ABOUT
Get to Know Us
and Our Philosophy
ABOUT STEPHANIE
Stephanie Zornoza, M.A.
CEO | Founder of The ASL Shop
Stephanie is a proud Deaf woman living in Los Angeles. She is a native signer of American Sign Language (ASL), taught to her by her grandmother who is also a Deaf native ASL user. Stephanie received her Bachelor's degree in ASL with a minor in Linguistics and a Master's degree in Sign Language Education, both from Gallaudet University. She then went on to teach at her alma mater. Stephanie has taught ASL in several well known colleges and universities, such as UCLA, CSUN, and Pierce. Growing up, she enjoyed journaling. Many of her entries answered the question, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" with "a teacher." As an adult, she has pursued her passion for teaching and thoroughly enjoys the process. She hopes that you join her on this journey of learning!
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Fun tidbits: She loves cats, CrossFit, coffee, chocolate, cookies, and chatting with her husband! And apparently the letter C!
The Crew
ABOUT BRE
Breana Haner
Head of
Communications
Breana grew-up in Loveland, Colorado and currently lives in Burbank, CA. She graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Technical Communications with a minor in Theatrical Performance. She also holds Associate degrees in Arts & Humanities, Social & Behavioral Sciences, Deaf Studies and ASL Interpreting from Pierce. Breana works as a professional interpreter and loves encouraging students to expand their ASL learning!
Fun tidbits: She loves her cat (Cleo), mac and cheese, plays guitar, makes jewelry and was once a clog dancer!
ABOUT TRAVIS
Travis Zornoza
COFO: It's Not Just
About the Numbers
Travis comes from a fourth-generation Deaf family. He was born and raised in the "Bluegrass State," Kentucky. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Financial & Accounting Management. He now manages his own accounting company. His passion is to help small businesses develop an understanding of the financial measurements that give indications as to the health of the business. He strives to empower these businesses to navigate their way towards profitability through American Sign Language.
Fun tidbits: He enjoys playing chess, reading with his cats, CrossFit, dining out with his wife, and is passionate about ASL storytelling!
ABOUT HADEL
Hadel Somo
ASL Instructor
Hadel was born and raised in Iraq and currently lives in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) with a Bachelor of Arts in Deaf Studies and a concentration in ASL Literature. In addition, she holds a Master of Arts in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University. Hadel has taught ASL in various local settings such as Harper College, Gallaudet University, non-profit organizations (GLAD), and Fairmont Private Schools. Growing up, her desire was always to become a teacher, a dream which has come to fruition! Having the opportunity to teach, support and encourage hearing students to immerse themselves into learning about Deaf culture, community and history is a passion for her.
Fun tidbits: She loves swimming, cleaning the house, watching Turkish series, and spending quality time with her husband, children, sister and friends.
ABOUT MANIK
Manik Yervandyan
ASL Instructor
Manik was born in Yerevan, Armenia and later moved to Los Angeles, CA at the age of three where she has since resided. She is bilingual, having both American Sign Language and Armenian as native languages. She attended California State University, Northridge where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Deaf Studies. Manik has been a sought-after private ASL tutor for five years helping college students as well as families with Deaf children. She taught ASL 1 & 2 to Apple and Abbott employees at Berlitz, Inc for two years and currently teaches ASL in high school. Teaching students and families about Deaf Culture and American Sign Language is her passion as well as being a proud homeschool-mom to her two CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults).
Fun tidbits: She loves cooking, reading, coffee, flowers and spending time with her family.
ABOUT ELSE
Else Macilroy
Product Manager
Else grew up in Seattle, Washington and is currently enrolled at Clark University in Massachusetts. She began learning ASL in high school and credits her skill development to her wonderful Deaf instructors. Else has worked in the non-profit sector for three years as the Google Workspace Administrator and Communications Coordinator for Surfers For Strays. She enjoys collaborating with passionate people on projects close to her heart. Else is excited to share and develop her technological and organizational skills with The ASL Shop.
Fun tidbits: She loves traveling, her pets, playing cards with her friends, reading, learning about linguistics and cultures, and meaningful conversations.
ABOUT JLYNN
JLynn Marfino
Event Planner &
ASL Instructor
JLynn comes from a third-generation Deaf family. She earned her master's in Sign Language Education at Gallaudet University (the only liberal arts university for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing). She teaches ASL at UCLA and PCC. Apart from teaching, she enjoys planning events, where she can make people smile. JLynn's love for event planning led her to expand her skill set into a full-service special event planner for The ASL Shop.
She has a warm heart, creative mind, passion for planning and impeccable taste. With her drive, she creates ways to ensure that events for The ASL Shop are unique and unforgettable. She designs experiences that fill people's hearts with joy. By infusing her events with magnetism, she not only achieves the goals of The ASL Shop, but also brings the community together, aligning with the company's vision: connection.
Fun tidbits: She loves traveling, brunching, working out, sunset watching, road-tripping, spending time with her three cats and planning events!
ABOUT SAMMY
Sammy Fusco
Executive Assistant
Sammy was born and raised in Minnesota, the state of hockey! She was born hearing and became Deaf at 2 years old. She spent nearly 10 years in Washington, DC getting her Bachelor of Arts in ASL and Master of Arts in School Social Work at Gallaudet University. Before going to graduate school, she worked for Gallaudet’s Youth Programs as an assistant, then a specialist for a few years. She’s a military spouse and a mother of three CODAs & an anxious Terrier mix and currently lives in California.
Fun tidbits: She hoards and reads books, enjoys cooking and watching trashy reality TV shows, doing arts and crafts, trying out new restaurants.
ABOUT MARIAM
Mariam Janvelyan
​Learning Experience
Developer
Mariam was born in Yerevan, Armenia, and relocated to Los Angeles with her parents and older sister at the age of three. She is fluent in three languages: Armenian, English and American Sign Language. Mariam earned her Bachelor's degree in Linguistics and Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she continued her academic journey as a full-time interpreter in the ASL program after graduation. With a lifelong passion for language, Mariam found interpreting to be the perfect extension of her career, combining her linguistic expertise and dedication to communication.
Fun Tidbits: In her free time, Mariam is an avid reader, often staying up late to finish a good book or series. She enjoys watching films and TV shows with her husband, cherishing moments with her two beautiful children and exploring new destinations through travel. Her ultimate goal is to become a polyglot.
Do you want to be part of our amazing team? Yes? Come and shoot us a message!
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OUR APPROACH
Learn ASL anytime, anywhere.
Here at The ASL Shop, we believe the best way to learn language is by interacting with native Deaf signers. Therefore, your instructors will always be people whose first language is ASL, grew up living and breathing ASL, and have been surrounded by the Deaf community. These people are thoroughly integrated into the Deaf world. We believe that an authentic experience is the best experience. Certain nuances of any language can only be shown by someone who has grown up using them. We also believe in a fun and interactive environment - less textbook, more hands-on! We strive to simplify the challenges of learning language by providing a supportive and exciting environment that makes people want to learn more, push their limits step by step, and apply what they learn to everyday life. Learning language should never feel like a chore!