By Cindy Isaacsen
Good morning!!
And welcome to beautiful Minneapolis, Minnesota for NCRA’s Annual Conference and Expo, where our mission is clear: Elevate Your Impact!
As your 118th President, it is an honor of a lifetime to be standing here with all of you.
Let’s start with the obvious: Thank you.
Thank you for showing up.
I know the sacrifices it takes to be here.
You left behind families, clients, courtrooms, calendars.
You packed your bags, which is full of many pairs of SHOES — you know who you are — booked the flights, crossed bridges, highways — and in some cases, oceans — to join us.
You didn’t just come to attend a conference. You came to grow. To connect. To lead.
And I’m so grateful that you’re here.
Now, I want to take a moment to go back in time with you.
It’s 2007. Dallas, Texas. My very first NCRA conference.
I walked into a ballroom that felt a lot like this — buzzing with energy, filled with people excited to be there — probably a lot of you were there too.
I sat somewhere in the middle, over on the left side with my friends.
And I remember being in complete awe during the board installation.
And then came the keynote speaker — someone I didn’t know, but who stirred something in me.
I remember thinking, “Wow. This is powerful. This profession is FULL of amazing leaders.”
To anyone sitting in this room today for the first time — I see you.
Welcome. I’m so glad you took the leap to be here.
And to those of you who’ve been coming for decades — thank you. You’re the pillars of this profession.
You’ve led by example. You’ve mentored simply by showing up, year after year.
Now — I wouldn’t be standing here today without the love and support of my incredible family and friends.
They’ve come from all across the country — Texas, Washington state, Virginia, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Kansas. They too have put their work, schooling, and commitments aside to be here and show their support for me this week.
They’re filling nearly two rows this morning.
And my heart is absolutely overflowing.
If you want to meet the nicest people in the world, go say hello to my parents.
They are a blessing to me and to our entire extended family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
And yes — you can thank my dad for me becoming a court reporter.
You see, I originally wanted to be a physical therapist.
Until one night over dinner, my dad very simply said:
“You’d be a terrible physical therapist. You need to find something else.”
Well, thankfully a court reporter came to my high school for a Career Day.
And honestly — that probably saved a lot of injured people.
I found a calling that has given me purpose, passion, and a professional family unlike any other.
Now, I promised I wouldn’t talk too long, which is a feat in and of itself.
But I do want to leave you with a few thoughts to carry throughout the weekend and, really, throughout my term.
Here are five things I want you to remember — and every time you see me, I hope to get a HIGH FIVE.
One – Have a ONE-derful time here in Minneapolis!
Explore the city. Soak in the moments. There is joy to be found everywhere.
Two – Make two new friends. Real ones.
Not just a quick exchange of business cards — true connections.
Be a mentor, and let yourself be mentored. You are never too experienced — or too new — to do either.
Three – Each day, name three things you are grateful for.
Big or small. From the people beside you to the cup of coffee in your hand.
Gratitude grounds us. And you’ll hear from our keynote speaker how this simple practice became part of her healing process.
Four – Take the photos. Share the moments. Use #NCRA25 and let’s show the world what they’re missing out on.
Let’s shine a light on our community, the education, and the heart that lives in this room.
And five – Elevate Your Impact.
That’s our theme, and it’s more than just words. It’s a challenge.
In every area of your life — professional, personal, emotional, physical — ask yourself:
How can I step it up?
How can I serve better?
How can I be more present, more supportive, more courageous?
We are leaders — not just in title, but in action.
And this weekend is your opportunity to grow in ways you didn’t know were possible.
I want to highlight one initiative in particular that I’m incredibly proud of:
The Peer-to-Peer Support Program — something I’ve spent the last year helping build alongside an amazing team.
We hosted our first session this June, and two more are coming in September and November. I encourage each of you to register for those.
The Foundation’s incredible support has been vital to making this happen, and I believe it will change lives — not in dramatic headlines, but in quiet, consistent support that we all need more of.
And as we begin this weekend together, I want to circle back to where I started — Dallas, Texas, 2007. That young reporter, sitting in the crowd, full of awe and inspiration. I turned to my friends at the end of the session and I said,
“One day, that’s going to be me.”
And today … it is.
So to the new attendee sitting in the audience right now, wide-eyed, maybe even a little unsure —
I hope you feel what I felt. I hope you’re thinking,
“One day, that’s going to be me.”
Because it absolutely can be.
This is your time. Your profession. Your people.
Let’s learn. Let’s laugh. Let’s lift each other higher.
Let’s make this weekend unforgettable.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for believing in this profession. Thank you for believing in me.
Thank you for showing up — for yourself, and for each other.
And so you won’t soon forget this conference, I have a little gift for each of you that you can pick up from our awesome staff at the end of the Premier Session.
So …. Here’s to a High Five and Here’s to Elevating your Impact.
Welcome to the 2025 NCRA Conference!
Cindy Isaacsen, RPR, is NCRA’s 2025-2026 President.
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