Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Timeline
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Desiree Edwards-Smith

Desiree Edwards-Smith

Schaumburg,United States

Summary

Professional Interpreter with nearly 25 years of interpreting experience. Constantly striving to move more easily between source and target languages without missing details. Committed to seeing my work through "Deaf Eyes", fostering diversity & inclusivity,open communication and respect among team members within the interpreting profession . Adept at working effectively unsupervised.

Overview

38
38
years of professional experience

Work History

Video Relay and Community Interpreter

Sorenson Communications, LLC
Oak Brook, IL
02.2013 - Current
  • Provide video relay interpreting services between Deaf/HH community, their families, and businesses in permanent at-home VRS work while adhering to ethical standards and protecting information confidentiality.
  • Provide face-to-face interpreting services for Sorenson community contracts, contributing to the establishment and maintenance of positive stakeholder relationships.

Freelance Interpreter Highlights

Self Employed Services
Various, Varies
05.2004 - Current
  • Provide real-time interpretation services for various settings including conferences, educational institutions, courts, VRI platforms, government agencies, healthcare facilities, military bases, cruise ships, concert venues and musical productions.
  • NAD 2024 Biennial Conference Interpreting Team Member
  • Platform Interpreting for Governor's Bruce Rauner and Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois.
  • Chicago Blues Festival Interpreter
  • City Colleges of Chicago. Lake Forest College
  • Coca Cola, Georgia
  • AbbVie Biopharmaceutical Company Change of Leadership 2004 (Richard A. Gonzales/Robert A. Michael)
  • 2006 Howard University Commencement-Smokey Robinson Honorary Doctorate
  • Conference Interpreting: Illinois Governor's Conference on Travel & Tourism 2024
  • Employee Trainings for Amazon (Various Facilities), FEDEx, UPS and USPS
  • Social Security Administration Offices- SSA Benefits Hearings
  • Mediations

Certified Fitness Instructor & Group Trainer

Several Gyms
Oklahoma City
10.2000 - 08.2024
  • Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) Certified Instructor
  • Demonstrated proper form and technique for various exercises and stretches.
  • Provided personal training services to clients according to their individual needs.
  • Provided guidance on how to modify exercises based on injury or disability status and age.
  • Advised members on proper use of fitness equipment during individual or group sessions.
  • Instructed group classes encompassing a wide range of disciplines, including step aerobics, stretch, floor aerobics, Les Mills Fitness classes, strength training, Silver Sneakers, cycling and Zumba.

Active Duty Soldier

United States Army Corps Of Engineers
Baumholder, West Germany
11.1987 - 08.1990
  • Cultivated excellent work ethic, leadership mentality, dedication to duty and timeliness in assignment completion.

Conference Interpreting

Varied Employers
Various, USA
01.2023 - Current
  • American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Annual Meeting Chicago 2025.
  • Microsoft Ignite. Nov 18-22, 2024.
  • WE24 Annual Conference by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Oct 24-26, 2024.
  • 57th Biennial NAD (National Association for the Deaf) Conference. July 2-6, 2024.
  • ACTFL 2023 Annual Convention and World Languages Expo. Chicago 2023
  • ACTFL 2022 Annual Convention and World Languages Expo. Boston 2022
  • INBOUND24 Conference hosted by HubSpot. September 18-20, 2024. Boston, Mass
  • Obama Foundation (Democracy Forum). Dec 5, 2024.
  • Google (Deaf Kids Code): April 2025

Education

Master of Education - Urban Education

Langston University
Langston, OK
05.2008

BBA - Finance

Howard University
Washington, DC
05.2006

Associate of Applied Science - Sign Language Interpretation

Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, OK
05.2004

Timeline

Conference Interpreting

Varied Employers
01.2023 - Current

Video Relay and Community Interpreter

Sorenson Communications, LLC
02.2013 - Current

Freelance Interpreter Highlights

Self Employed Services
05.2004 - Current

Certified Fitness Instructor & Group Trainer

Several Gyms
10.2000 - 08.2024

Active Duty Soldier

United States Army Corps Of Engineers
11.1987 - 08.1990

Master of Education - Urban Education

Langston University

BBA - Finance

Howard University

Associate of Applied Science - Sign Language Interpretation

Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City

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Desiree Edwards-Smith