and holds both a Multiple Subject and an Education Specialist Teaching Credential in Deaf and Hard-of-hearing. Matt holds RID certifications NIC and Ed:K-12. Since completing his degree program in Interpreting for the Deaf, Matthew has interpreted in many settings, including educational, legal, corporate, VRS, technical, medical, religious, platform, and performance. He has shared the stage with countless performers, including Pat Benetar, Maci Gray, Patti LaBelle, Third Eye Blind and Cyndi Lauper. He also worked as a language coach on the set of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. A real “do-it-yourselfer”, he loves working in his garden, making home renovations, and playing with his golden retriever, Morgan.
Moire Martin BA, CI, CT
Moire holds a BA degree from California State University, Long Beach in American Studies with a focus on Women’s Studies. She completed a Sign Language Interpreter Training Program at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 1996. She is a member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf , the Northern California Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, and the National Association of the Deaf. She has experience in interpreting in Video Relay Services, post secondary, K-12, medical, mental health, and business settings. She enjoys the rewarding aspects of working with a team and mentoring upcoming interpreters. Her interests outside interpreting include walking at the ocean, hiking, bike riding, quilting, reading, and sharing delicious vegan meals with friends.
Tadd Cohen BS, CI, CT
Tadd holds a BS degree in Educational Interpreting from Idaho State University and an AA degree in interpreting from Los Angeles Pierce College. Tadd is currently an instructor in the Interpreter Training & American Sign Language Program at Santa Rosa Junior College. He also teaches a myriad of workshops including Communication Processing, Mentoring, ADA, Theatrical Interpreting, and Classifiers to up and coming interpreters. Tadd worked as a professional actor for twelve years until he found his second love- American Sign Language & interpreting. Tadd has been able to combine these passions and has interpreted numerous productions including: Romeo and Juliet; A Chorus Line, The Wizard of Oz, Grease, The Miracle Worker, Annie, West Side Story, Peter Pan, and more. One of Tadd’s biggest joys is going to work and seeing connections and rapport build on a daily basis. When not at work, Tadd loves eating food off a griddle, camping, & strong black coffee.
Mary Nelson BA, CI, CT
A native of Los Angeles, Mary Nelson moved to the North Bay in December of 2005 with her best friend and husband Tadd, and has fallen in love with the area and its people. While in L.A., she graduated on the Deans List with an AA from L.A. Pierce College’s Interpreter Training Program in 1995, and with her BA from California State University of Northridge cum laude in 2000. Mary then moved to Idaho to earn a BS in Educational Interpreting from Idaho State University and graduated cum laude and with High Honors in 2006. She has been a mentor to student interpreters and interpreters new to the field for over 12 years, and was recently elected vice president of the Northern California Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. What really makes Mary’s clock tick are hiking, camping and cooking up a storm.
Cheryl Hamblin BA, CSC
Cheryl has over 25 years of interpreting experience. Cheryl has interpreted extensively in the areas of drug and alcohol recovery, medical appointments and procedures, K-12 and post-secondary settings, and the field of mental health. She grew up in the east bay although she feels most at home since moving to Sonoma County 10 years ago. When not interpreting, Cheryl is most happy when outdoors, whether she is swimming, gardening, kayaking, or hiking. Some of her other interests include yoga and spirituality, knitting, alternative health care, and photography.
Tracy Brennan CI, CT
Tracy began her interpreting career in 1980, when she graduated with her AA degree in interpreting from Bakersfield Community College. She went on to continue her studies at California State University Northridge where she met her husband and began her family. Tracy has experience in interpreting in virtually all settings, including mental health, legal, educational, post secondary, medical, religious, Video Relay, and is most famously known for her theatrical work. Most notably, she has interpreted Lion King on Broadway in New York. She currently teaches “Theatrical Interpreting” for upcoming interpreters at American River College in Sacramento. Outside of interpreting she enjoys running with her dog, spending time with her new husband, five sons and friends. Tracy loves nature and finding lucky pennies and rocks in the shape of hearts.