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

 Court reporting has been part of my entire life.  My mother was a court reporter, and over the years she encouraged me countless times to consider the profession.  At the time, I chose a different path and pursued nursing, working as a registered nurse for 11 years after graduating from nursing school.

One day, after finishing a home health shift and picking up my children from my mom, who regularly adjusted her time off of depositions to help with childcare, she asked me one last time if I wanted to give court reporting a try.  That day, I finally said yes.  Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

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

 Without question, the flexibility!  Throughout my nursing career, I worked long, demanding hours and often missed holidays, birthdays, school events, practices, and games because of my schedule.  Court reporting has given me the freedom to build a career around my life instead of building my life around my career.

Now, I can choose my deposition schedule and be present for the moments that matter most with my family, and that balance is invaluable.

 - 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.

 My medical background has been an incredible asset in this profession.  While I certainly don’t know every specialized term an ENT or surgeon may use, years in healthcare gave me a strong foundation in medical terminology and concepts.  That experience often helps me navigate complex testimony more confidently and accurately.

 I also use my steno mask for a secondary purpose -- it helps conceal a laugh during particularly entertaining depositions.

  - 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.

When it comes to taking down the record, I wouldn’t say I have a secret weapon.

However, when it comes to running a successful business, mine is delegation.

Learning to delegate has allowed me to focus my time and energy on the parts of the job I enjoy most while ensuring the essential tasks are handled by people who excel in those areas. Whether it’s technical support, scheduling, or administrative work, having the right team in place has been invaluable.  I can’t imagine running my business without my administrator.  My advice?  As soon as you’re able to get help, do it.  You’ll never regret investing in support.

 - Tell us about your favorite self-care practice

One of the most important forms of self-care for me is maintaining clear boundaries between work and family life.  I have a husband and four children who deserve my attention just as much as my career does.  During business hours, my family understands that I’m working.  Outside of those hours, I make every effort to be fully present with them.  Unless it’s an expedite or an emergency, work can wait until the next business day.  Protecting that balance helps me show up as both a better professional and a better wife and mother.

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

 One of the biggest misconceptions is that court reporting is simply typing on a machine or speaking into a mask and sending off a transcript.  What most people don’t see are the countless hours of preparation, editing, proofreading, formatting, business management, and continuing education that happen behind the scenes.

 This profession can be financially rewarding, but success doesn’t happen overnight.  It requires dedication, discipline, technical skill, and a commitment to constant improvement.  When people say we make it look easy, I say THANK YOU!

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

 Keep going. You can do hard things!   Court reporting is challenging, especially in the beginning.  The skills that seem impossible at first eventually become second nature through persistence and practice.

 Another phrase that has stayed with me for years is, “You can, and you will.”  I originally used it in a labor and delivery context, but it applies perfectly to many topics.  You can, and you will.  What’s the alternative?

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

 When I started court reporting, I was determined to succeed.  I was changing careers, raising four children, one of which was a year old.  I didn’t have the luxury of wondering if I could or couldn’t.

 If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be simple: plan for your future.  Pay your taxes, contribute to retirement accounts, and take financial planning seriously from the beginning.  Those small decisions make a big difference over time.

  - 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.

 One of my proudest moments came after completing a deposition that an attorney requested on a same-day turnaround.  After scoping the transcript and sending it to my proofreader, I received a short email that I’ll never forget:

 “This may be a record, time from taking depo to delivery of same. Good job of scoping, by the way.”

 That’s the whole email.  I read it probably 50 times before I printed it and taped it to my wall and then sent a picture of it to my mom.

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

 I am not creative when it comes to making up shorthand on the fly.  I am trying to work on coming up with more voice codes and globaling it while taking down the record to improve accuracy.

 I also recently had a YouTube video of Lil Wayne’s deposition sent to me and I practiced to his arguing.