Allison Ailer, ESQ

Allison Ailer has practiced law for more than 22 years, working in both the public and private sector as a civil defense attorney. Allison is currently a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Colorado Department of Law, working in the Tort Litigation Unit. As a tort litigation attorney, Allison defends the state, its agencies, high ranking public officials and other state employees in civil lawsuits for money damages. Prior to joining the Department of Law, Allison was in private practice for ten years. She started her legal career the summer after her first year of law school with a small Pittsburgh plaintiff's law firm. That summer she assisted a plaintiff's attorney win a gender discrimination trial against a Fortune 500 company. After the verdict, they settled multiple other gender discrimination lawsuits against the same company. The second summer of law school, Allison was a summer associate at one of the second largest general litigation defense firms in Colorado. She moved to Colorado after graduation to practice with that firm. Her practice area included employment law and commercial litigation. After almost four years, Allison moved to a midsize insurance defense law firm to gain valuable trial experience. She has tried numerous civil jury trials and obtained defense verdicts. Allison graduated from Miami University in 1993 with a BA in journalism and history. Allison was a journalist for several years before earning a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2001. Allison is the proud cousin of court stenographer Judith Bellinger, a wife, and mother of Christopher and Alexander.

Allison M. Hall, RDR, CRR, CSR

Allison is a court reporter of 25 years and currently works as a freelance reporter. Allison teaches motivated court reporters how to pass their certification tests. Allison also teaches eager court reporting students at Tulsa Community College, Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City, and The College of Court Reporting. Allison enjoys public speaking and has taught seminars on shortening writing styles, efficiency, the future of court reporting, how to be an effective mentor, focused practice, and legal education seminars to both judges and attorneys. Allison qualified in NCRA’s National Speed Contest in 2023. Allison earned a third place bronze medal in the 280 wpm Q&A leg of NCRA’s 2022 National Speed Contest. Allison qualified overall in NCRA’s 2022 National Speed Contest. Allison qualified in the 200 wpm literary leg of NCRA’s 2022 National Realtime Contest. Allison earned a second place silver medal in the 280 wpm Q&A leg of NCRA’s National Speed Contest in 2021. Allison qualified in NCRA's National Speed Contest in 2018. Allison qualified in NCRA's National Realtime Contest in 2018. Allison qualified in NCRA's National Speed Contest in 2016. Allison is the recipient of the 2022 Oklahoma Bar Association Liberty Bell Award in recognition of her contributions to the legal profession. Allison is the recipient of the 2022 Steno in the City Philanthropist Award in recognition of passion, commitment, and unstoppable initiative. Allison is the recipient of the 2020 Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Award of Excellence in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Oklahoma Judiciary. Allison is the recipient of the Oklahoma Court Reporters Association Distinguished Reporter Award for 2018. Allison is a Certified Shorthand Reporter in Oklahoma, a Registered Professional Reporter, a Certified Realtime Reporter, a Registered Merit Reporter, and a Registered Diplomate Reporter. Allison holds an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Court Reporting from Central Penn College in Summerdale, Pennsylvania.

Andrea, M. Ignacio, CSR, RPR, CRR, CCRR, CLR   

Andrea M. Ignacio has been a CSR, RPR, CRR, CCRR in the state of California for 32 years. Specializing in highly-technical patent litigation, civil jury trials and arbitrations. She has traveled internationally to Taiwan, Korea, and Europe for many ITC-337 cases. She is a wife and mother of two daughters. Keana 20, and Leilah 16. She enjoys cycling, traveling and fitness training and has competed in the 2019 and NPC Muscle Evolution bodybuilding competition, taking overalls in women's physique over 50 and women's figure over 50. Andrea is active in her church named The Hill in Vallejo, California and enjoys giving back through their feeding ministry Outside Our Walls which provides home cooked meals to 90 homeless families in her community every Tuesday.

Angela Grant, RDR, CRR, CSR 

Angela Grant is a distinguished court reporter who has extended her expertise beyond the court reporting realm into the intricate world of stock market investing. Her career, with over two decades of excellence in court reporting, exemplifies not only her mastery of stenography, but also her dedication to continuous learning and personal growth. As a Registered Diplomate Reporter and Certified Realtime Reporter, Angela has demonstrated her commitment to excellence in capturing the fast-paced and intricate details of legal proceedings. Her career, built on a foundation of skill, dedication, and technological adeptness, has set her apart as a leading figure in the court reporting community. What truly makes Angela stand out, however, is her journey into the world of personal finance and stock market investing. Angela has made it her mission to demystify the often-overwhelming world of finance for her fellow court reporters. Her approach to investing and budgeting is refreshingly simple and practical.
Angela’s passion for financial education is rooted in her belief that everyone, regardless of their background, can achieve financial freedom and success. In her session, she will share not just investment strategies, but will also emphasize the importance of budgeting, saving, and building a financial plan that aligns with one’s personal and professional goals.

Anissa R. Nierenberger, RPR, CRR, CRC, CRI, B.S. Realtime Reporting

Since 1992, Anissa Nierenberger has pursued her passion for captioning into three distinct areas; Anissa Captions, her proprietary software Dictionary Jumpstart, and training and education programs. Anissa discovered captioning when she was just 14 years old after spending a career day with a reporter in court. Determined to become a stenographer, she pursued her goal and within a year of graduation from court reporting school, she began captioning for TV stations across the United States and Canada.

Anissa has researched and compiled over 200,000 words that make up 10 different modules and Add-Ons in Dictionary Jumpstart. DJ is the only realtime dictionary-building software in the industry and it has helped hundreds of reporters improve their dictionaries and their realtime. As an author, Anissa has also published several articles as well as five different books that have helped stenographers write shorter, improve translation and pass realtime certification tests. Over 1200 stenographers have successfully attained their realtime goals and certifications after training with Anissa. 

Brett Yorke, Esq.

For Brett, the legal profession always felt like his calling. Growing up and learning about his great grandfather’s participation in the union strikes at the turn of the 20th century instilled in Brett the importance of worker and consumer protections. This led Brett to pursue a career that enabled him to advocate for people, not work on behalf of big corporations. Brett graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Cultural Anthropology. During his time in San Diego, Brett volunteered for numerous charitable and political organizations. In his senior year, Brett worked for Democrat Marty Block in his successful state assembly campaign for San Diego’s 78th district. Brett attended University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California. During his first year, Brett was a finalist in the annual Benjamin Frantz First-Year Mock Trial competition and participated in McGeorge’s summer law program taught by Justice Kennedy on Comparative Politics at the University of Salzburg in Salzburg, Austria. In his third year, Brett was selected to participate in the highly coveted Federal Public Defender program. This clinic allowed Brett to represent indigent individuals charged with federal misdemeanors in federal court. It was here Brett honed his litigation skills and cemented his love for the law and belief in providing a voice for those in need. After graduating from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law with a concentration in Trial Advocacy, Brett returned to Ventura County to represent individuals against big insurance companies, drug companies, and medical device manufacturers. For over eight years, Brett has handled complex factual cases involving trucking collisions, auto collisions, industrial injuries, wage and hour violations, product liability actions, recreational sporting injuries, and multiple other types of serious injury and wrongful death cases. Brett has recovered millions of dollars for injured individuals through trial, arbitration, and mediation.

Cheryl Haab, CSR, RDR, CRR, CCRR

Cheryl Haab Scott is a freelance deposition reporter in Orange County, California, and owner of Scott Steno Services. Ms. Scott was one of the first graduates of Bryan University’s online program, obtaining her AAS and ultimately her CSR and RPR in 2010. Since that time, she has reported depositions, arbitrations, and trials in California and around the world, including in Central America and Southeast Asia. She specializes in realtime patent and business litigation, including complex multi-day arbitrations and technical cases. For the past three years, Ms. Scott was part of the esteemed team that stenographically reports the Academy Awards, documenting acceptance speeches and interviews for the press corps. In 2022, achieving a longtime professional goal, Ms. Scott obtained her CRR, RMR, and RDR designations from the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA). She is also certified in Washington State and Nevada. In addition to her professional endeavors, Ms. Scott has served in a volunteer capacity for both her state and national associations. Most notably, she has done extensive work with the Deposition Reporters Association of California (CalDRA), the nation’s largest professional association dedicated to freelance court reporters. Ms. Scott first joined the board of directors of CalDRA in 2012 as Secretary-Treasurer, then moving on to the roles of District Director, Vice President, President-Elect and eventually President of the organization in 2018. She has also served as the editor in chief of the organization’s quarterly publication, The Deposition Reporter. She currently serves as co-chair of CalDRA’s Legislative Committee. On a national level, Ms. Scott has also served on a number of speaking panels and committees for NCRA throughout her career, even collaborating with celebrity attorney F. Lee Bailey at NCRA’s first Industry Leaders Round Table in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has served as chair of the New Professionals Committee and as a member of NCRA’s Strong Committee. Ms. Scott was the first-ever recipient of Bryan University’s Alumni Award For Outstanding Career Achievement and has also served as commencement speaker in several graduation ceremonies for her alma mater prior to the school terminating their court reporting program. She can also be viewed in the documentary For The Record, a film documenting the profession of stenographic court reporting.

Cindy Bowden, CSR CA, NV, TX, Utah, RPR, RMR, RDR

Cindy Rochelle Bowden is currently a freelance reporter licensed in California, Nevada, Texas and Utah.  She obtained her BS and MA after court reporting school and has been licensed as a reporter for 20 years.  She previously worked as an official for a little more than 10 years at Kern County Superior Court in California and recently retired four years ago.  She is currently living in Santa Clarita, California.  Ms. Bowden has two adult daughters, ages 37 and 34 and two grandchildren, ages 18 and 15.  She recently became a widow on March 20, 2023 after being together for 36 years.  She is now more than ever before committed to managing her new way of life and continues to be passionate about court reporting as her husband inspired her to keep striving at her task and travels abroad as often as she can.  Her personal and professional goals are to become a CRR in 2024 and to work internationally at least once.  In her spare time, she loves shopping, movies, spa days, trying new restaurants in different states and most important to her is spending time with family and friends.  It is her hope after completing this seminar that you are motivated to level up and get those CERTS!!!

Denee Vadell, RPR, CCR-NJ

Bio Pending

Desiree Cooks, CA CSR

Desiree Cooks is a highly skilled and meticulous Court Reporter with over 10 years of freelance experience. Based in California, she is known for her exceptional ability to create accurate records and transcribe verbatim stenographic records of official court proceedings, witness depositions, arbitrations, and trials. Desiree possesses a special talent for transcribing real-time interactions with an impressive accuracy rate of 97.5%. She is also well-versed in record preservation, ensuring that the integrity of court records is maintained. As a certified member of the State of California’s Department of Consumers Affairs Certified Shorthand Reporters Board, Desiree is equipped with the knowledge and expertise to operate stenotype machines and computer-aided transcription equipment. She is to perform under pressure and deliver timely transcripts within strict time limitations.

Desiree's professionalism and ability to understand, interpret, and apply rules, regulations, and procedures make her an invaluable asset in the courtroom. She has established effective working relationships with judges, commissioners, attorneys, media representatives,, and the public, always conducting herself with courtesy and tact. In her most recent role as a Freelance Court Reporter/Stenographer at Veritext Legal Solutions, Desiree has proven her commitment to excellence by consistently delivering high-quality transcripts. She is also a member of the California Reporters Association (CCRA). Desiree's passion for her work is evident in her background. She completed a Court Reporting program at Sage College and holds a Shorthand Reporter Certification Diploma from Martin Luther King High School. Additionally, she has a strong foundation in general education. With exceptional skills and dedication to her craft, Desiree Cooks is a reliable and trusted professional in the court reporting industry.

Donna M. Urlaub, RMR, CRR

Donna M. Urlaub, RMR, CRR, has been a court reporter for 54 years - 38 of those as a firm owner/working reporter. She is a member of ILCRA, NCRA, and STAR and has been a contributor to the JCR. On a dare from her business partner, Donna entered - and won - the Illinois speed contest in 1987 and has been hooked ever since. At the National level, she was coming in 2nd and 3rd place almost perennially, finally achieving 1st place in 2021, at the age of 72.  Her goal is to be 1st again by age 75.  Which is where Word Crimes and Word Influencers enter the picture.  Knowledge of words, homonyms, homophones, and idioms, is essential to writing fast, "hearing" the correct word or phrase -- and writing it -- rather than having that pause in writing that we experience when the word is not recognized.  Donna is convinced that word knowledge and focused practice is her hedge against cognitive decline - and can be yours too. 

Jennifer Billstein-Miller, RMR, CRR, CCR-NJ

Jennifer Billstein-Miller is an RMR, CRR, CCR-WA, CCR-NM, and New Jersey CCR. She has been a freelance court reporter since 1988 and serves the following areas: Philadelphia, PA, DE, NJ, and NYC, covering high-end realtime depositions such as pharmaceutical patent litigation, bankruptcy cases, etc. She is on the NCRA NSCA Committee, NCRA Brand Ambassadors Committee, NCRA Freelance Stakeholder Group and is an NCRF Angel. She has been a board member of CCRA-NJ for eight years. She is currently a past Freelance Director. She has a 20-year-old special needs daughter and is very active in Autism Awareness. She loves to work out, participating in Orangetheory classes and Kickboxing!

Jennifer Crisologo, CPFA®, PPC

Jennifer is a financial advisor passionate about helping people. She helps individuals, families and business leadership make informed decisions about their day to day or longer-term wealth planning. With her experience, Jennifer provides guidance on topics such as retirement planning, investment strategies, tax planning, estate planning, and risk management. She assists individuals, families, and business owners in creating holistic financial plans that encompass various aspects of their financial lives. She considers their short-term and long-term goals, risk tolerance, investment preferences, and estate planning needs to develop customized strategies that align with their aspirations. Through her experience in financial planning, Jennifer empowers her clients to make informed decisions and pursue financial freedom. Jennifer Crisologo's commitment to excellence, her deep understanding of the financial landscape, and her passion for helping others have earned her a stellar reputation in the industry. As a valued advisor, she advocates for her clients, guiding them on their financial journeys and addressing their financial well-being.

Jessie Waack, RPR, RMR, RDR, NYACR, NYRCR, CCRR, CSR-TX, CCR-NJ, CCR-WA, CSR-CA

Jessie has extensive experience serving on the board of various court reporters associations. She spent four years on the board of the Wisconsin Court Reporters Association (WCRA), two years on the board of the Californian Deposition Reporters Association (DRA) and continues to work with the New York State Court Reporters Association (NYCSRA). Her accomplishments include organizing several conventions across multiple states, implementing a pro bono program in Wisconsin, helping get funding for court reporting schools as well as presenting several webinars on various topics. Since serving on the NYSCRA board, Jessie has given multiple seminars to help promote the profession. These seminars include training for remote depositions and preparation for the RPR. Jessie continues to help mentor students so we have well-trained stenographers in the field who strive to hold the highest standards and integrity for our wonderful profession.

Judith Bellinger, RPR, CRR, TX CSR

Judy Bellinger has been a freelance court stenographer since 1984, graduated from the Academy of Court Reporting in Cleveland, Ohio. She taught at the Stenotype Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana, is Past President of the then Indiana Shorthand Reporters Association, and served on several committees with ISRA. She has reported and provided real-time services for various high-profile depositions and trials throughout her career, including the NFL, NBA, NCAA, a 10-week murder trial in Indiana, State v. Camm, and most recently, the Depp v. Heard trial in Fairfax, Virginia. She also provides stenography services for several unions during their conventions and has provided CART for students at IUPUI, Purdue University, the former Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis, and The Indiana School for the Deaf. She considers her career a passion, not a job.

Kathryn R. Sweeney, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CSR, LCR

Kathryn Sweeney has been a court reporter for 32 years.  She holds the CSR in Massachusetts, LCR in New Hampshire, as well as her RDR and CRR designations from the National Court Reporters Association.  She has won a realtime contest in Massachusetts, taken third place in the National realtime contest, and even became a Fellow of the Academy of Professional Reporters. Kathryn has proudly served on the Massachusetts Court Reporters Association board and is currently President of the New Hampshire Court Reporters Association.

She was the Chief Examiner on behalf of NCRA for 18 years and has given her CRR Boot Camp across the country for the past 14 years.

Lindsay Stoker, RMR, CRR, CRC, CA-CSR

Lindsay Stoker is a seasoned court reporter and captioner, holding RMR, CRR, CRC, and CA CSR certifications. For over 16 years, Lindsay's professional journey has been a whirlwind of capturing crucial moments —from broadcast and conference captioning in front of thousands to high-stakes depositions worth billions, star-studded arbitrations, and even the glitz of the Oscars. Settled in sunny Huntington Beach, California, Lindsay shares her life with her husband, Brandon, their four energetic sons, aged 16, 16, 11, and 9, and their corgi, Scout.

Mary E. Pierce, CA CSR 

Mary has been licensed in the State of California since July 1983 as a Certified Shorthand Reporter. From 1983 to 2001, Mary worked as a staff reporter for two different agencies in the greater Los Angeles area. Since January 2002, she has owned and operated Pantera Court Reporters in Huntington Beach, California. Mary served on the Board of Directors of the Deposition Reporters Association of California (CalDRA) from February of 2018 until April of 2022 in various capacities, including as President from

2020 to 2022. She is now the co-chair of the legislative committee for CalDRA. Mary has published several articles, including the April 2022 article in The Daily Journal entitled “Make Sure Your Court Reporter Is

Really A Court Reporter,” a widely circulated article that she co-authored with Melissa Buchman, a family law attorney in Beverly Hills. Most recently, Mary joined the highly respected and incredibly hard working

NCRA STRONG Committee, a dedicated group that continually impresses her with their efforts and tenacity.

Nicole Rubia-Bulldis, RPR, FCRR

Nicole Bulldis, RPR, FCRR Nicole began her legal career in 2003 as a criminal defense investigator and then transitioned to a paralegal in civil litigation before attending Green River College in Washington and becoming a court reporter in 2016. She started reporting in state court as an official and worked her way up to providing realtime in a capital courtroom before transitioning to freelancing in 2021. Nicole is licensed in Arizona, California, and Washington. She holds an RPR certification through NCRA and an FCRR certification through USCRA. Nicole's current form of serving the steno community has been through mentoring students and new professionals. In her free time, Nicole and her daughter are hardcore Swifties (having seen the Eras Tour twice in 2023). She is an avid reader, a fitness enthusiast, and loves exploring new places with her husband. 
 

Shacara Mapp, MI-CSR, RPR, FCRR, CRR, RMR

Shacara Mapp, a Detroit Native, has been a court reporter since 2011, and currently works as an Official Federal Court Reporter in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, where she has been for two and a half years. She was destined to be a court reporter since the age of 12, writing to the news on her typewriter, not even knowing what court reporting was yet. Shacara started her journey as a CART Provider/Captioner in 2011 with Lisa Kern of Concise Captioning in Livonia, Michigan. She started CART while still in court reporting school awaiting graduation, because she was already proficient at realtime, and had passed all of her speed courses.Shacara is also a part-time freelance reporter with Hanson Renaissance Court Reporters, where she started as a full-time reporter in 2017. Shacara loves giving back to the profession, so she began teaching at Macomb Community College and became a high-speed instructor in 2018. She volunteers with the A-to-Z program held by the MAPCR board, volunteers her time at career fairs for the local high schools and colleges in her area, as well as career day and training days at the courthouse, providing free realtime services to educate new attorneys, interns, and law clerks about our profession.Shacara serves on her state association as the President of the Michigan Association of Professional Court Reporters to help preserve and promote court reporting. But while doing all of this in her career, Shacara's most favorite thing to do is be a mom and spend time with her family. She volunteers on her boys' football team as a board member and team mom/unit manager, helps with PTO, and loves making memories on school field trips and family vacations.

Shaunise Day, Founder of Steno in the City

Founder of Steno in the City, creator of the podcast Confessions of a Stenographer, Shaunise

Founder of Steno in the City, creator of the podcast Confessions of a Stenographer, Shaunise Day’s many contributions to the court reporting profession have positioned her to be a valuable pillar in the steno community. Ms. Day was born and raised in Oakland, California, where she discovered stenography. Due to an unfortunate chronic hand injury, Shaunise has had to take a break in her journey of becoming a stenographer. However, her passion and excitement for the profession has persisted. And from here is where her vigorous advocacy for the court reporting and the captioning profession emerges. As host and producer of Confessions of a Stenographer, listeners worldwide have enjoyed learning of the stories and background of court reporters, the life challenges they’ve overcome, and how they transitioned to become stellar court reporting professionals. Introducing this podcast platform to the profession has been one of the many resources and inspirations Shaunise has created for the steno community. The Fearless Stenographers conference is a yearly conference aimed at uniting the profession, drawing together the guardians of the record, firm owners, judges, lawyers, and industry vendors, all to communicate on the importance of the keeping of the verbatim record. The conference has been a successful and exciting event that continues to draw and motivate students, court reporting professionals and captioners alike. Furthering the movement of bringing the career of court reporting to the forefront, Ms. Day implemented virtual career fairs during the height of a global pandemic in 2022. Students attended remotely, learning about the inner workings of the legal system directly from a judge, stenographer, lawyer, and a law enforcement officer. The participants had their first steno experience through this initiative, piquing their interest and making a lasting impression. The aforementioned endeavors, along with so many new ones in development, are all envisioned and created with the intent of adding value to the court reporting profession. Shaunise’s goal is to impress upon all that stenographers stand amongst the nation’s top-tier industries, forever an integral aspect to our justice system, as proud as they are highly-skilled to be guardians of the record. Ms. Day currently serves on the National Court Reporters Association PAC Governing Board, Brand Ambassador Council, and former Membership Committee and Student/Teacher Committee.

Sue Terry, FAPR, RPR, CRR, CRC

Sue currently serves as the official court reporter for the Greene County Common Pleas Court in Xenia, Ohio.  She is a past President of the National Court Reporters Association, the Ohio Court Reporters Association, and the StenoCat Users Network. Sue is a Registered Professional Reporter, Certified Realtime Reporter and Certified Realtime Captioner.  She has been awarded the distinction of being a Fellow of the Academy of Professional Reporters by the National Court Reporters Association and is the only person in NCRA history to receive both the NCRA Distinguished Service Award and the Jim Bouley Family Altruism Award in the same year.

Tim Fauk, Remotely LLC 

Tim Falk has been a legal videographer for the past 16 years, owning his own legal video business in Colorado and recently launching a new worldwide remote legal video business as well. He has consulted with many court reporters over the years about their technological needs and questions. Tim believes that the more you know about technology, the more empowered you are to take necessary risks and the more value you can provide to your clients. He and his wife have five daughters — who might just know more about technology than he does.