Getting your idea across in other languagesTM

Meet David

Click on a section below to learn more.

  • Strengths

    Native-like command of Spanish, native command of English

    Bi-directional (Spanish to English/English to Spanish) at interpretation and translation

    Subject matter expertise: legal, medical, financial, law enforcement, and more!

    Versatility, availability to travel

    Interpretation experience for people from all 19 Spanish-speaking countries

    Resided in Mexico for 13 years; traveled extensively throughout Ecuador

  • Translation and Interpretation Experience

    Legal interpreting: out of court proceedings: depositions, examinations under oath, independent medical exams, interviews, meetings, recorded statements

    Topics: construction, contracts, education, personal injury (auto, slip and fall, oil/gas, wrongful death), worker's compensation

    Legal interpreting: in court proceedings (bankruptcy, civil, family, criminal, immigration, juvenile, probate, worker's compensation)

    On-site in AR, AZ, CA, CO, KS, IA, NE, SD, TX, by phone for 21 additional states and Puerto Rico

    Conference and seminar interpreting

    Topics: law enforcement, trade policy, infant health on-site in CO, MD, VA

    Translation/voice over/translation analysis

    Topics translated/analyzed: financial, business, law enforcement, legal, medical, politics, sustainable agriculture, official documents, resumes/cover letters

    Telephone interpreting

    For callers located in: U.S., Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Great Britain, Egypt, France, Israel, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Venezuela

    Topics: banks, courts (see above), healthcare, insurance, leisure industry, law enforcement, legal, mortgages, 911, public utilities, technical support, government agencies (U.S./U.K.)

  • Teaching Experience

    Translation and Interpretation Certificate Program, Community College of Aurora, Aurora, CO

    The only courses of their kind in at any institution of higher learning in Colorado!
    Business of Translation and Interpretation
    Codes of Ethics for Translators and Interpreters

  • Formal Education

    M.A. Translation and Interpretation, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, CA

    B.A. Latin American Studies, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico

  • Qualifications

    FBI Contract Linguist
    The FBI's selection and examination process is among the most demanding in the U.S. language services industry. Active linguists are held to stringent standards.

    Federal Court Interpreter Certification
    The top credential in U.S. judicial interpreting; only 4% of those who take this certification examination pass, according to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts

    U.S. Department of State
    Passed liaison interpreter exam

    State Court Interpreter Certification: Colorado
    According to the Colorado Judicial Department, overall certification exam pass rate is 12%

  • Professional Association Memberships

    American Translators Association (ATA)

    National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT)

    Colorado Translators Association (CTA)

    Colorado Association of Professional Interpreters (CAPI)

    World Trade Center, Denver

    Colorado Bar Association (as a Patron of the Bar)

  • Publications

    Lauman, D. (2011). "Parrot or Professional?" reprinted in CAPTIONS, The Official Newsletter of the Colorado Association of Professional Interpreters, 1st Quarter 2011. pp 8-9

    Lauman, D. (2010). "Parrot or Professional?" In Proteus, The Newsletter of the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators, 19, 2. pp 8

  • How did David learn his Spanish?

    David is a native of California brought up in Oregon. Other than a basic introduction to Spanish in high school, he did not start studying this language in earnest until his sophomore year at the University of Oregon.

    An intended leave of absence from the U of O to take a Spanish immersion course in Cuernavaca, Mexico led to his transfer to the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México to major in Latin American Studies. The language of instruction was entirely Spanish, and David was the only U.S. citizen enrolled in this degree program.

    While David's formal education helped him hone his Spanish for professional purposes, his real-world experiences south of the border were equally important. Although he was a freelance corporate English teacher at the Mexico City offices of Federal Express, Colgate-Palmolive, Eaton Cutler Hammer and Roche, his ability to conduct business entirely in Spanish enabled him to get these clients and several others.

    His 13-year stay in Mexico City also involved an ongoing course from the School of Hard Knocks on how to handle taxes, insurance, contracts, banking, government red tape and healthcare (to name a few) in Spanish. Of course, learning the language was only part of the fun of getting things done; figuring out how the system works in Mexico was the other half of the equation!

  • Volunteer activities

    Volunteer interpreter, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Denver, Colorado

    Volunteer interpreter, 9News Health Fairs, Denver, Colorado

    Volunteer translator, Casa del Niño Sordo, Tehuacan, Puebla, Mexico

    Membership Director, Colorado Translators Association