The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2019 - 10

ATA 2019 ELECTIONS: CANDIDATE STATEMENTS continued

membership. I believe that as an association we have the
opportunity to take an explicit position on many more
topics to influence the field. For example, to the best of
my knowledge no code of ethics exists for the professional
practice of localization management. As a director, I would
like to contribute to the process of gathering opinions
to arrive at an association-wide position regarding the
competencies and core tenets of professionalism of diverse
roles in localization.
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I would like to contribute to the further standardization
of the services delivered by each division so that members
receive the same services no matter the division. As the
assistant administrator of ATA's TCD, I have focused on
implementing data collection systems to capture important
operating tasks, roles, and internet protocol produced by
our division. I plan to use that experience as a case study
to investigate ways we can further standardize the working
procedures of all divisions.

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As an ATA member, I have been given countless opportunities
that have positively impacted my career growth and
trajectory-opportunities I would not otherwise have had.
As a director, I would like to contribute to membership
recruitment from university programs in translation and
localization, in part by communicating the many benefits that
come from membership in this great association!

I have gained so much through my affiliation with ATA, and
I would be so honored for the opportunity to contribute to this
organization as a director.

DIRECTOR (THREE-YEAR TERM)
VERONIKA DEMICHELIS | veronika@veronikademichelis.com
A native Russian, I grew up in Moscow and
spent summers in Saint Petersburg and
Volgograd. I was a Soviet child, a teenager in
turbulent perestroika times, and a millennial in
Vladimir Putin's Russia.
I was so interested in languages and cultures
at school that I chose to get a master's degree in linguistics. As
a sophomore, I was offered a summer job. My employer turned
out to be a Fortune 500 company, and my temporary gig turned
out to be an 18-year-long career. I had many opportunities
to interpret and translate, but discovered I had other talents.
I got an MBA and worked in human resources, corporate
communications, health, safety, and environment, and social
responsibility. I even learned Norwegian and French.
When my family moved to Houston, Texas, in 2012, I
decided to leave the corporate world and start my own
business as a freelance translator. With two little kids, this
journey has not been easy, but I couldn't be more excited
about my work and the community to which I now belong. I
am an ATA-certified English>Russian translator, and my areas
of specialization reflect my professional experience.
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The ATA Chronicle | September/October 2019

Over the past few years, I have been an active advocate
for our profession and steadily increased my involvement
in ATA and my local association, the Houston Interpreters
and Translators Association (HITA). As HITA's professional
development director, I organize training opportunities for
our members and serve as a bridge to other professional
associations, including ATA.
I also helped ATA's Slavic Languages Division start its
own podcast and serve as a co-host. With a plethora of
interesting guests, we discuss topics related to professional
development and the business aspects of freelancing,
unspecific to Slavic languages. I encourage you to check it
out: www.ata-divisions.org/SLD/podcast.
I also volunteer on ATA's Membership Committee, where we
develop tools and resources to help retain our members and
recruit new ones. We want ATA's membership to be relevant and
useful to our members, and I am very excited to be involved.
I am passionate about educational opportunities both for
beginners and seasoned professionals. As an adjunct professor
in the Translation and Interpreting Program at Houston
Community College, I know that high quality, relevant, and
innovative training is critical for our profession and the
success of those who embark on this career path.
My personal values are integrity, courage, and cooperation.
I am deeply interested in social responsibility, a subject I
believe is very relevant for the translation and interpreting
professions, especially considering global market opportunities
and developments in artificial intelligence and translation
technology. I would love to bring this perspective to
ATA's Board. My background and experience have been
tremendously helpful in my work, and I am confident that
they would also be beneficial to the Board.
I am very thankful to the Nominating and Leadership
Committee for their recommendation. I would be honored
to get your vote, represent you on ATA's Board, and apply
my expertise and skills for the benefit of our Association
and our profession.

DIRECTOR (THREE-YEAR TERM)
TONY GUERRA | aeguerra@aol.com
During the past two years, it has been my
honor to serve on ATA's Board of Directors.
Having learned so much, I am delighted to
have the opportunity to run for another term
and to continue making progress on promises
made during last year's election, in addition to
tackling new challenges.
The business acumen I acquired while working as a director
of interpreting services, combined with my passion as a
practicing freelance interpreter, have given me a substantive
foundation to contribute significantly to the Board. My current
ATA activities include:
www.atanet.org
http://www.ata-divisions.org/SLD/podcast http://www.atanet.org
The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2019

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