In one or two sentences, please explain your role in the court reporting or legal support industry.
I am a Digital Court Reporter, with experience in training and digital reporter development.
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 an AAERT member for several years now. Unfortunately I will not have the pleasure of attending this years Unity Summit.
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?
The representation of electronic reporters across the country is a mission that I connect with deeply.
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?
The legal services industry is sitting on the knife's edge. We are in a time of cutting edge technologies but are lodged between an opposing force from a bygone era and the threat of falling victim to the technology we have worked so hard to cultivate. Our community needs a strong and united representation to not just convince the legal industry that electronic reporters are as capable as stenographers but that we are actually better, more reliable, and more efficient without taking our hands off the wheel and handing control over to artificial intelligence. We need representatives that understand the issues we are facing and can help push us in the right direction. Leadership, communication, passion are just some of the strengths that I would bring to the board of directors.
What do you feel are the greatest challenges and opportunities that our industry and our association face?
Other reporters are hands down the greatest challenge facing our industry right now. The way I see it, bad apple "reporters" who are just in it for a quick and easy buck, go out into the world and leave a bad taste in peoples mouths when they hear "electronic reporters." Sure stenographers promoting disinformation and tech startups arguing we are obsolete to sell their latest AI software are big problems, but that is just a symptom to the greater disease which is the lack of consistency and education within our industry.
What is the single most important thing that AAERT can do to fulfill its mission?
AAERT is in an optimal position to not just advocate for electronic reporters and to provide education for all established or aspiring reporters, but to promote a standard of excellence for all reporters whether agency or freelance, full time or part time. Some people spread the falsehood that court reporting is this easy "side hustle" for lazy people to make a quick buck. For electronic reporters not to undue the standing we have worked so hard to achieve, organizations like AAERT need to change that narrative. We need to promote electronic reporting as the prestigious, serious, and impactful CAREER that it is.
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.
In school I served as President for a community service organization with over 150 members. I managed a small team in a previous employment role. As a digital court reporter I have dabbled in everything from equipment, recruitment, training, scheduling, to client relations. I am great with people, I am a good communicator but more importantly I am a fantastic listener.
In what way would you like to learn and grow as an AAERT board member professionally and/or personally?
I don't claim to know everything, in fact I don't know a great many things. However, I take great pride in learning from those around me, from my peers and colleagues. No one of us has the entire puzzle, we all have pieces, so if I can connect and and communicate with our members and would-be members to create not just an email chain but a community of professionals who help each other, the cause, and themselves grow then I will consider whatever time I have with the board a wild success.