State Interpreter Roster

Division of Latino Affairs

Official State
Interpreter Roster

In 2004, legislation was enacted charging
the Iowa Division of Latino Affairs with
the creation of a standard system to qualify Spanish-English interpreters for generalized and specialized purposes and to maintain a roster of individuals qualified to provide interpreter services for the courts, health care and social service agencies.

Latino Affairs works with Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) to enroll, provide financial assistance, and to graduate qualified interpreters. The first class in the field of general interpretation entered the program in August 2006 and seventeen students graduated June 9th, 2007.

Qualified General Interpreters of Iowa

Oscar Alvarez
Muscatine, Iowa
Cell: (563) 299-2544
oscaralvarez21@hotmail.com

Days and hours available to work:
Monday - Saturday: 7am to 6pm

Availability to travel: Open.

Personal/professional profile:
I am from Mexico City, and have a degree in Economics. I am an electrician and during tax season I prepare taxes. I am a notary public in Iowa. I speak, read and write English and Spanish.

Sandra D Alvarez
Ankeny, Iowa
Phone: (515) 965-0479
Cell: (515) 306-3467
sandra_alvarez_herrera@hotmail.com

Days and hours available to work: Monday - Saturday: any time

Availability to travel: Central Iowa

Personal/professional profile:
I am a qualified Spanish/English interpreter working to become a Human Service Interpreter at DMACC. I have completed the Basic Interpreter's Training Classes at Mercy Hospital.
I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from The Catholic University of Chile.
I have four years of experience as an interpreter and a translator. I have worked in the medical field, the educational field and the social work field. I really enjoy working with people.

Ruben Arias-Pe
Des Moines, Iowa
Phone: (515) 953-5601
Cell: (515) 321-5330
echudeifa@aol.com

Days and hours available to work: Weekdays after 5 p.m. & weekends

Availability to travel: Across Iowa

Personal/professional profile:
Right now I am working as an Auditor II for the Iowa Department of Revenue. Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from the University of La Habana Cuba, Masters Degree in Accounting, Statistics and Marketing from the same University, CPA certification from the University of Florida (Gainsville).

Amanda Lenore Forney
Des Moines, Iowa
Phone: (515) 243-3034

Days and hours available to work:
Mon. – Fri.: 9 am – 2 pm

Availability to travel: Polk County

Personal/professional profile:
Educational Background: Lincoln High School, La James College, DMACC. Professional Background: Des Moines Public Schools, ESL Associate, Bilingual Administrative Assistant, Native Language Tutor. Wells Fargo: Bilingual Collector.

Rossany Brugger
West Des Moines, Iowa
Phone: (515) 224-0592
rossany.brugger@rosway.net
Website: www.rosway.net

Days and hours available to work: Weekday evenings and Saturdays

Availability to travel: Central Iowa

Personal/professional profile:
I am a qualified interpreter and a professional translator with 17 years of experience. I currently work for the Iowa Department of Public Health where I translate and edit documents. I have also translated several publications of the private and public sector and have interpreted at conferences. In the past, I worked for the Human Rights Department, United Nations and United States Agency for International Development. I am a journalist and have a master degree in public health. I am culturally competent to work well with different clients.

Lizbeth Kiralina Pimentel
Ottumwa, Iowa
Cell: (641) 226-0300
Lizbeth_96@msn.com

Days and hours available to work:
Evenings & weekends!

Availability to travel: Southeastern & Central Iowa

Personal/professional profile:
I am currently working for Clow Valve in Oskaloosa. My position here is Industrial Relations Clerk in the Human Resources Department. I have some experience as an interpreter & translator in H/R, medical, legal, outreach, and in different community resources (W.I.C, DHS, SIDA, United Way, general relief).

Erick Franco Francia
Pleasant Hill, Iowa
Phone: (515) 309-1819
Cell: (515) 564-1127
francia21ef@gmail.com

Days and hours available to work:
Weekday evenings/all day weekends

Availability to travel: across Iowa

Personal/professional profile:
Experience as an interpreter/translator in the field of Healthcare. Translator’s experience in the court field.

Francisco Guzmán-Zaragoza
Johnston, Iowa
Phone: (515) 278-4984
Cell: (515) 669-3531 Franciscointerpreter@hotmail.com

Days and hours available to work:
Mon -Wed: anytime
Thurs. and Sat.: mornings - 3:00pm

Availability to travel: No. current student at DMACC

Personal/professional profile:
Primary education in Mexico until 10th grade. Urbandale High School graduate-2004-outstanding achievement. Working to become a Human Service Interpreter at DMACC. Active in student government, support services and clubs (Int’l Club and ITR Club) and active in the Latino community, Latinos Unidos, Latinos affair, ISED… DMACC Certificate as a General Interpreter and Translator (English-Spanish) DMACC Certificate in Management Taking advanced English classes, such as composition II. Interpreter for parent-teacher conferences, school registrations, and medical visits.

Maria Magdalena Kotlarz
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Phone: (515) 576-5069
Cell: (515) 576-5069
11ckmk11@mchsi.com

Days and hours available to work:
Mon. - Fri.: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Availability to travel: Pocahontas, Humboldt, Wright, Hamilton, Boone, Greene, Webster, Calhoun, Sac and Carroll.

Personal/professional profile:
I have done free-lance Interpreting and Translating for the state of Iowa-District Court for the past three years and have been on the Roster for the State of Iowa for the past two years. I have been doing interpreting and translating since I was 17 years old in the state of Wisconsin. I also have done some Interpreting and Translating in the medical, social and educational areas. I like to help non-English speaking individuals!