The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2023 - 4

FROM THE PRESIDENT
What We Leave Behind
MADALENA
SÁNCHEZ ZAMPAULO
president@atanet.org
@mszampaulo
O
The goal is to
leave behind an
even stronger
foundation on
which more of
the good stuff
can be built for
the next group
of leaders and
members.
f all the columns one
could write as ATA
president, it seems
the last one is perhaps the
hardest to draft in terms of
what to say and how to " sign
off. " Nothing prepares you
for the final months leading
up to handing over the baton
to the very capable hands of
the next president and Board.
It's a " limbo " period in which
you find yourself still making
decisions and offering
guidance, but also realizing
that the next leaders will be
affected by the foundation
you lay. I suppose you could
say this is the case for the
entire term of the president
and those serving on our
ATA Board, but the last few
months really make clear the
effect one set of leaders have
on the next, and thus, the
Association as a whole.
If there's anything I'm
proud of when it comes to
my time on the Board and
my term as president, it's
the fact that we've evolved
as an association and have
demonstrated incredible
resiliency. At our latest ATA
Board meeting in Seattle,
Washington, I heard Board
members say over and over
again that we're leaving the
Association better than we
found it. That's not to say
ATA was in rough shape
before, but rather, the goal
is to leave behind an even
stronger foundation on which
4 The ATA Chronicle | September/October 2023
more of the good stuff can
be built for the next group of
leaders and members.
Over the past few years,
we've seen some major
changes within ATA and the
T&I world. Things have been
shaken up, and we've landed
on our feet. In fact, I would
say we're even stronger
than before.
We made it through
a pandemic with a very
healthy outlook, all things
considered. We've become
a more modern association
in many ways, meeting our
members where they are and
striving to continue to offer
benefits and programs that
evolve with our members. We
embrace technology and offer
programming that reflects
an openness to possibilities
instead of fear of the
unknown. We have a diverse
and welcoming community
within ATA that is truly
unparalleled.
Finally, our Headquarters
team has risen to the
challenge of our everevolving
professional world.
This group of professionals
brings a wide range of
expertise, and they're
enthusiastic about where ATA
is headed. They're creative,
dynamic, and inspired, with
a strong vision for a future
that supports our members'
interests and the work of
our Board, committees,
divisions, and ATA groups.
I'm confident in the team
Executive Director Kelli
Baxter is leading to support
ATA for several years to come.
It is truly humbling when
members of an association
like ATA trust you to lead
and advocate on their behalf.
I want to thank you all for
the trust you've placed in
me over the years. From
administrator of ATA's
Medical Division to chair of
various ATA committees,
to serving on ATA's Board,
I've spent nearly 15 years
volunteering in ATA,
serving with and getting to
know some of the greatest
professionals I've come
across. I'll continue to think
of ATA as my professional
home and look forward to
supporting the efforts of
our future ATA leaders
and members.
It has been an honor to
serve as ATA president for the
past two years. Here's to our
beloved Association's many
more years of growth,
resiliency, and success!
www.atanet.org
http://www.atanet.org
The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2023

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