This entry is being posted on behalf of Bethany Aguad, candidate for Treasurer in the 2021 STC election.
My name is Bethany Aguad, and I am honored to be a candidate for STC Treasurer in 2021. We live in a time of unprecedented change, but the financial challenges we face in STC are not new to us. To grow as a Society and a profession, we need to work together to find new solutions to our challenges. Building for the future means embracing change, weighing risks, and evolving our services. I hope to bring my experience as a career-long STC volunteer and board member to ensure we meet our financial obligations while investing in our members and our communities.
My passion for engagement with my fellow technical communicators has spurred my involvement throughout nine years of STC volunteerism. The Society has given me access to resources, opportunities, and lifelong connections that I value more than I can express. The Society is where I found community and belonging, at the local Florida chapter, and later at the Society level as well. I would not have become the leader or technical communicator I am today without the mentoring and support I received from my STC colleagues and friends.
Since graduating from the University of Central Florida with a B.A. and M.A. in English—Technical Communication, I have worked in technical communication in multiple industries in Florida. I have worked in the financial services industry for nearly five years, where I am responsible for publishing technical documentation for a variety of loan servicing products. I love solving problems and improving the experiences of our members through clear communication.
I have been honored to serve on the STC Board of Directors as a director since 2019. In this role, I worked with the rest of the board to make strategic decisions and act tactically when required. Last year, I also served as the Chair of the Community Affairs Committee, where I guided leaders, delivered leadership programs, and helped resolve community issues. This year, I have been honored to serve as the board liaison to the Education Committee.
In my time in STC, I have been involved in creating, tracking, and approving budgets at different levels. I have served on both sides of the community budgeting process: as treasurer of the Florida chapter and assisting the STC treasurer with the community budget review as chair of the Community Affairs committee. On the board, I have participated in the Society's annual budget-setting process using my knowledge from our monthly financial reports to provide feedback.
As Treasurer, I plan to encourage efforts to:
– Manage our finances thoughtfully
– Increase and demonstrate the value of our membership
– Create a place of belonging for our members
– Enable strong communities
– Offer education that enhances the competencies and skills of our members
– Endorse innovation in advancing the growth of the discipline
I am grateful for your support, and I will do my utmost to serve the Society and our membership! Thank you for your continued support of STC and our profession.