The inaugural NCRA State Leadership Summit in Kansas City brought together participants from 16 states to strengthen association management and advocacy. Hosted by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), the program paired practical instruction with discussion of challenges facing state associations across the country.
NCRA’s Executive Director Dave Wenhold, CAE, PLC, and Vice President Stacey M. Potenza, CRC, addressed strategic planning. Potenza then joined President Cathy L. Penniston, M.A., RPR, CRI, to discuss making the most of NCRA representatives’ state convention visits.
NCRA’s Vice President, Finance & Human Resources Daphne Rothstein covered financial oversight and budgets, while Content Manager David Castillo shared social media practices for member engagement. Wenhold, Immediate Past President Cindy Isaacsen, RPR, and Vice President, Education and Certification Cynthia R. Bruce, M.S.Ed., examined conference planning.
“Strong state associations give our members a voice where decisions are made. This summit gave leaders time to learn from one another and work directly with NCRA staff. That collaboration helps us build the leadership our profession needs to protect the integrity of the record and serve the public,” Penniston said.
Collaboration included a governance panel of NCRA and National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA) board members, who addressed parliamentary procedure and effective board meetings. NVRA President Lisa Raghuthaman, CSR, CVR, RVR, joined Potenza and Wenhold to share leadership experiences.
Raghuthaman, Wenhold, Isaacsen, and NCRA Director of Membership & Technology Irene L. Cahill, then guided group work on membership strategies for use in attendees’ states. NCRA State Government Relations Manager and Federal Lobbyist Colin Brehm examined state-affiliate challenges and opportunities in his State of the States Report.
“State leaders see the effects of policy in their courts and communities every day. When they share that knowledge with NCRA and with one another, we can prepare earlier and advocate more effectively,” said Brehm. “Strong relationships between state associations and our national staff are essential to protecting judicial integrity and the professionals responsible for the record.”
NCRA plans to carry the summit’s peer discussion, small-group problem solving, and practical leadership exercises into the 2027 NCRA Leadership & Legislative Boot Camp and the 2027 NCRA Conference & Expo.
“The value of this summit is in what leaders can use when they get home. We want to carry its practical discussions and group work into our 2027 events so more members can build the skills to lead their associations and advocate for the profession. The work should continue well beyond one weekend,” Wenhold said.
Boot Camp will take place March 14–16 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C. After three years of growing attendance, the annual event is moving to a new venue to accommodate its expanding participation. The downtown hotel offers direct access to Metro Center for a program combining leadership development, advocacy training, and Capitol Hill visits. Registration is open now.
The 2027 NCRA Conference & Expo will return to the Loews Kansas City Hotel August 5–7, bringing the profession back to the same venue as the State Leadership Summit. Conference registration and hotel booking are scheduled to open in April 2027.
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