UTRID’s 2019 Conference will have 7 Deaf Presenters!

Join us at the UTRID Conference August 2nd & 3rd to Feed Your E.L.K.

Pamela Mower

Bruce Johnson

Ben Daniel

Jared Allebest

Katie Cook-Christensen

Brook Grossinger

Greg Rathbun

More details and schedule coming soon.

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Born deaf, Pamela Mower grew up in Salt Lake City. She earned her degrees (Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies) and (Master of Science in Administration and Supervision) from Gallaudet University. She worked at Gallaudet University for over 10 years as an Employer Specialist in the Career Center before moving back to Salt Lake City and worked at Sorenson Communications in the Marketing Department as a studio producer. After four years, in May 2013, Pamela started as a statewide employment specialist at Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She is a board member for Utah Association of the Deaf, Secretary for Beehive Chapter of Gallaudet University Alumni Association, Board member for Wheeler Scholarship Foundation and more

Brooke Grossinger was born Deaf into a Deaf family and grew up near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2004, Brooke graduated from Gallaudet University with a bachelor’s degree in Deaf studies. In 2008, she earned a master’s degree in AmericanSign Language (ASL) education. Brooke’s husband is Deaf. They have two children, one of whom is Deaf. Her depth of knowledge about ASL and Deaf culture is rich, something she passionately shares and discusses daily.

Currently, Brooke is in her ninth year of working with Sorenson Communications. She currently serves as community engagement manager in Sorenson’s marketing department, a place she describes as “a blended family” comprised of Deaf andhearing coworkers.

Brooke’s ambition is to ensure all people gain a deep understanding of ASL and of the values and history of Deaf culture.

Hello! My name is Katie Cook!

I am a Deaf woman native of northern Utah. I am currently attending college majoring in education. I currently work at USDB/JMS as a teacher’s aide, and I absolutely love what I do. I am happily married to a hearing man and we have two hearing dogs in an apartment complex that can also very much hear us. My dog is currently an emotional support dog in the training process of becoming a service dog. My topic will be, of course, about my dogs. I am excited to share about my relationship with animals and why my dog is so incredibly important to me!

Greg was born in San Bernardino, CA where he lived till age 9. His family then moved to Utah where he attended USDB. When he was young, he worked for his father as a cabinet painter. He changes his career hoping for more opportunities and became diesel mechanic. That is what he worked as for the US Postal Service for 31 years till his retirement. Greg is Married to Rosa Rathbun and they have 3 children, and 7 grandchildren. He is enjoying retirement getting in as much fishing as he can. In the winter you will find him on his snowmobile ice fishing on Strawberry Reservoir.

Bruce Johnson is currently working for Sorenson Communications as a test engineer where he earned his success with ntouch VP2 project. When he isn’t glued yo his workplace, he spends time up in Utah and Idaho mountain streams to fish. Bruce currently resides in South Jordan with his wife, Patricia Lowry along with two deaf boxers, and an interpreter boxer. You can reach him at bwj4577@gmail.com

Jared Allebest is the founder of Allebest Law Group.

He was born and raised in Southern California. He attended Brigham Young University and graduated with a BA in English. He attended law school at Thomas Jefferson of School of Law in San Diego, California. He graduated in 2009 with a J.D. and moved to Utah to practice law.

In 2011, he opened Allebest Law Group and began representing both hearing and deaf clients. He specializes in the following areas of law: advocacy, estate planning, business law, discrimination law and Deaf Rights.

Jared Allebest is the former Chairman for Loop Utah. Loop Utah is an ongoing advocacy campaign dedicated to educating Utah venues about the benefits of hearing loop technology, which provides the Hard of Hearing (HoH) community in Utah the enriched experience they deserve.

He also sits as a community representative on the Advisory Council to the Utah Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (USDB Advisory Council). This organization includes administrators, educators, community leaders and parents of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. Together, they meet to advise and make recommendations to the Utah State Board of Education and the USDB Superintendent regarding staff positions, policy, budgets, and operations, appropriate programs and services that will be beneficial to the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind. The goal of USDB is to provide the best educational opportunities for Deaf and Blind students.

His passion and interests are Crossfit, Ultimate Frisbee, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, reading, attending concerts and traveling around the world. So far he has visited 30 countries around the world.