Mariusz Szajnert, Treasurer

Mariusz Szajnert was born, studied, taught at the University of Łódź, Poland, and worked on his PhD at the Warsaw University. He arrived in the United States from Belgium in 1989. He taught at the Chicago Public Schools, and in Michigan at Saint Mary’s College, Madonna University, and Michigan State University. He interpreted for the US Army in Poland between 2010-12. He served four terms as the President of the Polish American Congress – Michigan Division. He has been translating and interpreting to and from Polish to English since 1991.

Leyre Alegre-Figuero, Secretary

Leyre Alegre is a Spanish translator focused on English into Spanish pharmaceutical, mental health & education translations. She is also a Spanish teaching professor at Michigan Technological University, where she focuses on language & culture, as well as Medical Spanish courses, and Translation courses. Originally from Spain, she has been based in Michigan, and worked with languages, for more than 20 years. She holds a BA in Translation & Interpretation, and a master’s in teaching Spanish as a second language.

Maria Rocco, West Michigan Director

Maria is the Board representative for West Michigan.  She uses her networking skills to unite interpreters.  She is a language services professional focusing on Spanish-to-English legal and community interpretations.
Maria is a retired attorney that has been interpreting legally since 2000. 

Her past interpretations have included interpreting in court simultaneously, attorney client interactions, mediations, police interrogations to name a few.  Other fortes are Community Interpreting and Educational interpreting.

David Porta, PhD, CHI-Spanish

Originally from Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, David holds a Ph.D. from the University of Barcelona.  He is nationally certified as Spanish Healthcare Interpreter by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI).

Currently, he has a position as Senior Interpreter Healthcare at Michigan Medicine and has been serving on the MiTiN Board of Directors since 2020. Specialized in the medical field, David works both as interpreter (in-person and remotely - phone, video) and translator/proofreader with Catalan, Spanish, and English languages.

In the past he taught Spanish at the Washtenaw Community College and provided video voice-over and closed captioning as a free-lancer.