New Frontiers, Building Connections & Giving Back: A Stern Award Recipient Recounts His ATA Conference Experience
If I meet someone who is just starting out in the translation and localization field, one of the first things I
tell them is this: your success in this industry is not just about your language abilities; it’s about traditional
“networking”, yes, but also about striving to learn new things, connecting with others, and giving back.
And when we speak of “giving back”, the Charles M. Stern Autonomous Award is a timely example that
comes to mind.
For those who don’t know, Charles Stern was a founding member of the NY Circle of Translators (NYCT)
who, thirty years ago, bequeathed a large sum of money to NYCT to provide financial grants for
members’ professional development. We had five (!) award recipients this year, including yours truly, so
first I’d like to congratulate my fellow recipients and express my gratitude to both NYCT and Mr. Stern for
the opportunity these funds provided.
For me, that opportunity was to attend the ATA Conference in Boston this year. My last in-person
conference was in 2019, mere months before the pandemic that would alter our lives so much, and also
at the outset of increasing industry consolidation and the advent of AI technology that have both changed
our business. So I figured that now, in 2025, it was time for a revisit and a refresher.
My goals were threefold: network with agencies and potential clients, learn more about technology and
tools, and reconnect in-person with fellow colleagues. My business has admittedly been on a bit of a
downturn these past couple of years, so I’ve been scheming ways to expand my service offerings or pivot
to new ones like subtitling or language consulting. I’ve been actively studying up on AI, MMLs and related
tools through webinars and e-learning modules like Google Skills Boost. Meanwhile, while Zoom is a
convenient platform, it gets tiring and isolating starting and blabbing in front of a computer screen, and I
don’t feel I connect as well to the material or meeting in question.
Usually there’s a wide variety of educational sessions available, but I (and other attendees I talked to)
noticed that this year’s educational sessions revolved around some clear themes: AI technology, adapting
to change and new potential markets, and how to boost one’s skills in general. I mainly opted for technical
sessions geared toward my work in medical, clinical trials and patent translations. But I also chose some
less technical sessions – “Thinking Macondian: Curiosity, Language and Hidden Opportunities” by Eddie
Arrieta was more like a pep talk on how to rethink our role in the industry and how to look outside the box
to see opportunities for growth rather than existential threats. I found all my sessions to be quite useful for
advancing my own work and for my career brainstorming.
I also joined the NYCT crew for a happy hour event on Thursday. It was nice to meet some new members
and catch up with colleagues about what they’ve been up to lately. I learned that NYCT is reviving its
mentorship program. I served as a mentor years ago and am looking forward to doing so again and
“giving back” in that respect. The Exhibitor Hall at the conference was notably smaller and more subdued
this year, with fewer prospective clients for what I do. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the chance to talk to
several people there. I’m always curious what’s going on in the field and the people who are attracted by
the conference. And you never know what one conversation could lead to; something that always
impresses me about our industry is that everyone seems to know everyone else – it feels almost like a big
family!
Time will tell how successful the ATA Conference was toward meeting my professional goals, but
attending the conference was definitely a chance for learning and renewal of sorts. Finally, I remember
the many complex discussions we’ve had at NYCT about how best to disburse the money for the Charles
M. Stern Autonomous Award, so it makes me very happy to see these funds finally being put to use and
Mr. Stern’s vision coming to fruition!
MARCEL’S BIO
Marcel Votlucka is a longtime NYCT member specializing in medical, clinical trials, legal and
technical translations. With a background in publishing and project management, he constantly
challenges himself to learn new skills, particularly the evolving intersections of translation,
compliance, and AI-assisted language work.
Website: www.mhvtranslation.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marcelvotlucka