The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2021 - 17

y Creating more crosscollaboration
within ATA's
divisions by serving on the
Divisions Committee.
y Serving on the
Interpretation Policy
Advisory Committee
to work to prevent the
exploitation of interpreters
in the new-normal of the
post-pandemic world.
Some of the impacts have
included price cuts of
normal fees and unrealistic
expectations on working
hours and conditions.
Education: I attended
the Japanese obligatory
education system from
elementary through
middle school as the only
non-native Japanese in
my school. I returned
to Japan for university
studies in international
relations with an emphasis
on human rights. I then
obtained a master's degree
in intercultural conflict
management in Germany. I
next attended the Middlebury
Institute of International
Studies at Monterey, where I
received a master's degree in
conference interpreting.
Professional Experience:
I've worked primarily in the
private sector, including
interpreting for the tidyingqueen
Marie Kondo. I'm
also a contract conference
interpreter with the U.S.
Department of State. I have
experience with remote
simultaneous interpreting,
working in that mode since
2018 and presenting at
conferences on the topic. As
a member of the leadership
council of the National Small
Business Association, I'll
use my seat to advocate for
opportunities for translators
www.ata-chronicle.online
and interpreters within
the U.S. small-business
community, bringing
recognition where linguists
are underrepresent.
If elected, I hope to bring
more equality, visibility, and
appreciation to language
professionals. I believe
my background is ideally
suited to maintaining and
fostering organizational
resilience through nurturing
collaboration and in-depth
communication.
Director
Three-Year Term
Manako Ihaya, CT
manako@ihaya.org
This is my
second year
running for
ATA's Board of
Directors. While I'm honored
once again to be nominated,
I also know that it's a tough
election, with half of us
guaranteed to lose. So why
am I taking the risk again?
Simple: because I want to
help make the Association
that helped me make it here
in the U.S. even better.
I joined ATA in 1999 as a
mother of four, soon-to-be
divorced, four years after
immigrating to the U.S. I
was determined to make
a living for myself and my
children, and it was ATA's
Certification Program and
network of fellow freelancers
that provided me with the
confidence, legitimacy, and
reassurance to forge ahead,
building my business as a
professional translator, and
later, interpreter.
I grew up uniquely
bilingual, moving around in
Japan and the U.S. attending
a total of five elementary
schools, three junior high
schools, and two high
schools before graduating
from Tokyo's Sophia
University with a BA in
English literature. I learned
to make friends everywhere
I went to school, a trait
that became invaluable
for networking later in
life. After working as an
English-language journalist
in Tokyo, I transitioned to
being a Japanese>English
translator in the U.S.,
being ATA-certified in that
direction as soon as I joined
the Association. Now that
my children are grown, I've
been working primarily as
an interpreter, traveling
wherever my assignments
take me. I also act as an
agency when I have large
projects that require
multiple translators
and interpreters.
At ATA, I made use of
my experience as a staff
editor and writer at The
Japan Times Weekly to serve
as the editor of the JLD
Times, the newsletter of
ATA's Japanese Language
Division, when it was
still in print form. I've
also been involved in the
Certification Program,
serving as a grader for
the Japanese>English
certification exam since
2008 and as language chair
since 2019. In addition to
ATA, I became a member
of the Japan Association
of Translators and was on
the board of directors from
2006-2010, serving as
president for two years.
If elected, I hope to help
lead ATA to be not only the
reassuring presence it was
for me when I joined, but
also a powerful advocate
and a provider of tools
for our profession to deal
with these changing and
challenging times. As an
association professionally
representing global
languages and cultures, we
are in a unique position to
help the U.S. understand
and appreciate the diversity
that makes our country
strong. I hope to help ATA
in that role, both within and
beyond the Association.
Director
Three-Year Term
Meghan Konkol, CT
meghan@fr-en.com
I appreciate the
opportunity to
continue serving
on ATA's Board
of Directors. Since joining the
Board in 2018, I've had the
privilege of serving alongside
truly remarkable hardworking
colleagues, and I
look forward to continuing
this work if re-elected.
Over the past three years,
the issues we've addressed
on the Board have covered a
number of big-picture items
for the Association, including
membership structure and
benefits, certification, and
advocacy efforts. Serving
on the Board has allowed
me to directly impact how
ATA supports professional
translators and interpreters
and educates the public
about our skills and services.
Now more than ever,
it's essential that we keep
our eyes and minds open
so we can respond swiftly
and effectively to change-
whether it's learning
new skills, adapting to
emerging technologies, or
advocating for recognition
of our professions. If reAmerican
Translators Association 17
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The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2021

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