Meet the Board of NITA

Karen McMillan Tkaczyk, Ph.D.

President – email: CLICK ME

Karen Tkaczyk is a French and Spanish > English freelance technical translator based in Gardnerville, Nevada. She became involved with NITA as soon as she heard of its existence, which was in summer 2008. She was thrilled to have an association representing the profession in Nevada. Karen’s particular personal interest is on training and education for established T&I professionals, and in working with newcomers to translation; she has written and given presentations on getting established as a freelance translator. She also encourages translators to work in a narrow area and be highly specialized, because she feels this had been the secret to her success. With this in mind she has given presentations on specific, technical subject matter at the two most recent annual conferences of the American Translators Association.

Before becoming a translator, Karen earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Manchester, UK, and a Diploma in French from the University of Cambridge, UK. She then worked in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. She has lived in the UK, France and Ireland as well as the US. Her translation work focuses on chemistry, its industrial applications, and chemical intellectual property.

Judy Jenner, M.B.A.

Vice President – email: CLICK ME

Judy Jenner, a Spanish and German translator, is NITA’s resident board member in southern Nevada.  She joined NITA’s board in the fall of 2008 and is delighted to help establish a professional association for linguists to help shape the future of language services in the Silver State.  Judy’s goal is also to help freelance linguists acquire the business acumen they need in order to succeed as highly specialized business professionals. A native of Austria, Judy grew up in a trilingual household in Mexico City. Her native languages are German and Spanish. She received both her undergraduate and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Judy enjoys sharing her knowledge and business sense with her fellow translators at the American Translators Association, of which she is a long-time member. She pens a translation blog, where she provides tips and suggestions about the world of freelance translation.  A 13-year resident of Las Vegas, Judy is the founding editor of a bilingual newspaper for high school students in Clark County, CLASS! Publications, and has served on its board of directors since 1999. Judy is a veteran of Spanish-language media and e-commerce and has many years’ experience in the tourism and hospitality world. Together with her twin sister, Judy runs her boutique translation business, Twin Translations. Their work focuses on e-commerce, travel and tourism, marketing, financial, and legal texts.

Rossana Bertani-Roach

Treasurer / PR Co-Chair – email: CLICK ME

Rossana Bertani-Roach is a Co-founder of NITA, and has been key in advocating and participating in the creation of a statewide association for her profession. She is member of the American Translators Association and Sparks Chamber of Commerce. Having been raised multilingual and multicultural, Rossana became a professional Interpreter and Translator in 2003. She is a Registered Nevada Court Interpreter, Immigration Court Interpreter, and holds a certification in Health Care Interpretation. Her native languages are Spanish and Portuguese. She is fluent in English and Italian, and speaks French. Rossana specializes in Court/Legal, Education, Health Care, Conference, Human Resources, Travel & Tourism, Contracts, Corporate. She is also a Foreign Language Instructor.

Rossana was born in Panama from a Brazilian mother and an Italian father. She has lived in many countries such as Uruguay, Italy, and Morocco, among others, before establishing herself in the Reno/Tahoe area where she has been for the last 12 years. Before becoming an Interpreter and Translator, Rossana earned a Bachelor in Law, from the University of Fortaleza-Unifor, in Brazil. Her professional experience also includes International Travel and Tourism operation, Regional Labor Court (in Brazil), and International Export Management.