I’m very pleased to have been nominated once again to run for ATA Treasurer. My thanks to the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee for recognizing my longstanding dedication to ATA. It’s an organization I really enjoy serving.

For those of you who don’t know me, here is a bit of background information on my finance- and translation-related experience and my service to the New York Circle of Translators, ATA, and the profession in general.

I’ve been a full-time translator since 1980, focusing on financial and legal translation and translation industry consulting. While working in-house, I freelanced part-time and transitioned to full-time freelancing in 2001. In 1988, I was promoted to Manager of Translation Services at JP Morgan. This involved responsibility for all the firm’s translation and interpreting needs worldwide. I interfaced with internal clients, stepping them through the determination of deadlines, how to ensure the highest quality translations, and the selection of the most cost-effective level of service (e.g., full translation, gisting, sight translation). I was also responsible for client education, explaining all components of the translation process. I managed a staff of seven full-time translators and several part-timers and interns, hired and trained staff, and was responsible for vendor management, including translation companies and freelancers. I was responsible for a seven-figure budget, planning and monitoring expenditures. I implemented two Request for Proposal processes when management required that I explore outsourcing. I also translated and edited a variety of financial and legal documents from English into Spanish and Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian into English, and edited translations from English into Portuguese, French, and Italian.

I’ve taught Financial Translation and Building a Freelance Translation Business as an adjunct professor at New York University, the University of Puerto Rico, and the University of Chicago, in addition to offering countless presentations, workshops, and seminars at ATA and other events in the U.S., Spain, and Latin America.

I’ve served as Treasurer, President-Elect, and President of the New York Circle of Translators. I followed ATA finances as a longtime Board member, a member of ATA’s Finance & Audit Committee, and as ATA President-Elect and President. In addition, as the current Treasurer of the American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation (AFTI), I’ve eliminated account fees that AFTI had been paying and instituted an investment plan.

I created ATA’s Professional Development Program, instituting one-day seminars, webinars, and mini-conferences. I also helped organize division conferences. I chaired the Professional Development, Ethics, and Continuing Education Requirements Committees. I’ve also served as an official mentor for most years since the Mentoring Program was instituted.

I believe I’ve demonstrated the necessary budget, finance, and investment analysis skills to provide useful input as ATA Treasurer. I hope you will find my background and long history of service to ATA worthy of your vote.

Thank you for taking the time to read this statement and consider the skills and experience I have to offer ATA in the position of Treasurer.