The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2022 - 11

contest, an initiative aimed
at addressing the scarcity
of training material for
Arabic interpreters.
This year I became
a member of ATA's
Professional Development
Committee, where I help
co-host ATA webinars
and other continuing
professional development
opportunities. In all these
capacities, I've enjoyed
learning from working with
excellent colleagues. I've also
leveraged my background
and experience in the U.S.
and abroad to add value to
discussions and initiatives.
I would love to bring this
perspective to ATA's Board.
As an adjunct faculty
at New York University
and the University of
Massachusetts, I know that
high-quality training is
crucial for professionals-
experts and beginners alike.
That's why in 2020 I started
the Arabic court interpreter
practice group-a safe space
in which interpreters meet
to practice and exchange
feedback. It has been a
successful initiative that has
attracted many interpreters.
If elected, I would like to
work on increasing similar
meaningful opportunities
for training and
professional development.
If I become a member
of the Board and a
representative for ATA
members, I would like to see
our organization forge ahead
building on our passion for
the profession, eagerness
to volunteer, and current
ATA strengths. I would
like to work on increasing
awareness of the profession
via targeted outreach
activities and advocacy,
growing the membership
www.ata-chronicle.online
through public relations
initiatives, and offering
members a real return on
their investment through the
visibility, networking, and
professional development
opportunities ATA provides
as a community of practice. I
would be honored to get your
vote and represent you on
ATA's Board.
accorded to other
licensed professionals.
At the University of
California, San Diego
Extension, I taught legal
and business translation,
simultaneous and
Andy Benzo, CT
andy@andybenzo.com
I'm honored to accept
the nomination of my
colleagues as a candidate
for ATA's Board.
I've been working as
a freelance translator
specializing in legal and
commercial translation for
over 30 years. I've been an
ATA member for the past
23 years and became ATAcertified
(English>Spanish)
in 2011.
In my native Argentina, I
earned a translation degree
and became licensed as a
technical-scientific and
literary translator. I also
earned a law degree and was
a practicing attorney there.
Working in both professions
provided a unique
perspective on international
recognition in these fields.
In Argentina, as in many
other countries, translators
are licensed specialists
who enjoy the same respect
consecutive interpreting, and
an introduction to translation
and interpreting course for
six years. I continue to fulfill
my passion for teaching
as a frequent presenter at
ATA Annual Conferences
and other national and
international conferences.
My leadership experience
includes being one of
the founders of the
Association of Translators
and Interpreters in the San
Diego Area (ATISDA), an
ATA affiliate, and serving as
its first president (20082013).
At the time it was
founded, ATISDA became
the only translators'
association in Southern
California. We collaborated
on the 2010 ATA Spanish
Language Division (SPD)
San Diego mid-year
conference and volunteered
as the 2012 local hospitality
group for ATA53 in San
Diego. I've served as chair
of the Bylaws Committee for
the National Association of
Judiciary Interpreters and
Translators, and currently
serve as Spanish legal
advisor to the Research
Institute of U.S. Spanish.
I was elected assistant
administrator of the SPD in
2020. I also chair the SPD
Podcast Committee, host
our popular Charlas de café
podcast, and am a member
of SPD's Professional
Development Committee.
I'll bring my leadership and
teaching experience to ATA's
Board and look forward to
collaborating with the other
American Translators Association 11
http://andy@andybenzo.com http://www.ata-chronicle.online
The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2022

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