I have been Operations Manager for McElroy Translation Company in Austin, TX, since 1999. In 2003, I earned my PHR (Professional in Human Resources) certification from the Society for Human Resource Management, and since then have also taken on the role of HR Administrator. McElroy has specialized in technical, scientific, legal, medical, and pharmaceutical translation and web site localization since 1968. Prior to joining McElroy, I worked in a variety of roles (production, sales, management) at a small medical and scientific publishing company, also in Austin, for 12 years.

McElroy has been a member of the ATA for a long time, and of the TCD since 1999; and during the past three years, I have become increasingly active in both groups and the industry. I've been published several times in MultiLingual Computing and The ATA Chronicle ; have presented on operational and human resources topics at ATA and TCD conferences; and organized the 2004 TCD conference. I also had the pleasure of serving as TCD Assistant Administrator under Administrator Linda Gauthier for the past two years.

I believe in the ATA as the professional association and representative voice of the translation and interpretation industry, for both freelance translators and companies/agencies. Both structures (independent contractor and corporate entity) are necessary to meet client needs and serve the global market, and we need each other to do so. Thus we should be "in association" with each other, and must strive to understand, improve, and promote the best parts of our relationships with each other. That being said, all members of the ATA have distinct interests from each other, and that's why divisions exist. I am excited about being the new TCD Administrator, and about all our ideas and hopes for the future, for both the TCD and the ATA.