The ATA Chronicle - November/December 2022 - 8

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
With Change Come Possibilities
and New Perspectives
I
KELLI C. BAXTER
kelli@atanet.org
ATA members
share a vision
of promoting
the recognition
of professional
translators and
interpreters,
and I couldn't
be prouder and
more excited
to be part of
such a rich and
robust group of
professionals.
n this year of firsts and
the return to in-person
meetings and events, I'm
honored to serve as your new
executive director. I couldn't
be more thrilled to join such
a warm and welcoming team
of professionals who serve
as your ATA Headquarters
staff. They spend their days
researching, creating, and
driving the strategic mission
of ATA and are the true
heartbeat of the Association.
My first introduction to
ATA was in Los Angeles at
ATA63. As a native of Los
Angeles, it felt good to be
" back home " as I embarked
on a new journey in a new
industry. The conference was
the perfect way to start my
tenure, and I was greeted by
the Headquarters staff and
the Board with open arms.
I was impressed with the
attendance of the first fully
in-person conference since
2019. Being able to attract
1,100 attendees is not an
easy feat, particularly when
associations are still adapting
their events to the challenges
of our " new normal, " but the
staff and conference planning
team made it look seamless!
As I met with attendees
and volunteer leaders, I
felt the energy generated
by everyone being back
together and witnessed the
passion our members have
for their profession and the
industry. I experienced the
best of both worlds, gaining
fresh perspective from those
new to the profession and
a sense of the professional
legacy those with years of
8 The ATA Chronicle | November/December 2022
experience bring to ATA.
In those five short days, I
was able to soak up the vast
knowledge and expansive
ideas from attendees that
flowed through the meeting
rooms and into the evening
networking events, where
I felt the true sense of
family that lies within this
Association. I carried that
experience back to the office
in Alexandria and hit the
ground running.
As we prepare for 2023,
the anticipation for an even
bigger and better ATA is
looming. ATA members
are the best and brightest
in the industry, and I'm
in awe of the work you
do. ATA has successfully
navigated a pandemic, the
challenges of organizing
virtual/hybrid conferences,
a successful return to inperson
events, and now the
" changing of the guard " with
a new executive director.
By now we all must know
that change is sometimes
inevitable, and with change
come new possibilities and
new perspectives. I would
be remiss if I didn't applaud
the hard work, guidance,
and leadership of my
predecessor, Walter " Mooch "
Bacak. His leadership and
passion for ATA members
and volunteers will carry on
in the staff and all that he
accomplished in his 28 years
of service to the industry.
As I embark on these first
few months, I plan to be on
a listening tour. While that
tour started in Los Angeles, it
will make many stops along
the way through to ATA64 in
Miami next year. My priority
is in the strategic goals
and initiatives set by ATA's
Board, and my primary goal
will be getting to know more
members by sitting in on
committee calls and listening
to what you, the members,
want to see in 2023. Some of
those areas of concentration
will include:
y Expanded membership
growth and development.
y Enhanced marketing and
communications, creating
broader visibility through
the current ATA brand.
y Creating new alliance
partnerships that will
further advance the
Board's strategic goals
and initiatives while also
continuing to build on
existing relationships
within the industry.
With the help of the
Headquarters staff, I want to
help connect what you do
now in your day-to-day work
to what ATA can do for your
business. ATA members share
a vision of promoting the
recognition of professional
translators and interpreters,
and I couldn't be prouder and
more excited to be part of
such a rich and robust group
of professionals. In closing
out this year, I hope you'll be
able to reflect on all that ATA
has accomplished and get
excited about what's still to
come. I look forward to
serving the Association and
taking us to new heights.
www.atanet.org
http://www.atanet.org
The ATA Chronicle - November/December 2022

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