Dear CATI community,
I’d like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I am honored to begin this year as president of the association, and I’d like to thank everyone – members, the board and the greater community – for your support.
I’d like to thank outgoing president, Maria Rodriguez, for the work she has done over these past years (and this was her second time on the CATI board!) She brought deep industry knowledge and personal experience to the role. She has let us know we can count on her for whatever future needs may arise.
Our aim is to contribute to the advancement of our translation and interpreting professions, but actually, the essence of that is much broader: what we do is connect people – people who speak different languages, have different cultures, and many times, who live very different lives. No small task!
This organization exists because of, and for, the members. We are chapter of the American Translators Association. Member participation is key to a healthy association, so if you have ideas for networking events, webinars, or other activities, please let us know. Having others aware of what we do and how we do it has always been a struggle, but with current headwinds, these challenges have become more difficult. The board members are all actively working professionals, so we are on the front lines – just like you. Professional associations are key to coming together as colleagues, not only for our purposes of our own learning and growth, but also as we engage with other sectors and professions.
It’s my pleasure to introduce you to the great team that is the 2026 Board of Directors:
- Aniella Vivenzio – Vice-president
- Celia Clave – Treasurer
- Rhode Thomas – Secretary
- Monica Rodriguez – NC Director
- Daniel Vallejo – NC Director
- Sandra Aidar-McDermott – SC Director
- Emily Ortiz Alfonso – SC Director
We look forward to welcoming you to our annual conference on Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Chapel Hill, NC, at UNC’s Friday Center. Our conference allows professionals to come together to connect, to stay competitive and to ultimately thrive in this rapidly changing environment. We hope to see you there!
Jaime Russell
CT, CHI™-Spanish, CCI (NC)