I’m honored to be considered for the position of treasurer on ATA’s Board and hope to earn the opportunity to serve the organization that has given me so much throughout my career.

For those who don’t know me, I’ve worked in language services since 1987, beginning as a freelance translator. After a few years of struggling and realizing how much I simply didn’t know, I discovered MIIS and earned my MA in Spanish translation and interpreting. That was my passport to a lifelong career, and I’ve never looked back.

From translation, I moved into project management, learning the full project lifecycle and how everything fits together; then vendor management, where I honed my advocacy skills championing translators and interpreters within the organizations I served. From there, I moved into senior leadership positions, learning how to run a successful language services company. This experience has given me a comprehensive understanding of our profession, from the realities faced by individual practitioners to the challenges of effectively managing a global operation—a unique perspective I believe would be an asset to ATA and its membership.

But what specifically qualifies me to serve as treasurer?

First, I bring direct association finance and governance experience. From 2017 to 2020, I served as treasurer on the Board of the European Language Industry Association during the challenging period when it moved its legal domicile from the U.K. to Belgium due to Brexit. That experience reinforced the importance of prudent financial oversight, effective risk management, and close collaboration among the treasurer, board, and staff.

Second, as CEO of Cesco Linguistic Services, I’m ultimately responsible for the company’s financial health and long-term sustainability. I oversee budgets and cash flow, evaluate financial performance, manage risk, and balance current operational needs with long-term priorities. This requires more than just reviewing financial statements. It requires asking the right questions, anticipating challenges, evaluating competing priorities, and communicating financial information clearly so informed decisions can be made.

I would bring that same practical approach to ATA, helping manage resources so the Association can invest in programs and services that provide meaningful value to members.

Throughout my career, I’ve also volunteered countless hours for industry causes I’m passionate about. I’d like to highlight one that I’m particularly proud of: standards development. I’ve volunteered with ASTM International since 1998, helping to standardize industry best practices and bring awareness to the global importance of our profession. I chaired the committee that developed ASTM F2575 Standard Practice for Language Translation, and currently chair subcommittee F43.03, which oversees all translation-related standards. As AI becomes more ubiquitous, standards are an important tool for educating the public about the risks of entrusting too much to technology and why professional human practitioners must remain at the core of cross-cultural communication. As an ATA Board member, I would continue this work.

It’s hard to boil down a 40-year career to 500 words, but I hope this broad picture of sound financial stewardship, professional leadership, and deep understanding of our profession is compelling enough to earn your vote.