Join hundreds of NCRA members, court reporting students, teachers, and school administrators in Chicago, Ill., for the 2016 NCRA Convention & Expo, Aug. 4-7.
Registration is now open for the 2016 NCRA Convention & Expo being held at the Hilton Chicago, Chicago, Ill., Aug. 4-7. This year’s event offers a schedule jam-packed with educational sessions, the latest in new products and services showcased on the exciting Expo Hall floor, and an array of networking opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else.
The convention sessions will feature four learning tracks: realtime, judicial reporting, business, and CLVS. Attendees can follow one track or move between tracks to make the most of their learning experiences. There will also be specialized programs for students and instructors, as well as the two-day Certified Realtime Captioner Workshop.
“The Convention & Expo is one of the most exciting events and opportunities that NCRA hosts for its members. There’s always new information to learn, new people to meet, new opportunities to build lasting professional relationships, and new products and services on the Expo Hall floor,” said Tiva Wood, RDR, CMRS, who will be installed as NCRA’s 2016-2017 President during the conference.
“Chicago is an exciting venue that offers the perfect setting for inspiring attendees to build a stronger future by embracing this year’s theme that we are the architects of our own futures,” Wood added.
Following the Opening Reception the evening before the convention officially kicks off, Friday’s Premier Session includes the installation of NCRA’s incoming Board of Directors and the announcement of NCRA’s Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor offered by the Association.
The Corrinne Clark Professionalism Institute, launched last year by the National Court Reporters Foundation, will host its second presentation in Chicago with Business 101, a session that will be presented by NCRF Trustee Nancy Hopp, RDR, CRR, CMRS, chief operating officer of Midwest Litigation Services in St. Louis, Mo. Hopp’s session is sure to appeal to those new to court reporting, as well as those starting their own firm or moving from the courtroom to the deposition suite, as she will share tips about running a successful business, the best ways to market services, which records are vital to a firm, choosing the right location, and more.
Session highlights include: Terminate Transcript Turmoil; Mastery of Court Reporting; Are You an Independent Contractor or Employee?; Best Practices for Realtime Reporting; Your Cloud-based Office; and Social Media Gone Wrong, each led by leaders in the court reporting and captioning professions.
Convention newcomers should be sure not to miss the “Only New Once” Reception, which gives people the opportunity to meet members of the board, get tips on making the most of the conference, and start building relationships. In addition, there will be an Awards Luncheon and President’s Party held on Saturday.
Attendees should also be sure to stop by NCRF’s booth in the Expo Hall to learn about new initiatives, as well as NCRA’s Government Relations booth for advice on lobbying for the profession and what you can do to help. In addition, the NCRA booth, also located in the Expo Hall, will serve as a meet-and-greet site where attendees will have the opportunity to chat with presenters after their sessions and keep the conversation going. Finally, NCRA’s store will be on-site as well, offering an array of new products and convention specials. Attendees can wrap up their experience with the final sessions on Sunday morning before heading home.
This year’s annual event takes place at the Hilton Chicago, Aug. 4-7. For more information or to register, visit NCRA.org/convention.
Other highlights:
- Don’t miss NCRA’s new Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC) Boot Camp
- Attend the Realtime Systems Administrator program, a day and a half of intensive realtime training, including information about serial and streaming projects.
- Engage in some lively competition with the national Speed and Realtime Contests, or just come to watch some of the top reporters in the world battle it out for the trophy. (The winners are announced during the Awards Luncheon.)
- Participate in the governance of your association at the Annual Business Meeting, where members can offer their opinions on the direction of the association and ask questions of the board members.
- Find out what’s happening in each of the states during the National Committee of State Association meeting. State leaders use this time to exchange information about the latest legislative and other issues affecting court reporting and captioning professionals.
Please note that all times are tentative and subject to change.
