Center for Legal American Sign Language Interpreters, Inc is a non-profit corporation founded by and for legal ASL interpreters. In addition to presenting Iron Sharpens Iron, the triennial Conference of Legal Sign Language Interpreters, the Center engages in a number of activities aimed at continuously improving the capabilities of professional legal ASL interpreters. The Center has been granted a 501 (c) 3 designation by the IRS and is supported by conference registration fees, grants, and donations. Click here for more information about supporting the LASLI Center.

Mission Statement: The mission of Iron Sharpens Iron is to present legal sign language interpreters with an opportunity to enhance skills and augment knowledge in the specialized field of legal and judicial interpreting by providing quality training and education in a focused environment conducive to discussion, learning and mutual mentoring.

Diane Fowler, CT, CI, NAD V, SC: L
President and Director

Diane Fowler began her career as an interpreter in 1983, signing in her church. She received the Quality Assurance state credential (QA II) in Alabama in 1985 and worked in mainstreamed schools, colleges, and community settings. Diane founded Eagle Interpreting Services, Inc. in 1993, providing sign language interpreting and consulting services locally and nationally. In May, 2002, Diane co-founded Conference of Legal Sign Language Interpreters, Inc., sponsor of the triennial Iron Sharpens Iron Conference. In 2008, this became a part of the LASLI Center. Diane is the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of two girls and a boy. She lives in Sugar Hill, Georgia.

Marci LCH Smith, CT

Marci Smith graduated from Georgia Perimeter College with an interpreting degree in 1992 and served as a full-time educational interpreter in elementary, middle school, high school, and post-secondary classrooms. In 2000 Marci accepted a position at Georgia Perimeter College, developing and teaching the transliteration curriculum in the Interpreter Training Program. In 2002, Marci and her husband moved to Tennessee, and she began interpreting at the University of Tennessee. Marci now works as an interpreter in private practice and as a consultant providing interpreting seminars.