Presenting at the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Conference in Nashville, Tenn., was an energizing and meaningful experience, allowing NCRA to spread the word about careers in court reporting and captioning as well as how to get high school students started in the profession. With attendance reaching more than 5,000 participants, the conference provided exceptional visibility for us to showcase the profession and the NCRA A to Z® Intro to Steno Machine Shorthand program.
NCRA Vice President for Education and Certification Cynthia Bruce, and Lisa Dennison, NCRA A to Z Program Coordinator, attended the ACTE Vision Conference to spread the word both at an exhibition booth and by presenting a session. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Music City, the conference provided an ideal environment for learning as attendees were all actively involved in promoting trade and skill professions in their schools. The expo hall allowed for maximum exposure, while our presentation session gave participants an up close and personal look at the profession and the pathway into the career.
We were joined by two NCRA members who engaged directly with educators and administrators deeply committed to preparing students for real-world success. We are grateful for the volunteerism of Patricia Nilsen, RMR, CRR, CRC, CRI, and Saba McKinley Roberts, RPR, CRI. “I loved the opportunity to interact and possibly make long-lasting impacts,” Nilsen said. “In a random coincidence, an attendee I spoke with had a husband who was a court reporting student in California. She took my card and the student has since been emailing me.”
McKinley Roberts joined us during our session presentation, providing realtime to attendees to demonstrate the skill. “This was a fabulous experience,” McKinley Roberts said. “It allowed me to showcase what I love most about my work, writing in realtime. The conference attendees were in awe at how court reporters are able to capture the spoken word at such a high rate of speed and that they can read their own words on the screen. This profession has allowed me to do so many great things in my life, and it is a joy for me to give back.”
Bringing court reporters to these events always generates a high level of interest and engagement by the participants, so we are grateful to both Nilsen and McKinley Roberts for the time they took to share their skills and knowledge to further promote the profession. We would also like to thank the National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF), which provided partial funding for our attendance. ACTE Vision in Nashville was a memorable and impactful event, and the conversations sparked will influence the work ahead for the NCRA A to Z Program in 2026. We met many enthusiastic educators interested in implementing the program at their schools, and we look forward to continuing those conversations and building meaningful connections in the months ahead.
If you are passionate about this profession and want to help shape its future, consider joining us later this year when the conference heads to New Orleans, La., Dec. 2-5, 2026. NCRA will be calling!
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