- When and how did you discover court reporting and realize that it was the perfect fit for you?  

When I was in high school, I took both Gregg shorthand and typing, and I majored in English.  My teacher told me I had a real knack for both shorthand and typing, and said I should go to court reporting school.  I didn’t even know what a court reporter was.  I went to career day at my high school, and Michiana College of Commerce offered an associate’s degree in court reporting science, so I registered.  And as a total surprise, I was awarded a business school scholarship my mom applied for without me knowing!  My class started with 33 students, and only 4 of us graduated.

 - What is your favorite thing about being a court reporter?  

I learn something new each and every day, whether it’s a new brief form, a new word, or an update to my CAT software.  That’s why after 43 years I still love this profession!

 - What is a unique skill you've employed while on the job that makes you extra good at it?  Maybe you are great at understanding accents, memorizing obscure terminology, or handling stress without letting it show on your face.

I’ve been told by several jurors in different trials I have “the perfect resting bitch face” in court and show no emotion.  Lol!

 - What is your 'secret weapon'?  This could be your favorite laptop brand, a random gadget you found on Amazon, or maybe something specific that you do or a behavior you've adopted while on the job.

Staying current with the latest CAT software enhancements.

 - Tell us about your favorite self-care practice.

When I’m tired, I give myself a break.

 - What is a misconception about court reporting that you'd like to set the record straight on?

It’s not just listening to what people say and churning out a transcript.  There is a lot of work that goes into producing a quality verbatim transcript.

 - What is the best piece of advice you've ever received from another reporter?

Get certified!

 - If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself when you were just starting out?

Just because it came easy for me and I could write fast, I still needed to practice my brief forms.

 - We want to hear one of your court reporting stories! Tell us about one of the proudest or most memorable moments in your career thus far.

Doing daily copy for a capital murder trial in California that lasted months and getting a 6,000-page transcript out with only five corrections!  (In California, the defense attorneys read through your transcript and request corrections, and you can agree with it or challenge it, and the judge rules on any challenged corrections, and you CAN’T challenge a correction by using your audio backup as proof.)

 - Is there anything specific you are currently working on to hone and improve your skills?

Writing shorter by tucking my suffixes instead of coming back for them in another stroke.