I am absolutely thrilled to announce that I have been chosen to present at the American Translators Association’s 57th Annual Conference not once, but twice, this year. My sessions pertain to two different subjects that, although unrelated, are both very near and dear to my heart. If you plan to attend the conference, please check out my sessions. In the meantime, if you have any questions, thoughts, or comments on these topics, I’d love to hear them in the comment section below or via email at amanda@mirrorimagetranslations.com.

My first presentation, which is currently scheduled for Friday, November 4 at 3:30 pm, is on understanding language service provider contracts and the importance of having your own terms of service. Below is an abstract of my presentation:

Contracts: Friends or Foes?

Vendor contracts have become an indisputable part of the translator < > language service provider (LSP) relationship, but what are the implications of these contracts for translators? This interactive session will help attendees decipher vendor agreements, detect red flags in vendor contracts and propose amendments to certain LSP contract clauses. This session will also discuss the importance of translators sending their own terms of service for every project. Attendees will walk away with more confidence in handling vendor contracts as well as example clauses to include in their own terms of service.

I love this topic for several reasons. One, teaching colleagues how to decipher LSP / Vendor agreements helps freelance translators enter into more equitable business partnerships and creates a more balanced marketplace. Two, when freelance translators are more comfortable discussing and negotiating service agreement clauses and creating their own terms of service, it advances the profession as a whole, and I am a staunch advocate of industry professionalization. Lastly, I enjoy helping my fellow translators develop their business. Believe it or not, translation companies LOVE professional translators who treat each project like a business transaction, because that’s what they are – business transactions. When a translator exudes professionalism from the outset, it makes project managers feel more comfortable about the translator’s ability to deliver quality product in a timely manner, and they will come back for repeat business (as long as the translator really does deliver quality product in a timely and professional manner).

My second presentation, which is currently scheduled for Saturday, November 5 at 3:30 pm, is on international trade:

International Trade: A High Growth Market for Translators

International trade is a vital component of the global economy and a massive untapped market for

translators. The US government is poised to pass a broad-sweeping customs reauthorization law to facilitate trade enforcement, which will only increase demand for translation services. This session will introduce attendees to the international supply chain and US customs process, explain the parties involved in the international supply chain, provide information on how to gain expertise in this field, and serve as a call to action for us to raise awareness of the importance of professional translation to the international trade community.

I have a particular fondness for this topic because it’s a lovely confluence of my past and present. I learned an enormous amount about international trade in my former career as a trade compliance manager, and I love to share my nerdy love for international logistics with anyone who will listen. In all seriousness though, this sector truly has the potential to be a huge market segment for professional translators, but to achieve this, we all need to rally together and make the international trade community understand that they’re doing themselves a disservice by choosing bilingual employees rather than professional translators to translate their documentation – because make no mistake – that’s what many of them are doing. I know this from personal experience.

So come get nerdy with me in San Francisco at ATA’s 57th Annual Conference! I hope to see you at one or both of my sessions!

For more info about the ATA 57th Annual Conference, visit http://www.atanet.org/conf/2016/