The Fearless Stenographers Conference ‘22 Recap

Last spring, March 23rd to 25th, 2022, the first annual Fearless Stenographers Conference took place at the Omni Hotel in Houston, Texas. Founder Shaunise Day, steno advocate, visionary, and lover of all things steno, went bold and bodacious with her vision for the inaugural event for the court reporting and captioning professional and did the unthinkable, taking the phrase “Do it scared” to heights previously unknown. In terms of its construct, the conference would provide an intimate, inspiring space where court reporters, captioners, and the steno community could unite, network, and brainstorm ways to move the profession forward as well as celebrate who we are and what we do, creating a memorable time for stenographers and the legal community.

DAY 1

On Day 1 of the conference, we held our “Speed in the City” contest, which was open to all to participate. Composed of a 280 wpm Q&A, 260 wpm Jury Charge, and a 220 wpm Literary, the competition presented a rare opportunity for those who have always wanted to compete on a state or national level to get their feet wet and test the waters. The contest also provided extra motivation for reporters preparing to take the RMR at 260 wpm, allowing them to zone in on their writing in a speed contest environment.
Legal Profession Networking Mixer. On Thursday evening, the “Legal Profession Networking Mixer” took place at The Ballroom at Bayou Place, located in downtown Houston. In terms of selecting an offsite location for the exciting event, Shaunise Day endeavored to ensure that our steno professionals would experience an unforgettably unique moment as they celebrated who they are and what they do as reporters. As the guests entered the venue, entrance stairs customized with “Steno in the City” décor transported them to the meeting space.

The exquisite aesthetics of The Ballroom at Bayou Place complemented Shaunise’s vision for the exciting first-time event. Our stenos enjoyed capturing selfies in a 360-degree photo booth. The room, adorned with a stunning backdrop featuring “STENO” in marquee letters, lit up the space. A “Fearless Stenographers” ice sculpture with purple lighting was also on display as were custom backdrops for more picture-taking, including an archway with balloon décor. Shaunise sought to ensure that the entire city would know about the “Steno in the City” weekend event. Every detail mattered and no stone was left unturned, resulting in a magical night for the legal profession.