Scholarships
Scholarships We would like to thank Paying It Forward for awarding selected students with scholarships. As part of the entry process, students were invited to submit an essay. We were pleased to announce that scholarships were awarded to the following individuals: $500 New Professional Scholarship: Mikayela Robbins $500 Student Scholarship: Bianca Karr, Oklahoma State University Bryony Gentry, Oklahoma State University $250 Student Scholarship: Lauren Jones, Tulsa Community College Megan Jones, Oklahoma State University Melissa Vargas, South Coast College Nicole Swanson, Plaza College Congratulations to our scholarship winners! Steno in the City Scholarships We are pleased to report that this year, “Steno in the City” awarded $250.00 each to Paul Neary and Annie Mueller to assist with their conference costs. Leading up to the conference, stenographers from across the nation convened to sponsor a student, resulting in our ability to send a total of 79 students to the conference. This is yet another fine example of UNITY and GIVING BACK to the profession! We truly appreciate and thank you! Supporting Steno in the City’s Founder – Shaunise Day On a more personal note, over the past two years, Shaunise Day has suffered an undue share of heartache and life challenges. However, in the midst of adversity, Shaunise continues to get back up, dust herself off, and knock out every obstacle in her way. Last year, as many of you know, Shaunise’s little brother Stevie Day was a pedestrian who was hit by a car and unfortunately passed away on December 23rd, 2022. There are two things that Shaunise loves with all her heart, and that is Stevie and steno. Stevie’s untimely demise had occurred in the middle of Shaunise’s planning for the 2023 Fearless Stenographers Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Unfortunately, adversity struck again. In January 2024, while preparing for the Fearless Stenographers Conference in Long Beach, California, Shaunise was diagnosed with breast cancer. However, she would soon realize that the steno community would rally behind her and show up for her in unimaginable ways. The community created a sponsorship in the name of Shaunise’s beloved brother Stevie and donated a total of $3,500 to the fund. Before Shaunise was scheduled for her mastectomy, she was immersed in properly planning and preparing for her recovery journey. It was then that she received a surprise phone call from Allie Hall, who shared the good news that the profession had raised over $5,000 for Shaunise’s care. The founder of Steno in the City continues to share her appreciation for the profession and what this generous gift means to her, advising us all to “be good to others and treat them with kindness because you never know when you yourself will need help. You just never know.” We are thrilled to announce that Shaunise is nearing the end of her recovery and is doing great. She owes a debt of gratitude to the steno community who stuck by her every step of the way during difficult times. Champion Steno – Be Your Own Champion! We would also like to thank Chase and Alyssa Fraizer for stepping up to the plate to assist Shaunise throughout her health challenges. You are deeply appreciated for always lending a hand behind the scenes for Steno in the City! One Team, One Goal, STENO!
Awards Luncheon SITC 2024
Awards Luncheon The Prestigious Award As always, this year’s Awards Luncheon provided many memorable moments as we took the opportunity to publicly acknowledge and express our appreciation to those in our profession who exemplify excellence. This year, we recognized a trail-blazing stenographer and firm owner who forged a path for future court reporters with her industry knowledge, diligence, and expertise. No one is more worthy of our respect than Donna Urlaub, a court reporter who has served our profession with utmost dedication for 55 years. Thus we honored Donna by bestowing upon her the Prestigious Award in appreciation for her significant achievements, fierce work ethic, and commitment to our profession for five-plus decades. Congratulations, Donna. Well done! Lifetime Achievement Award We also honored Mark Kislinbury, the innovator of Magnum Steno, with the “Steno in the City” 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. Mark’s impact on the court reporting profession is characterized by brilliant innovation, utmost achievement, and longevity. As the brain and powerhouse behind Magnum Steno and his namesake Mark Kislingbury School of Court Reporting, Mark has inspired thousands of students and professionals to study and adopt his mind-blowing stenographic theory and shorten their writing, thus enabling them to become more efficient writers. He has had an indelible and profound impact on our profession. Though Mark continues to be a stellar stenographer, business owner, and pillar of our profession, his generosity extends far beyond his gifts to the world of stenography. Congratulations on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Mark. We honor and appreciate your amazing accomplishments and contributions to our profession! Philanthropy Award Recipient The 2024 Philanthropy Award Recipient was none other than Kensie Benoit. From the very start of her career in 2014, Kensie has served the court reporting and captioning profession exceedingly well on many levels. Her impressive resume highlights her fierce dedication to giving back to the profession, including serving on multiple boards and committees at both the state and national levels. Beyond her committee and board work, Kensie found time to teach steno, creating dictations that are still remembered and utilized today. She has also been involved in nearly every Steno in the City (SITC) event, contributing both at the forefront and quietly behind the scenes. Kensie’s commitment to the profession is evidenced by her wide-ranging contributions, to include recording a video at the first SITC networking event in Washington, D.C., which showcased her court work experiences, as well as appearing on the popular podcast “Confessions of a Stenographer” with her steno bestie Candice Andino. Selflessly promoting the profession, Kensie teaches and hosts the A to Z program and also spearheaded the Modern Steno Movement, a brilliant initiative to elevate the visibility and understanding of the profession. In case you’re wondering how the litany of program participants obtain their equipment, Kensie also provides loaner machines to prospective students. Thus she wears many hats in terms of serving our profession. Kensie’s service extends well beyond the scope of the steno profession. For example, when Founder Shaunise Day had to step back due to surgery, Kensie, alongside the team, ensured that the Long Beach conference was a resounding success. Thus Kensie’s heartfelt dedication and tireless efforts qualify her as a deserving recipient of the 2024 Philanthropy Award. Please join me in celebrating Kensie for her remarkable contributions and unwavering support to the profession and Steno in the City! People’s Choice Award Next up, the 2024 People’s Choice Award was granted to Desiree Cooks, CSR of California. Desiree has actively promoted the court reporting profession over the years in countless ways via her various social media platforms, where she offers in her own inimitable way a rare glimpse into a day in the life of a professional court reporter. Congratulations, Desiree! Please note that we identified a host of court reporters and captioners for nominees for the award. We wish to thank all contestants who submitted their videos as part of the entry process. Please continue making an impact and promoting our profession. Impact Award We decided this year to honor another reporter who uses her online platform in a meaningful way. Those of you who follow Anna Mar-Lazo, TX CSR, RPR, understand that she takes time out of her busy reporting life to share behind-the-scenes details of her on-the-job experiences. Anna’s platform is always interesting and informative, and she continues to make an impact within our community. Whether brand-new students, new professionals or veteran reporters, we all know that our profession provides ample ongoing opportunities to learn from and help one another to become better reporters. Congratulations, Anna, on receiving this year’s Impact Award!
Fearless Stenographers Conference – Day 3
The final day’s sessions on Saturday, April 13, 2024, elicited numerous pertinent, candid conversations, reflecting the transparency our profession deserves. The first module, titled “Court Reporters in Attorneys’ Eyes Only,” sparked a compelling, thought-provoking dialogue between reporters and our esteemed panel of attorneys regarding the intricate process of deciding when and when not to notate transcript parentheticals in specific situations in order to achieve accuracy of the record. The exchange led to a unique teachable moment, ultimately resulting in a triumph for both our profession and the attorneys with whom we collaborate. Moreover, Jessie Waack-Gorry, RDR, CRR, CSR, once again deftly facilitated a highly engaged audience as she shared invaluable insights into user-friendly gadgets that assist today’s reporters in their work. Her unveiling of these helpful hacks, designed to increase workload efficiency and maximize productivity through the effective utilization of cutting-edge tools and resources, was met with avid enthusiasm. Throughout these sessions, our facilitators shared a wealth of information with conference attendees who expressed gratitude and excitement at incorporating this useful knowledge into their work lives. For this, we express our sincere gratitude. Thank you for volunteering your time and expertise to our profession. We appreciate you!
The Exhibitor Hall – SITC 2024
The Exhibitor Hall This year’s conference featured a total of 13 vendors, including the SITC booth. If you were a Gold Tier sponsor or higher, your booth was included in your sponsorship package. In order to support our small businesses and organizations within the court reporting profession, five vendors were each awarded a complimentary booth. Those who were considered for the gift were required to have been small businesses and supporters of “Steno in the City” from its inception. Throughout the day, attendees engaged with our vendors, exploring their product lines and offerings as well as potential employment opportunities. The highly interactive setting allowed our vendors to meet with reporters and students directly, and we were delighted to have witnessed the many meaningful connections that were forged. During the vendor hall event, attendees would hear their colleagues strategizing with one another while also learning of the plethora of job opportunities that are available in our SoCal courts. They also feasted their eyes on a slew of swag displayed by the Protect Your Record Project that they then took back to their home states in order to advocate for and promote our profession at each and every proceeding. Stenograph representatives were also present, eliciting reporters’ interest in their brand new NEXTGEN writer. Thus opportunities abounded in the exhibitor hall for purchasing products, learning of exciting new employment options, and networking with colleagues.
Paying It Forward” Mission – SITC 2024
The Paying It Forward Stenographic Initiative, a nonprofit, was created in 2020 to perform random acts of kindness for court reporting students. A heartfelt thanks to the reporting professionals who have donated to this entity over the last three years. Your generosity has enabled us to be able to sponsor students and new professionals for convention attendance, testing fees, software upgrade fees, professional clothing, steno machines, laptops, tuition, and books. If you would like to donate, please e-mail Allie Hall at allie441@gmail.com or click on the following QR code:
Steno United Reception – Cupcake & Cocktails
Steno United Reception – Cupcake & Cocktails “Cupcakes and Cocktails” was the theme for this year’s Steno United Reception. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Regina DeMoville, who helped sponsor the champagne that our guests enjoyed. We truly appreciate you, Regina! The Steno United Reception was once again intimate, inspirational, and impactful. We extended our deepest gratitude to our esteemed sponsors and afforded them, in return, the unique opportunity to engage with attendees in order to articulate their vision for our profession and how best to align their business interests with our needs. During this time, we also provided an opportunity for our sponsors and vendors to share a few insightful words with conference attendees. As they did, our guests partook of a selection of tantalizing custom desserts before leaving to enjoy a fun night on the town with colleagues or lounging in the lobby, networking, and catching up with old friends and making new ones.
Fearless Feedback Atlanta Conference – 2023
My experience at Steno in the City: the Fearless Stenographers conference in April was no less than fantastic! Shaunise Day did an amazing job bringing together stenographers of all types to learn, grow, and have fun together. Having an inside look into where this skill can take me was invaluable as a student. I loved seeing all the different sides to this profession from freelancing, to officialships, to even working in federal court. If any students are thinking about going to conventions and wondering if they’re worth it, I can say without a doubt they are! Especially Steno in the City! The motivation and support you will receive from everyone is amazing. I have never met such a wonderful group of people. Thank you, Shaunise, for putting this together! You did a great job! Rachel Franklin My experience in joining my very first steno conference was at Shaunise Day’s Steno In The City Fearless Stenographers Conference in Atlanta. As a student, I believe it takes a lot of courage to execute the decision to attend a conference alone, and I am so grateful that I did. The SITC Conference brought me and my vision of becoming a stenographer so much closer to reality. It provided me with the opportunity to network with some of the most highly noted stenographers and CART Captioners in the business. Although I had interacted with some professionals via Zoom by attending virtual symposiums with Plaza College, and on social media, nothing beats meeting the pros and gurus of the profession in person. I was totally star struck! I still am! Nevertheless, my takeaways not only added followers on all social media platforms, I left my mark and an honorable impression on everyone I came in contact with and created what I believe to be a huge stepping stone in the wake of my future as a stenographer. I am forever grateful and can’t wait to join the next one!!! Lydia Martinez I went to my first Steno in the City Fearless Stenographers Conference in Atlanta this year, and all I can say is wow! It was the breath of fresh air that I needed in my professional life. I left there so encouraged, proud, and excited to be a steno court reporter. And not only that, it has led me to set some GOALS for myself! Being around so many other reporters (and students) of all ages with varying years of service and experience in our industry brought some great perspectives. There was a strong emphasis on professional growth, networking, and striving to hone and perfect our steno gifts. Each speaker was outstanding and I learned a lot about a variety of topics. And the personal touches ~ the photo opportunities with the beautiful backdrops, and how cool was the 360 photo booth, professional headshots for all of us! You could definitely feel that the intent of this conference is encouragement and setting each other up to WIN. My takeaway is I’m now a lifelong attendee, and I would encourage anyone who’s curious about it to GO. You will not be disappointed. Whether you’ve been reporting a year or 40 years, the heart that went into creating this conference will benefit everyone. Iron sharpens iron. Annie Grant I attended Steno in the City for the second time this year. Just like last year, I was surrounded by highly skilled experienced court reporters, in addition to students and brand-new reporters. SITC is a wonderful opportunity to meet and spend time with reporters around the country who I have been lucky enough to work with over the years. The expo hall and seminars provide knowledge about what’s going on in the field and help me to grow in the industry while understanding the reporters’ experience. I will definitely be attending again next year! Lauren Grupper Wow, what a conference! I cannot express how much l enjoyed SITC! I have been to many conferences but this was the best! From the fabulous networking to the extraordinary conference content from Kim Xavier and all the other great speakers, l learned so much. l hate to admit but there have been times I have skipped sessions and gone shopping, but not this time. Thank you Shaunise for your hard work in putting this together. l can only imagine all the work required. l will be there for the next and the next event. Laverne Reinhardt-Beard I had an absolutely wonderful time at Steno in the City! I loved the fact that it was a small, intimate gathering and so I got to really get to connect with people. It was so much fun to meet several Facebook friends in person for the first time. The sessions were very enjoyable and relevant and I left energized and excited about my profession. I have to add, as a voice stenographer, I appreciated the session by the awesome Tori Pittman. I feel that it was a highly appropriate, necessary, and informative session. I was glad to see it well attended. Machine and voice stenographers working together CAN stop the shortage! I am so glad I made the choice to attend Steno in the City 2023 and I can’t wait for next year’s event! Jennifer Murphy Some say in order to grow a seed must first be planted under the best conditions, be that space or time. Shaunise Day, the founder of Steno in the City, is the seed. She planted herself in local, state and national organizations. Here she gained exposure and experience, which gave her the tools necessary to launch Steno in the City. In just a few short years, her brainchild has become an industry leader and disruptor in what conferences should be — inclusive, forward-thinking and modern. At Steno in the City, it is common to see students, new professionals and working reporters equally celebrated. It is common to see reporters who have not been recognized for their leadership in the past recognized for their contributions to our
Stenographers with 40+ Years of Service
I’ve attended many conferences, but never have I ever experienced a conference like Steno in the City. When I arrived at the first Steno in the City event in Washington, D.C., I could feel the excitement in the air. I kept asking, “Who is responsible for putting this together?” Everyone kept telling me Shaunise Day, but it was hard for me to believe that this one person had such a vision on how court reporting conferences should be held. Not only was the registration/check-in a breeze, but the networking event was full of fun, games, photo ops and lots of laughter. It afforded reporters the opportunity to get to know each other and make new friends in the Profession. It highlighted the reporters with years of service and service to the profession. And to top it all off, the photo session at the courthouse was second to none!!! Steno In The City’s 2022 Fearless Conference was held In Houston, Texas, and Shaunise leveled up our image and had the staircase wrapped in the Steno in the City logo. A proclamation from the City of Houston and professionals in the legal field were in attendance at the reception. The location of the host hotel was perfect and easily accessible to other attractions. The vendor area was visible and informative. The photoshoot taken on the staircase with all the reporters dressed in color-block attire was stellar. Overall, Houston was another good experience. Welcome to Atlanta, the location of the 2023 Steno in the City conference. I thought it would be difficult to attend the conference in my home city where I had to work in between sessions, but the agenda made it easy for me to do both. By this time, I realized Steno in the City had a “following” and people were excited to see what was next for the conference in the South. The welcome networking event at The Buckhead Club was electric (yes, we did the electric slide, too). A proclamation from the City of Atlanta was presented. The attendance had not only grown, but the attendees were from the North, South, East and West. It was such a privilege to meet so many reporters from California, which I hardly meet at the NCRA conventions, which I assumed was due to the locations and travel. There was a lot of love for Shaunise and what she is doing for our profession, and everybody wanted to know what they could contribute to continue the Steno in the City conferences going forward. And of course, the group photoshoot was a hit again. The speed contest was a new addition. The recognition of Charisse Kitt receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award brought us all to tears, and so did the loss of our dear fellow reporter from New York, Dom Turise. On a high note, I was so moved to have been recognized, along with my fellow reporters, for having over 40 years of service in the Court Reporting industry. When the conference was over, I left wanting more of Steno in the City. I continued to ask Shaunise what can I do to help, and I realized that she’s not going to tell you to do anything. I am challenging each of my colleagues to please consider contributing to Steno in the City as this will allow Shaunise Day to continue the work she so passionately and selflessly does to advance our profession. Diane King I had the pleasure of attending the Fearless Stenographers Conference 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia, this spring. A beautiful city, a wonderful time of year. Once again, Ms. Shaunise Day knocked the ball out of the park. What a wonderful experience it was for me. Starting with the Opening Reception to the Awards Luncheon was just plain enjoyment. After a successful and prosperous career, and having been away from the profession for such a long time, attending the conference made me want to be back amongst all of the amazing reporters with their many credentials and talents. I felt so young, again. I loved everyone that I had the opportunity to meet and look forward to being a part of the next event. The ladies in their splendid colors was a blast. Not counting out the gents that were present, of course. Thanks again, Shaunise, for a fantastic experience. Carl Suceda What to say about my Steno in the City experience? This is the second time I have been honored to attend SITC. It is one of the most enriching and uplifting conferences one can attend. You are in the presence of like-minded professionals who want to learn from each other and with each other. Hugs are given and stories are told! The level of the presentations given is always of the highest quality. I am always energized to attend SITC and even more so as the conference draws to a close. Shaunise has a wonderful ability to assemble networking and learning opportunities that are not to be missed. Thank you for another amazing Steno in the City! Karen Tyler I left the Fearless Stenographers Conference inspired in a way I’ve never experienced at any other gathering of court reporters/stenographers in my career. It felt like steno church! I had brought two members of my team because I had a feeling it would be inspiring and beneficial to anyone in the orbit of court reporters. And it surely was. Everything about the Fearless seminars was spot on: software, steno, voice writing, captioning, officials, freelance, tech, AI, pricing and clear communication of our worth. On top of that, I love a good backstory, and the backstories were captivating. Whitney Kumar’s journey to the Judge Judy show; Kim Xavier’s heartwarming and empowering talk about her hair and perception/messaging; Charisse Kitt/Kendra, James/Rose Detloff each telling their personal stories of certs, how they got them, the impact certs have had on their lives, and where they are as a result. So inspiring. I only wish I had been able to
Speed in the City Contest – April 2023
Speed Test Results – By Allie Hall In Atlanta we held our second SITC speed contest. This year we decided to have a speed contest and a super speed contest. The speed contest consisted of one five-minute literary take at 220 wpm, one five-minute jury charge take at 260 wpm, and one five-minute Q&A take at 280 wpm. The super speed contest consisted of one five-minute Q&A take at 320 wpm. Nine contestants signed up for the contests and eight competed. Five transcribed, and here are the results: 220 wpm Literary: First Place – Patricia Nilsen with 19 errors and 98.273 percent. Second Place – Karen Tyler with 31 errors and 97.182 percent. Third Place – Ron Cook with 34 errors and 96.909 percent. Fourth Place – Rose Detloff with 50 errors and 95.455 percent. 260 wpm Jury Charge: First Place – Patricia Nilsen with 33 errors and 97.461 percent. Second Place – Karen Tyler with 51 errors and 96.077 percent. Third Place – Rose Detloff with 64 errors and 95.076 percent. 280 wpm Testimony: First Place – Karen Tyler with 63 errors and 95.500 percent. Second Place – Patricia Nilsen with 69 errors and 95.071 percent. Speed Contest Overall: First Place – Patricia Nilsen with 96.935 percent. Second Place – Karen Tyler with 96.253 percent. Super Speed Contest: First Place – Mark Kislingbury with 42 errors and 97.375 percent. Second Place – Patricia Nilsen with 73 errors and 95.437 percent. Third Place – Karen Tyler qualified for two full minutes. Karen’s score for the entire five-minute take was 93.437. This past April I attended my first (of hopefully many!) Fearless Stenographers conference. I was intrigued when I saw there would be a “Super Speed” contest of 320 wpm. I’d never heard of speeds that high. It turns out the reason I’d never heard of them was because it had never been done before! I didn’t know until I got there that I would have a chance to make history! I’ve done the NCRA contests in the past, and also a few of the Intersteno contests, and I know that a lot goes into making them work. Everything ran smoothly, and I was so impressed (and also excited when I heard my name called as having qualified on the Super Speed!). I didn’t set out to break a record when I signed up, but I was thrilled to have that opportunity. My mother passed away in late 2021, and I’d been struggling to find any motivation for anything for over a year. Signing up for this contest gave me something to strive for, and it was a big deal for me personally. I also want to say attending the awards luncheon was exciting and inspiring not just to hear my own name called, but to hear about the other amazing reporters who were honored. This conference highlights the achievements of veteran reporters, but also shines a light on the future of our profession. I cannot wait to return! Patricia Neilsen
I May Not Be a Steno, but I am a Steno Husband.
Steno Husbands The times that you see steno spouses at conferences, they’re usually off sightseeing or lounging by the pool. But not me. I love interacting with the reporters, documenting by taking pictures, and even chatting with the speakers. Being part of the steno community, I know just how big of a deal they are. Being a paid participant at SITC ATL, I was able to attend the networking event, speaker sessions, and the cocktail happy hour. Everything was amazing. We had a blast both during the day and at night at SITC. I met so many amazing reporters and even a couple other steno husbands. It’s always so great to see fellow steno spouses supporting their steno spouses. Attending SITC with my steno spouse motivates me to talk about and promote the profession even after the conference is over. Because court reporting has changed our lives, I tell everyone we know and meet about it every chance I get. Wearing my Steno in the City t-shirt always sparks up a conversation, even with reporters who have yet to attend a conference. I love being involved and promoting this profession. If you don’t know by now, my name is Jose Lazo, a proud steno husband! My wife is Anna Mar-Lazo, a two-year reporter in the San Antonio, Texas area. Recently, our 14-year-old daughter participated in the AtoZ program. And because we know how this profession can change her life, we will support her every step of the way should she choose to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Want to know more about how I encouraged my wife through court reporting school as well as how to be an overall supportive steno spouse? You can listen to my episode on the Steno Talk podcast, Season 2, Episode 11: From The Other Side Of The Machine, wherever podcasts are available.