About Us
TAPIT Tennessee Association of Professional Interpreters and Translators
Tennessee’s Language Bridge
We celebrate that TAPIT incorporated as a non-profit organization in August 2004… we are celebrating our twentieth anniversary!!
TAPIT is a professional organization of interpreters and translators specializing in spoken, written, and signed languages. Our members are experts in a variety of fields, including court, medical, and community interpreting, as well as document translation.
By bridging language gaps and breaking down communication barriers, TAPIT ensures effective interaction between individuals with and without English proficiency across both
About Tapit
Our mission is to elevate the professional image of translators and interpreters by educating the public and language service users while emphasizing the importance of certification and language proficiency. TAPIT unites court, medical, community, and sign language interpreters and translators in Tennessee, fostering collaboration and addressing common interests to build a strong statewide presence that:
- Advocates for and promotes the interests of interpreters and translators in Tennessee.
- Upholds the highest ethical and professional standards in the fields of interpreting and translation.
- Provides a platform for discussion of language access and professional issues affecting interpreters, translators, courts, legal and healthcare services, educational institutions, and business and individuals contracting for language services.
- Communicates the latest industry news.
- Organizes and delivers training courses and workshops for interpreter and translator professional development.
- Serves as an advisory resource for interpreters, translators, courts, legal professionals, law enforcement, healthcare providers, businesses, and educational institutions on matters related to the interpreting and translation professions.
Our Board
TAPIT’s Board of Directors is elected by TAPIT active members in good standing, according to our bylaws. Our next Election will be in the fall of 2026. The Nominations Committee is a standing committee which works year round to identify leaders for our organization.
President (2026-2027) Richard Ponce-de-Leon, ms
Richard Ponce de Leon leads training and language access initiatives at the Tennessee Language Center. In this role, he develops and manages training programs for language interpreters and translators, alongside intercultural communication initiatives tailored for both public and private institutions. His expertise extends to providing technical guidance to local governments and organizations on matters concerning language access. He has a background in Linguistics, and has interpreting experience in legal, medical, and educational settings. He is a Certified Public Manager, a Certified Court Interpreter in the State of Tennessee and holds a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
President Elect (2026-2027) Matt Benton, FCCI
Matt was born and raised in Chattanooga and graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in philosophy and Spanish. He then moved to Chile, where he lived and worked as an English teacher for seven years. Upon his return to Tennessee in 2017, he began to pursue a career in interpreting and has since traveled all over this great state, working primarily in state courts but also covering medical appointments, immigration court, and a variety of community interpreting. He recently passed the FCICE and is eagerly awaiting certification.
Secretary (2026-2027) Felipe Fiuza, PhD
Felipe Fiuza is an Associate Professor of Spanish at ETSU, where he is also the Director of its Language and Culture Resource Center (LCRC). As director of the LCRC, he works towards closing the gap between native speakers of English and people from other languages and cultures through a) language services, such as ESL classes, interpretations for health clinics, translations etc. and b) cultural events, such as the Corazón Latino Music Festival. Dr. Fiuza’s research aims at contributing to the Cognitive Sciences interdisciplinary field through analysis of embodied cognition in Literature. He is a poet with two published books, Ucideia, by EDUFES University Press, and Interpretaciones/Interpretações/Interpretations, by Finishing Line Press. In 2025 he won the Harold Love Award for his Community Service at the State of Tennesse, and he became president-elect of SCOLAS (Southwest Council of Latin American Studies).
TREASURER (2025-2026) Maria Belen Miller, CMI-Spanish
Maria Belen Miller, born and raised in Quito, Ecuador, has a 14-year career in interpretation, specializing in legal and immigration settings. With a background in Business Administration, she is a Certified Medical Interpreter, Registered Court Interpreter, and Immigration Court Interpreter, ensuring clear communication in high-stakes situations. Passionate about justice and professional growth, she aims to further her expertise in legal interpreting and advocates for better working conditions for interpreters in Tennessee. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with family.
MEMBER-AT-LARGE (2025-2026) HEBBA ABULSAAD, CCI, CHI-Arabic
Hebba Abulsaad has over 25 years of experience as a freelance interpreter, translator, lecturer, and program manager, with two decades as a client liaison for independent and corporate businesses. In the U.S., she has worked as an Arabic-English legal, medical, and community interpreter for over 15 years, also teaching Arabic and interpreter workshops. She holds multiple certifications, including TN Arabic Certified Court Interpreter, CCHI Certified Healthcare Interpreter, and ATA Certified Credentialed Interpreter. Hebba earned a master’s in translation and interpreting from the University of Illinois and has served on the boards of NAJIT and TAPIT.
MEMBER-AT-LARGE (2025-2026) BARBARA DERTHICK, CCI
A Court Certified Spanish Interpreter for 11 years, primarily in Hamilton County Criminal Court, also a Registered Nurse who last worked during the pandemic. Holding an RN degree from UNC Chapel Hill and a minor in Spanish alongside a major in International Relations from UC, she began their career in Guatemala with the Peace Corps, where she met her spouse. Later, she lived in Chattanooga, home to many immigrants from the same Guatemalan region, and spent two years in Colombia with the Mennonite Central Committee. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, line dancing, watching Spanish movies, and spending time with her grandchildren.
MEMBER-AT-LARGE (2025-2026) ELEAZAR JIMENEZ, CMI-Spanish
Eleazar, born in Baja California and raised in California, began his career as a Certified Electronic Technician before transitioning into medical interpreting after witnessing the struggles of immigrant field workers. While working in sales management, he volunteered for pro bono legal services, later training as a Legal and Medical Interpreter through TFLI/TLC, TAPIT, and IMIA, where he was awarded Best International Spanish Interpreter in 2017. Since 2011, he has worked as a Medical Interpreter at TFLI/TLC and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, specializing in level-one trauma, ER, and palliative care.
MEMBER-AT-LARGE (2026-2027) Julia Ledesma de Rusiñol, CHI-Spanish
Julia E. Ledesma de Rusiñol is a Certified Healthcare Interpreter™–Spanish with extensive experience supporting communication in medical, academic, and community settings in Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. She holds a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from East Tennessee State University, where she created an educational module on improving healthcare access for LEP patients.
She interprets for Ballad Health and ETSU Health in inpatient, outpatient, behavioral health, surgical, and home-health settings. Her background also includes clinical simulations for medical students, program coordination at ETSU’s Language and Culture Resource Center, translation work, and training others in effective interpreter use. Her approach is grounded in ethics, clarity, and patient safety.
ADVISORY BOARD
TAPIT is very lucky to have a group of advisors who were appointed to furnish insight and guidance to the board, having each contributed greatly to our organization and the profession. Our current Advisory Board includes three founding members (Marvyn Tipps, Judith Kenigson Kristy, and Nick Perez.)
Marvyn Tipps, Ph.D, President Emeritus, Founder
Judith Kenigson Kristy, Life Member, Founder
Hope Collins, Past President
Nick Perez, Life Member, Founder
Dennis Caffrey, Life Member