Sweet guesses and perfect tosses

Who knew a jar of candy could lead to so much excitement? Attendees at the 2026 NCRA Conference and Expo in Bellevue, Wash., put their estimating skills to the test by trying to guess the exact number of Lifesaver candies in a jar. From careful calculations to wild guesses, everyone had their own strategy for determining the winning number.

But the fun didn’t stop there.

Those with the closest candy guesses also got to try their luck at sinking a shot in a round of cornhole. “The best part of Conference was getting the opportunity to interact with all of the lovely members of the steno community,” said winner Ally Lewis. “It’s always great to meet up with old friends and make new ones!” Lewis shared that her next professional goal is to pass her RPR and to start working in this profession.

Congratulations to the winners who proved they had both a sharp eye for numbers and a sharp aim!

A special thanks to NCRF for sponsoring a free test leg for our winners. Kaili Tseng, another winner, shared that winning the test leg was “the cherry on top” of a great Conference.

Both Lewis and Tseng shared that educational sessions offered at Conference gave them new insights and perspectives. Lewis said that her favorite session was “Fast Fingers, Calm Mind” by Teri Simons, RDR, CRR. She said she has been dealing with a lot of increased anxiety in testing mode to wrap up her RPR.

“I found her tips and tricks very relevant and useful,” said Tseng. “It was a great reminder to take a deep breath and remember to take care of yourself while pursuing excellence.” Tseng said she plans to graduate and work on both the RPR and CSR certifications.

If you missed out on our sessions at Conference, recorded sessions are available in the NCRA Learning Center and you can earn CEUs towards your certification cycle. Plus, right now, select sessions are on sale through Sept. 30 in the Learning Center as part of our September Super Sale!