By Annemarie Roketenetz
May marks NCRA’s 10th year of Celebrate Certification Month, a time for members to celebrate the professional achievements of their own as well as those of their peers, commit to earning a new certification or add to those they already hold, and share with others why specialized certifications are so important.
Just a reminder that NCRA celebrates its newly certified all year long. After each testing period, NCRA’s Professional Development Department sends a list of those members who have successfully earned a new certification to the Communications Department.
Newly certified members are then sent a press release template they can customize with personal and professional information, provide a headshot of themselves, and share what earning that certification means to them.
Members are asked to return the completed release to NCRA where the communications team will then distribute it to their local media outlets within a 30-mile radius of where they live.
The releases are sent to reporters and editors who cover business, education, information and technology, legal issues, and general news at the local and regional levels. Outlets the press releases are distributed to include news bureaus, newspapers distributed daily, twice a week, and weekly, ands television and radio stations.
I’ve worked in video production for years, but when I branched into legal video, I realized it requires a unique set of skills. Becoming certified as a Legal Video Specialist was the best way to master the rules, procedures, and professionalism that legal work demands so I can deliver the same high-quality service I’ve built my career on.
Nick Reed, CLVS, Altoona, Iowa
The service is free to all NCRA members who earn a certification and is optional for those who want to take advantage of it. While there is no guarantee that a press release will be picked up by a local media outlet, NCRA’s communications team does monitor outreach and shares any announcements or stories generated by the press releases on TheJCR.com under news.
It’s a win-win! NCRA members who are newly certified are also recognized on the Association’s social media platforms and in the JCR print magazine.
Amy Nixon Doman, RDR, CRR, CRI, Carmel, Ind. – “For 37 years, NCRA has been setting the standards for national certification, and those standards have never wavered. Through my membership, I’ve pushed myself harder than ever, but I’m accomplishing goals right along with my dear court reporting friends. You’ll never find a more enthusiastic and supportive group than the members of NCRA.”
Mahlia Kendrick, RPR, Santa Fe, N.M. – “Membership through NCRA is important because it provides court reporters with exposure which increases the opportunity for networking. Earning this certification means to me that I have proven my abilities as a court reporter and attorneys can trust me to produce an accurate record.”
Nick Reed, CLVS, Altoona, Iowa – “I’ve worked in video production for years, but when I branched into legal video, I realized it requires a unique set of skills. Becoming certified as a Legal Video Specialist was the best way to master the rules, procedures, and professionalism that legal work demands so I can deliver the same high-quality service I’ve built my career on.”
Sonia Fancher, RPR, CRR, Tallahassee, Fla. – “‘Work smarter, not harder’ is the mantra that fueled my desire to achieve the CRR certification. I could not have achieved this lifelong goal without help from the amazing court reporters I am honored to work with and through the webinars offered by the best court reporters and trainers in the country through NCRA’s continuing education and the classes at the Association’s annual Conference.”
Alan Dubin, CLVS, Weehawken, N.J. – “I am honored to have earned the Certified Legal Video Specialist certification. This achievement marks an exciting new chapter in my career as I pivot into legal videography, building on my years of experience in post-production and forensic analysis. Being a member of NCRA connects me with a dedicated community of professionals committed to quality, integrity, and continued learning in the legal arena.”
To help members celebrate throughout May, NCRA has made available a special resource page full of an array of materials such as a press release template, suggested social media posts, email signatures, the official logo, CART and certification fliers, fillable certification business cards and career business cards, and more. Visit NCRA.org/celebrate to find everything that is available.
This was first published in the May edition of the JCR magazine.
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