2022 NCRA Conference & Expo - Schedule

Engage in friendly competition with some of the best writers in the country. During the National Speed Contest, contestants write and transcribe three legs, each five minutes in length – 220 wpm literary, 230 wpm legal opinion, and 280 wpm testimony – and qualify for each with an accuracy score of 95 percent or better. The best combined score wins the championship. To enter, you must hold at least the RMR certification and be an NCRA member in good standing. Qualifiers can earn 0.25 PDC per leg. Speed Contest results will be announced at Saturday’s Awards Luncheon. The deadline for registering is July 6 or 50 contestants, whichever comes first. On-site registration is not permitted.

Take an active role in your Association. The Annual Business Meeting of the Association provides each member with the opportunity to directly participate in the governance of NCRA. Hear reports from NCRA leaders, discuss bylaws amendments and other important issues, and contribute to vital Association business. You do not have to be registered for the Conference to attend. Eligible voting members will check in and receive a ballot and information starting at 8 a.m.

Vendor Training Workshops

The most accurate translation results aren't just due to clean writing; they're also achieved by knowing how to use the features and options available to you in CATalyst. Similarly, it's the little things you forget that you can do that can make the most significant difference in terms of how many more pages you can produce per hour! In this class, you'll not only learn about the latest features and enhancements in the current version of CATalyst; you'll renew your acquaintance with features, options, and shortcuts to improve your translation results and significantly reduce your editing time.

Separate registration required.
0.7 CEU

This seminar covers new features in Version 10, plus a number of popular and powerful feature from other recent versions of Eclipse.

Separate registration required.
0.7 CEU

The digitalCAT seminar will begin with a review of the basics and editing commands, and it will progress to realtime commands and the newest features of digitalCAT. There will be a one-hour Q&A session for attendees.

Separate registration required.
0.7 CEU

Test your realtime skills against some of the best in the industry. The National Realtime Contest consists of two legs, each five minutes in length – straight matter at 220 wpm and a two-voice dictation at 225 wpm. To qualify for a leg, contestants must have an accuracy score of 95 percent or better; the best combined score wins the championship. To enter, you must hold at least either the RMR or the CRR certification and be an NCRA member in good standing. Qualifiers can earn 0.25 PDC per leg. Realtime Contest results will be revealed at Saturday’s Awards Luncheon. The deadline for registering is July 6 or 50 contestants, whichever comes first.
On-site registration is not permitted.

NCSA serves as the liaison between NCRA and its affiliated associations. NCSA delegates and alternates will discuss the legislative and other critical issues affecting court reporters, captioners, scopists, legal videographers, and associated professionals across the nation. Registration will open at 1:15 p.m. for NCSA delegates and alternates.

From beginning to advanced, calling all current and wannabe CART and broadcast captioners. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be perfect to be a captioner. Becoming a top-notch captioner starts with taking intentional baby steps. Nierenberger will walk you through this transition step by step. She will talk about becoming your best realtime self while broadening your dictionary vocabulary to handle what can/will come your way. Complimentary instructional materials provided to help you begin your journey! (Please note: Machines are not needed for this session.)

Separate registration required.
0.3 CEU

Help share and preserve African American history by transcribing Freedmen’s Bureau Records from the Smithsonian Transcription Center. Smithsonian staff will join us to discuss the significance of this collection and volunteer transcriptions. Please note, laptops are recommended for this event, and registration is limited to 50 people. Attendees who register with the Transcription Center and volunteer to transcribe during this session will receive 0.25 PDC. (Buddies will be assigned at the event.)
Register here 

Welcome to Orlando! Join your fellow attendees, meeting old and new colleagues from around the country, while you see what all our exhibitors have to offer. Drinks and appetizers will be served.

Our mission is to bring strength and balance to your temple by achieving fitness. FFYT sessions are a no-judgment zone. Beginners are welcome and encouraged to attend. Relieve stress and get your heart pumping in this one-hour session. Bring a towel or mat. Get FFYT for life!

Exclusive benefit for those booked within the discounted NCRA room block at the Hyatt Regency Orlando and registered for a Conference package or workshop.

NCRA Premier Session
Sponsored by Reliance

NCRA will install the 2022-2023 President, Officers, and Board of Directors.

Jim Davidson, a resilience expert, an expedition leader, and a New York Times best-selling author, will be the keynote speaker for the 2022 Conference. From his 39 years of adventure and survival, Jim distills compelling stories and uplifting lessons about how to overcome change, challenge, and uncertainty through resilience. Book signing after presentation. Jim Davidson bio.

This session is open to the following registration packages: Full, Networking, Students, and Friday. For an additional fee, this session is available for Saturday/Sunday package.

0.1 CEU

CEUs will automatically be added to your record based on your type of registration. You will not have to add a code for this session.

Learning Zone

Students will watch a reenactment of court reporters demonstrating tips for a successful job interview as well as covering proper etiquette in a real-life work setting.

Student 0.0 CEU

Were you taught to properly edit a transcript? You will learn the SADA concept. It's easy. This will improve your dictionary AND your translation in only one week ... guaranteed! Tired of "brief" sticky notes all over your office? You will learn FPP55, the concept Anissa Nierenberger used to change her theory in only six months. Benefits abound from this eye-opening presentation!

0.1 CEU

In 2021, the Supreme Court of Nebraska began to institute many changes affecting stenographic court reporters and the integrity of the record, thus making it much easier to have a courtroom recorder and an outside transcriptionist prepare the record. GASP! With the help of some friends in the legal community, the official court reporters organized and made our presence known by addressing the misconceptions of court reporting and why the stenographic method is the gold standard. And we aren't done yet. This session is about what steps were taken and will be taken with the bench, the bar, and the legislature to protect the integrity of stenography and the record.

0.1 CEU

This session will aim to provide attendees with information that will improve their overall quality of life, especially from the perspective of physical health and wellness. Attendees will learn that even those with the busiest of schedules can very well maintain and improve their physical health and strength in conjunction with their busy work life.

0.1 CEU

Merriam-Webster’s addition of the singular "they" is yet another recognition of the cultural relevance and growing acceptance of nonbinary gender identities. Inclusive language acknowledges diversity, conveys respect to all people, is sensitive to differences, and promotes equitable opportunities. This seminar is an opportunity to understand more about the LGBTQ+ community, how to be a good ally, and what we can do on the job to be more welcoming and inclusive.

0.1 CEU

There are many benefits to continuing to improve your skills – less editing time, increased income potential, more free time, to name just a few. But who has time to devote to the process of honing your skills, especially with a family, working full time, and all the obligations that life holds? In this seminar, you will learn how you can improve your accuracy, increase your speed, and prepare for new certifications in as little as 15 minutes a day!

0.1 CEU

By invitation only

Learning Zone

Students will visit directly with various professionals to broaden their exposure to multiple career paths.

Student 0.0 CEU

Fear is the death of hopes and dreams. It is the great demoralizer and the paralysis that prevents positive changes and events from happening in life. The known is comfortable; the known is safe. But the comfort of “known” is motivated by fear! Only when we step out of our comfort zone and challenge ourselves – challenge our own ideas, our skills and abilities, our ambitions and expectations – can we truly discover the remarkable opportunities that await us in life! Find a healthier way to navigate personal and professional life and empower yourself with a new way of making decisions by overcoming your fear: Make decisions based on facts and knowledge, not by reacting out of fear of “what if?” Overcoming your fear opens you up to a life of abundance.

0.1 CEU

This session will get you up to speed on what you should know to ensure you are working at the highest level of professionalism. Find out more about the ethics issues that are important to today's reporters.

0.1 CEU

Learn from the NCRA A to Z Committee members how to set up, implement, and teach an NCRA A to Z Intro to Steno Machine Shorthand program using the NCRA A to Z Toolkit for conducting in person or virtual programs. In this sixty-minute session, committee members will explain the tools available, the handbook guide for the class material, and what follow-up needs to be done for participants to qualify for NCRA A to Z scholarships.

This nuts-and-bolts class will teach you how to be a program leader from scratch or serve as a refresher for those program leaders who haven’t taught in some time.

0.1 CEU

Have you found yourself getting “really creative” with setting up your audio at these new hybrid proceedings and not having much success? It seems these days, we never know what to expect until we walk through the door or log in on Zoom. Join us as we drill down and talk about the equipment you'll want to have handy. Let us help you get prepared for most audio scenarios, be they all remote, all in-person, or hybrid.

0.1 CEU

Are you tired of seeing stacking and boundary issues and aren’t quite sure how to resolve them once and for all? Who hasn’t? Anissa Nierenberger has resolved 400 stacking issues! This presentation will change your realtime world! Helpful handouts included for those who attend.

0.1 CEU

Learning Zone

Hollywood and the court reporting world collide! Everyone’s favorite daytime judge, Judge Judy, made sure to have a certified stenographer at her side for her new show Judy Justice. The perfect reporter for the job was Whitney Kumar. She is a California CSR who owns KW Court Reporting with her twin sister Kamryn. Come learn about her unique experience and tips on evolving your court reporting career.

0.1 CEU

One of the biggest challenges in the scopist/reporter relationship is how changes are being made, where, and the like. This session will cover features in CaseCATalyst and what makes a scopist choose a particular method of making various changes to punctuation, grammar, and formatting. A demonstration will be shown on the software.

0.1 CEU

You’ve put in the work and passed those speed tests and obtained your certifications … but what about all the other aspects of court reporting that you may not have been taught in school? Learn how to conduct yourself professionally, organize effectively, work efficiently, avoid burnout, among many other helpful tips and tricks. Leave with the confidence to pave your way to a successful and fulfilling court reporting career.

0.1 CEU

Learn about a day in the life of a Congressional reporter: What it takes to become one, what the benefits are of doing so, and what the differences and requirements are to work in a fast-paced, highly visible legislative environment.

0.1 CEU

This will be an interactive workshop about how to respond to situations that arise in courtrooms and depositions. The audience will participate through role-playing, observing others, and sharing feedback. This will be a dynamic, first-of-its-kind session. Participants will come away feeling more empowered and confident in their roles as court reporters.

0.1 CEU

Reporters and students know: Passing the test makes all the difference – financially, professionally, and personally. Come learn the secrets from those who have been there, done that. Come away with practical tips you can use now to pass your next test with flying colors! What equipment will you need? Where can you test? Who is ProctorU and how are they involved? In this seminar you will review the entire online testing process, from registration to completion – soup to nuts, you might say.

0.1 CEU

Learning Zone

Court reporters and the firm they work with are critical players in a legal case, especially a big litigation case. Many times, legal support staff are tasked with choosing the court reporting firm and seeing that deposition, hearing, or trial from start to finish; from sending the notice for scheduling to review of the final invoice. This is no small task and a responsibility of utmost importance. Hear from a panel of law firm key players on what they look for and consider in choosing a court reporting firm, likes and dislikes in court reporting operations, and tips for court reporting firm staff to make your firm stand out from the rest! You are sure to get some great tips to implement in your firm to continue your success!

0.125 CEU

Our mission is to bring strength and balance to your temple by achieving fitness. FFYT sessions are a no-judgment zone. Beginners are welcome and encouraged to attend. Relieve stress and get your heart pumping in this one-hour session. Bring a towel or mat. Get FFYT for life!

Exclusive benefit for those booked within the discounted NCRA room block at the Hyatt Regency Orlando and registered for a Conference package or workshop.

Learning Zone

This seminar will cover proven practicing techniques and ideas to keep students motivated and encouraged to keep trudging forward while working on speed building and finishing their court reporting program.

Student 0.0 CEU

Teachers are invited to learn how other teachers are utilizing the Career Launcher Program in their court reporting curriculum. Two teachers will review how they use the site and the material.

0.1 CEU

This session will explore the many ways in which video is being used by law firms and court reporting agencies. Attendees will learn about IME’s and CME’s, inspections, day-in–the-life videos, settlement brochures, courtroom technical assistance, remote depositions, remote concierge services, exhibit capture, notary service, and the latest equipment being used to handle these additional services.

0.1 CEU

Are you stressed out? Working evenings and weekends on transcripts? Take your evenings and weekends back! Learn how to run your schedule so it doesn’t run you. We will be teaching tips, tricks, and tools to help take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. We will cover neck, back, and upper-body stretches, hand exercises, finger drills, and relaxation methods to reduce work-induced stress and body aches and pains. Time to learn how to care for yourself, up your efficiency, increase your productivity, and reduce your anxiety in this high-stress, high-demand field.

0.1 CEU

Building your A team is challenging but there are sure-fire ways to help build lasting working relationships. We will also demonstrate RealTeam and Connection Magic sessions.

0.1 CEU

Learning Zone

From the ground up; the road from being a baby reporter to the entire professional package.

Student 0.0 CEU

When we work together, we create a better learning experience. Teacher collaboration positively impacts student achievement and allows us as educators to explore new territory. Let's discuss best practices and innovative ideas to reach better solutions for students. The workshop will be documented to easily share information and strategies with teachers and schools.

0.125 CEU

Captioning briefs aren't a focus in schools or the court reporting industry. Frequently spoken words in captioning are quite different from frequently spoken words in testimony and may even be different depending on the captioning job, whether it's academic CART, sports captioning, or news captioning. In this session, attendees will learn how to create captioning briefs that work with your theory, your fingers, and your brain. Bring your machine and participate in the Dictionary Challenge!

0.125 CEU

With years of experience and thousands of depositions taken, Robert Butcher and Andrea Kreutz will educate you on the tools and strategies that they use to improve the quality of the service and deliverables while reducing time and costs in the process.

0.125 CEU

You want it, you got it! It’s the seminar that every tech-obsessed stenographer will want to attend. Join Mike Hensley for a fast-paced, fun-filled exploration of the best accessories, apps, and hacks for your life as a stenographic professional. Everyone is welcome! Yes, that means captioners, court reporters, students, and anyone else with an uninhibited love for the hottest trends in technology.

0.125 CEU

Ticketed event

Learning Zone

Teachers and students come take a seat at the “magical” table for a roundtable talk with court reporting firm owners and court managers as they share their experiences with student internship placements and what they want teachers (and students) to know in schools to ensure they are well prepared for internship and entering the court reporting profession after they graduate. You will leave this session with real-life experiences from firm owners and court managers to ensure our students and new reporters are primed for success in the “kingdom.” Let the magic of collaboration begin!

0.125 CEU

We all excel at writing on steno machines as court reporters, as a freelancer, or official, but how do we as professionals branch out into CART? How do you find your special niche? How do you counter ASR, automatic speech recognition? Learn from Pat Graves, a trailblazer in the industry, on the skills and knowledge needed to branch into the diverse field of CART captioning.

0.125 CEU

Hybrid, picture in picture, advanced lighting, mobile, confidential, live streaming multi-camera, and more. You never know what type of request is going to come with the next phone call. Joel Freedman will walk you through some of the unusual requests, and how to make it happen.

0.125 CEU

Fact: There is no better methodology of making a legal record than a stenographer. None. Your clients are being bombarded with claims of "new" technology and promises of cheaper and better access. What's the real story behind the hype? How do we continue to maintain and expand our STRONG position as the gold standard when making legal records? Many new laws and best practices of maintaining, protecting, and certifying the information we are entrusted with are emerging. NCRA STRONG is here to provide you with all the tools necessary to sharpen your skills, broaden your knowledge, and educate your consumers. You don't want to miss this one!

0.125 CEU

Brief bingo is a new take on an old favorite. Everybody loves a good brief exchange -- join the conversation and fill your card by sharing your favorite steno outlines. You'll walk away with access to hundreds of briefs online and learn new ways to study and improve your dictionaries. For those looking for a challenge, fill your card and enter to win a free registration to the 2023 NCRA Conference & Expo in Houston, Texas.

0.125 CEU

Have you ever wondered about the world of court interpreting and how best to work with interpreters to ensure accurate records? In this session, you will learn about the training and certification process that interpreters go through; how to gauge interpreter performance; what interpreters can do and should not do to help you make a good record; how to find certified interpreters and the importance of working with them; and how we can help each other in the various settings where we work together (depositions, courtroom, conferences, etc.)

0.125 CEU

Learning Zone

Students, join our cruise ship to the "topical islands” of membership, scholarship, and mentorship. Together we will navigate the waters to your final destination: Internship.

Student 0.0 CEU

This session will be an entertaining and resourceful approach to analyzing the value gained from court reporting/captioning school and how to stick with it to graduation. We will role play some of the common dilemmas students face in school and discuss viable solutions. Motivation, practice schedules, anxiety, life events - we’ll talk about it all!

0.1 CEU

In this session, you will hear from Genevieve A. Miller, a consumer from NASA/Kennedy Space Center who uses a remote, live realtime captioner for all of her meetings; and hear from Lisa B. Johnston, who has worked with NASA/KSC providing realtime captioning to deaf and hard-of-hearing employees for over ten years. Ask your questions and find out what is helpful and useful when providing these services to your clients.

0.1 CEU

Court reporters are simply brilliant. They are smart, professional, and incredibly hard working. They are necessary for the legal world to function and in a deposition, they are the most important person in the room. For videographers to work in unity with reporters, we have to understand what they do, how they do it, and why they do it. We also need to work with them to improve situations that could be detrimental to the record. Attendees will learn tips and best practices on how videographers and court reporters work together.

0.1 CEU

Description summary: TBD

0.1 CEU

Learn about the basics of test anxiety and continuing anxiety out in the working world; what is hypnosis and what is it not; what's that got to do with reporting; what's holding you back, fear of failure or fear of success? Tips and tricks to calm anxiety and focus on the task at hand and a deep dive into what hypnosis feels like with some fantastic subconscious and some very conscious suggestions about how we can face the world going forward, not only for success but for finding the sweet spot in this profession which allows a balance between making a living and enjoying life.

0.1 CEU

Dress in your favorite rock ‘n’ roll outfit and dance the night away to classic rock music at the Saturday night Rock the World Member Recognition Gala. Enjoy dinner, drinks, fun, and more!

LEARNING ZONE

This session will cover the foundations of investing to help prepare for your retirement years. Attendees will learn the fundamentals of investing, how to save on taxes, and how to prepare for retirement.

0.1 CEU

Shaunise Day has been empowering the profession to stay motivated and encouraged about their own personal journeys through school and in their current roles within the profession. In this session, Day will talk about the importance of networking, staying connected and unified within the profession, getting involved, and protecting and promoting the court reporting and captioning profession.

0.1 CEU

LEARNING ZONE

Basic conversational sign language and a basic overview of the Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and Late-Deafened communities will be taught during this interactive workshop. Attendees will also gain knowledge of the various communities of people with hearing loss and will learn politically correct etiquette and terminology when communicating with people with hearing loss.

0.1 CEU

Learn to write and conduct voir dire more effectively as a reporter, including writing prospective juror speaker designations in one stroke, for cleaner realtime and faster editing tips. Equipment and steno machines are welcome but not necessary. These tips can also be used for any setting with multiple speakers – depos with multiple attorneys, county or city commission hearings, etc.

0.1 CEU

LEARNING ZONE

Bring your machine and/or laptops and learn some tips on how to improve your realtime. What are the key things a reporter has to possess in order to become a top-notch realtime writer, and what does that even mean? We will have an interactive discussion about how you take one step at a time to become more proficient at your craft. Is it the equipment setup that's holding you back? Is it realtime voir dire you're avoiding? We will address setup and connection issues using both Eclipse and Case Catalyst software. We will talk about competing in realtime and speed contests and why competing, even if you think you'll never place, is so rewarding and allows you to hone your skills against the best of the best in this profession. This will be an interactive seminar. Realtime all the time! Bring your coffee and your questions!

0.1 CEU

StenoMasters is chartered under Toastmasters International and is the perfect place to get involved in a supportive community of fellow stenographers from all over the country -- and even the world -- to practice the skill of public speaking. The attendees will learn about the importance of timing, preparation, eliminating filler words, speech structure, word choice, body language, and feedback.

0.1 CEU