About Wes Maynard

Biography

Wes Maynard, MBA, CI/CT, NIC Master

Wes’s professional history includes a variety of private, public, and entrepreneurial experience.

Current Role

Wes is a full-time interpreter for the world's largest video relay service (VRS) provider, Sorenson Communications. VRS allows deaf and hearing consumers to communicate through sign language interpreters on the telephone using video conference technology.

Public Sector

Wes served as the Executive Director of the Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, a statewide agency that creates systemic improvements for deaf and hard-of-hearing citizens. The Council's legislative focus during Wes's administration resulted in three successful bills passing the Legislature, namely, The Idaho Educational Interpreter Act; ASL as a Foreign Language; and the Deaf/HH Child’s Bill of Rights.

Private Sector

As a manager for Sorenson Communications, Wes was responsible for the successful oversight and operation of an interpreting call center. In the same role, he also participated in a number of special projects involving professional development, marketing, and public relations.

While working for HostPro (a Micron Electronic’s company) as a senior account manager, Wes had the opportunity to manage some of the company’s largest business accounts, such as the Idaho Department of Labor, St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center, the Idaho Statesman, Idaho Power, the Kathryn Albertson Foundation, and Idaho Independent Bank.

As a sales professional for the world's largest biomedical pharmaceutical company, Pfizer Inc., Wes worked on a regional team responsible for a 13 million-dollar quota. Part of his responsibilities included cultivating major accounts, such as the Mountain Home Air Force Base, the Boise VA hospital, and other Treasure Valley hospitals. He represented Pfizer at philanthropy events with Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo.

As a marketing specialist intern for UUNET (an MCI WorldCom Company), Wes worked with global account managers to promote data networking solutions for Fortune 500 companies.

Wes's freelance experience has afforded him opportunities to interpret for world leaders, such as President Barack Obama, former president George W. Bush, Henry Kissinger, and Anita Hill. Further, it has given him exposure to international Fortune 500 companies, such as Micron, Motorola, Boeing, and Honeywell.

Entrepreneurial

Wes was a co-owner of The Maynard Group LLC, a successful private real estate investment firm specializing in Treasure Valley residential rental properties. He and his partner sold the company’s assets in 2005.

Education and Credentials

Wes holds a bachelor’s degree in intercultural and organizational communication, and a master’s degree in business administration.

He is a certified interpreter and transliterator, holding three national certifications from the national Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf: Certificate of Interpretation (CI), Certificate of Transliteration (CT), and National Interpreter Certification at the Master Level (NIC Master). Prior to becoming nationally certified in 1998, Wes held Arizona’s highest quality assurance screening rating (IQAS Level V).

Volunteer Board Service

Wes has served as a Board member of the Idaho Assistive Technology Project, Idaho Americans with Disabilities Task Force, Deaf Center of Idaho, Intermountain Special Studies Institute, Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Idaho Educational Interpreter Interagency Consortium, and the Consortium of Idahoans with Disabilities.

Wes has had the pleasure of donating volunteer service to the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, Phoenix Association of the Deaf, Baltimore Community Support Services for the Deaf, and the Walnut Creek California Police Department.