The #1 conference for localization professionals, networking, and industry innovation

Your LocWorld Team

A warm welcome from the team at LocWorld

We can’t wait to see you at the next LocWorld!

To make sure you get any assistance you need — pre, during and post event — here are a few friendly faces who can help you. If this is your first time with us, we’d like to introduce you to our core LocWorld family members. You can learn a little about each team member and get a feeling for where and when you may see them at the event.

Donna Parrish
Donna ParrishPrincipal
Donna Parrish is co-organizer of the LocWorld conferences. She was publisher of the magazine MultiLingual for twenty years. Prior to that, she was a computer programmer for 25 years. Donna holds a degree in mathematics from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. She is presently the secretary of Translators without Borders.
Ulrich Henes
Ulrich Henes Principal
Ulrich Henes is the founder and president of The Localization Institute, a Madison, Wisconsin-based consulting and event organizing company. Already in his early years, Ulrich was fascinated by language, cultural differences, and global business. He spent the first decade of his career organizing international campaigns against the arms race and apartheid; and promoting global social justice. For the past 25 years Ulrich has channeled his passion for all things global into promoting awareness and respect for differences among people, countries, and languages in the international business community.
Anne-Marie Colliander Lind
Anne-Marie Colliander LindMarketing Manager
Anne-Marie Colliander Lind joined our team in March 2015 as Marketing Manager. She has been in the language industry since 1990 helping multinational organizations solve their language issues by serving in executive sales and management positions at leading service, technology and market research companies. At LocWorld she will ensure that we provide the best possible experience for our growing list of sponsors, exhibitors and attendees. Anne-Marie is a world traveler with a passion for her family, good food and downhill skiing.
Sarah Deming-Henes
Sarah Deming-HenesExhibit Manager
Sarah has been with The Localization Institute Inc. proudly, since the beginning to some degree, being Ulrich’s daughter. She has helped staff the occasional Localization Institute event and LocWorld over the last 20 years. In 2017 she was delighted to step up into the role of Exhibit Manager for LocWorld. Over the past 10 years, when not working for The Localization Institute, Sarah has made her living as an Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) Stage Manager for profession theater productions at a variety of Wisconsin’s largest theaters. She has loved helping bring different productions to life, ranging from older classics like Romeo and Juliet to newer classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas. Sarah loves to travel, and if it can be with friends and family so much the better!

Alex Bernet
Alex BernetVideo Coordinator | Producer PIC
Alex Bernet is the LocWorld video coordinator and serves as a producer of LocWorld’s Process Innovation Challenge (PIC). He is also the manager of the Master Class Program at The Localization Institute. Alex graduated with a BA in History and a Certificate in Integrated Liberal Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2007 and joined the Localization Institute in 2012. Alex moved from Madison, Wisconsin to Denver, Colorado in 2016 where he loves to hike and spend as much time as possible in the great outdoors.
Jill Nellis
Jill NellisOnsite Room Manager
Jill Nellis is an onsite room manager for LocWorld on behalf of event organizer, The Localization Institute, Inc, a Madison, Wisconsin-based consulting and event organizing company. She earned a business administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1992 and joined The Localization Institute, Inc. in 2007. She has raised two sons and has recently entered the empty nest phase of life. She enjoys reading historical fiction, volunteering, technology, investing, exploring new cities and spending time with family.
Bernie Nova
Bernie NovaRegistration Manager
Bernie Nova joined LocWorld in 2008 to assist with registration for LocWorld conferences and to provide support on special projects for MultiLingual Computing. Since 2011 she has been the registration manager for LocWorld.
Kris Wiegand
Kris WiegandProgram Development
Kris Wiegand has been with The Localization Institute since 2010, managing the Institute’s seminar program. More recently, she has added the roles of program development for the LocWorld conferences, and managing the project management and quality certification programs for Localization Institute. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Kris taught middle school science for many years throughout the US. After taking time off to raise her children, Kris is glad to be back to work! Off hours, she loves to hang out with her family, hike, kayak, read and volunteer.
Leah Thoreson
Leah ThoresonFinance Department
Leah Thoreson joined Multilingual and Localization World’s finance departments in June of 2015, bringing 20+ years of experience in the accounting field with her. Leah loves laughing, traveling, meeting new people, attending outdoor live music events, playing in the dirt (gardening), spending time with her family (especially her 3 grandchildren), wild mushroom foraging and enjoying natural hot springs in the fresh mountain air of Idaho, Montana, and Oregon.