MISSION STATEMENT:

“The Wisconsin Court Reporters Association is committed to achieving the highest level of professional standards when capturing the spoken word.  Educational enrichment and technological advancement are vital in maintaining the honor and integrity of our profession while serving the public and judicial system.”  

Adopted in April 2013

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
GRETA PEDERSEN, RMR

I am honored to serve as the next president of the Wisconsin Court Reporters Association. As I step into this role, I am grateful for the experience I have gained on the Board these past two years as president-elect. WCRA has an amazing hardworking and skilled Board, and I am honored to serve alongside them.

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce and thank our incoming Board members:  Phillip Harrelson, a federal reporter in Madison, as president-elect; and Amanda Lunde, a freelance reporter in the Madison area, as secretary.

A special thanks to outgoing Board member, Jackie Rupnow, who most recently served as immediate past president of WCRA for the 2021-2023 term, for her service and leadership over the last several years. She has served in many different positions, and the experience and knowledge she brought to the table is very much appreciated as well as all she continues to do for this profession as a court reporting instructor. Personally, I would like to extend my appreciation for all the guidance she provided me as a former student on my path to becoming a stenographic professional.

I would also like to thank Meredith Seymour for all her hard work and leadership the past two years. Her continued support is very appreciated as I start my term as president. She has done an amazing job, and I am honored to work alongside her as not only a colleague but a friend.

I started my career as a reporter June 21, 2021, as an official court reporter in Winnebago County for the Honorable Teresa Basiliere. I work with an amazing group of encouraging, supportive, and talented reporters always willing to help each other out, and I am extremely grateful to have started my career here in Winnebago.

My involvement on WCRA’s Board started in the fall of 2021 when I received a call from Sheri Piontek. Sheri, as we all know, is an absolutely amazing reporter and mentor. She played an instrumental role during my journey through court reporting school and as a new professional. So when she called and asked if I would be interested in joining the Board, I said yes. As a student, I remember attending my first convention and just how welcoming everyone was. I always wanted to get involved in some capacity with WCRA, but I didn’t expect to end up here!

My two main goals as president are to continue and increase our efforts of student recruitment and advocacy for this profession and to increase membership involvement. We are currently in need of volunteers to fill empty seats on multiple WCRA committees, and we need to train new leaders in order to fill future Board positions. Our Association is only as strong as its membership. We all need to work together as guardians of the record to preserve this profession.

I would encourage us all to reflect on the past year and what our goals are for the coming year and to take advantage of opportunities that come our way. We never truly realize what we are capable of until we take a step out of our comfort zone and try something new. Maybe for you that means presenting careers in stenography at a career fair or local high school or attempting that NCRA certification you’ve been thinking about, or maybe it’s volunteering on a WCRA or NCRA committee. WCRA is here to help with whatever questions you have or guidance you seek in your professional development goals. 

I truly am grateful for this opportunity. I love this profession, and I am so thankful to have truly found my dream job. I am hopeful for what the future holds for our profession, and I promise to do my best as an advocate for the stenographers of Wisconsin.