In one or two sentences, please explain your role in the court reporting or legal support industry.
I own and operate a court reporting and transcription firm that contracts with the Federal government and several states for court reporter and transcribers.
What has your involvement with AAERT looked like? How long have you been a member and how many conferences and events have you attended?
I have been a member of AAERT since the 1990's. I have attended multiple conferences over the past 30 years that I have been in the industry. My guess would be that I have attended about 25 conferences in that time period. This actually makes me current Board of Director’s member with the longest history in AAERT.
In addition, to conferences I have served two terms on the Board of Directors, serving as treasurer for a combination of 3 years from those two terms.
I am currently the chair of CER practical committee, which is preparing to role out in the near future.
I have also served on other committees as well. Including but limited to the following over my 30 year career:
- I edited the first half of the most recent BPG
- I helped rewrite the current Policies and Procedures
- I served as the Finance Committee Chair while treasurer
- I was on the team that developed CDR testing and certification
- I am currently on the team reviewing the CER exam
How would you describe your dedication to the mission and purposes of AAERT during your membership up to this point? How has that dedication been demonstrated?
As a small business owner I am constantly in touch with reporters and transcribers. I have listened to what they want and have tried to bring that to the Board as much as possible.
What are your key reasons for running for the board? Whom and what do you want to impact? What strengths do you feel you would bring to the board?
I have served the board now for two terms. It has given me the knowledge to know what is happening in the industry and the changes that are coming. As a small business owner I hope to bring the voice of the individual reports and transcribers to the board so that they are represented.
What do you feel are the greatest challenges and opportunities that our industry and our association face?
Misinformation spread by court reporters using different methods that do not understand our organization or how the various methods operate is a challenge. Educating attorneys, courts, and even other reporters about what we at AAERT do and how the record is taken down is key to fighting this challenge.
What is the single most important thing that AAERT can do to fulfill its mission?
Educate not only the reporters and transcribers needing certification, but the legal community as a whole.
What kind of leadership experience would you bring to the board? Do you have experience as a board member of a nonprofit organization? Please list the organizations, your positions, and your duties.
I have been a member of this board for two terms. I have also served on a couple small community boards.
In addition, my management and leadership skills can be seen in my everyday life as I have run a digital court reporting firm now for over 20 years. In the first 10 years with the company I own I was working under my father. I have grown up in this industry and it is in my blood.
In what way would you like to learn and grow as an AAERT board member professionally and/or personally?
Both, I think personal growth should be a constant thing and in listening to the members and their needs I hope to learn what is needed to take AAERT further into the future while growing personally what I learn and being able to apply it to grow professionally.