About Us - Middle English Interpreting

Our Story: Connecting People

Learn about our mission and values

Our Journey: The Middle English Story

From a vision to a leading interpreting agency

Founded in 2009 by Mark Alan English and Tom Linker, Middle English Interpreting emerged from a passion for bridging communication gaps. Mark Alan, an experienced ASL healthcare interpreter, envisioned an agency that prioritized accessibility and reliability, empowering individuals through language access. During his 30+ years as an interpreter, he focused on emerging trends impacting this industry. He has been an executive board member, adjunct instructor, and workshop presenter throughout the US and Canada. Tom Linker, former CFO, set up our innovative billing and scheduling database as well as a host of other functional tools that have positioned us as a technical leader in our industry. Tom has a background in music, performing for over 30 years as a concert pianist in the US and Europe.

When asked what inspired the name ‘Middle English’, aside from utilizing his surname, Mark Alan replied “I had an instructor once tell me that as interpreters, we are always ‘in the middle’.” To further elaborate, he sees the team of interpreters at Middle English Interpreting as “working from the middle”, acting as a bridge that connects the two worlds – deaf and hearing citizens along with foreign language and English speakers. He envisions Middle English Interpreting interpreters being able to “mind the middle” so the client/consumer can focus on their message with confidence.

Today, under the stewardship of Adam and Dana Thilges, we honor that vision while embracing innovation and growth. Our journey is one of continuous evolution, driven by a commitment to excellence and a deep respect for the communities we serve.

Our Mission: Communication for All

Empowering individuals through accessible language services

Our mission is to make qualified interpreters available when and where they’re needed most. We believe that access to effective interpreting is a basic human right. By removing language barriers, we’re creating a world where everyone can participate fully and communicate freely. Welcome to the future of inclusive communication.

Our Values:

The Foundation of Our Service

Integrity

We operate with honesty and transparency in all our interactions.

Respect for Diversity

We celebrate and embrace cultural and linguistic differences.

Direct & Honest Communication

We believe in clear and open communication with all stakeholders.

Cultural Humility

We are committed to continuous learning and self-reflection.

Giving Back

We are dedicated to supporting and strengthening our communities.

Our Culture

A Community of Collaboration

Fostering an environment of respect, inclusivity, and growth.

We believe in creating a supportive and inclusive environment where our team, clients, consumers, and interpreters thrive. Collaboration and open communication are at the heart of our culture. We value diversity, continuous learning, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the communities we serve.

Meet Our Leaders:
Adam & Dana Thilges

Experienced leadership driving our mission forward

Adam & Dana Thilges, co-owners, are a local couple who acquired Middle English Interpreting in 2025. Coming from a background in both finance and healthcare, they are poised to continue the agency’s success.

Adam brings a wealth of experience from his 15 years working in finance and human resources. Adam loves to develop and grow great teams. He fosters a collaborative environment, ensures team members feel valued, provides growth opportunities, and leads by example. He will continue to lead Middle English by promoting a respectful and positive experience for customers, interpreters, and consumers.

Dana has a robust background as a physician assistant, where she has worked closely with a diverse team of healthcare professionals and interpreters. Her experience in the medical field has given her a unique perspective on the importance of working with effective interpreters and cultural sensitivity.

Together as a couple, they have traveled to more than 30 countries and 6 continents and hope to continue to explore the world in order to continue to broaden their horizons. They are firm believers that interacting with a wide array of individuals helps to inspire a fresh perspective, mutual understanding, can lead to better problem-solving and decision-making, and promotes joy.

Adam & Dana are honored to continue the important work being done in the community by Middle English Interpreting, and are committed to continuing the legacy they have built and run the agency with the same integrity and vision. They were attracted to the business because of values they shared with the agency’s previous owners, Mark Alan English & Tom Linker, such as empowering & advocating for others, a commitment to lifelong self-evaluation & self-reflection, cultural humility, and treating others with respect and compassion.

What Our Clients Say

We are proud of the relationships we’ve built with our clients. Here’s what they have to say about our commitment to quality and service.

"Our college uses Middle English Interpreting as our first choice for ASL Interpreting services. Whenever we put in a request, they are quick to respond, confirm details, and let us know as soon as they have assigned an interpreter. They answer questions fast and the company and interpreters have been wonderful to work with."

“I have found Middle English to be responsive to the needs of our staff and residents, professional in their delivery of ASL services, and committed to service excellence in the training of staff and specialized needs of the deaf community. As our only ASL vendor, we have relied on them to provide services whenever and wherever needed within our many departments. All requests for assistance are responded to timely and within the specific requirements of our contract”.

"The university has been using Middle English Interpreting as our only interpreting agency for over 10 years. We have been very pleased with the service they provide and I can’t think of a time when they weren’t able to provide an interpreter when we requested one. The scheduling staff has been great to work with as well. “