Michelle R. Feliccitti, RPR, from Portland, Maine, had a moment to promote the court reporting profession during the 2019 NCRA Convention & Expo in Denver. She was with a group of NCRA members who had originally met at NCRA’s Boot Camp in 2012. She recently shared her story with the JCR:
JCR | Where were you?
MRF | I was attending the NCRA convention in Denver, Co. My business partner and I and four other amazing court reporters were going to the Botanical Gardens for Max Curry’s President Party. We called an Uber to pick us up at the hotel … the rest is history.
JCR | How did the conversation start?
MRF | Being court reporters, it’s a treat to talk to anyone, as we’re always sitting, listening all day long to what others have to say. With a car full of six court reporters, we were all quite a lively bunch. I happened to be sitting in the front seat and chit-chatted with the driver about Denver and what she does and who we were and why we were in Denver. As the driver talked, she mentioned she didn’t know what direction she was going in life, and the Uber (driving) was just temporary and part-time. There was my opening. I just talked about what a great career court reporting has been for me and talked about the job and what we do as freelancers and how it’s not just in court like you see on TV. I mentioned the great A to Z TM program NCRA offers to even see if court reporting is something she would really want to do. No risk or harm in trying, right? It’s worth a shot.
Of course, I had the backing of my amazing ladies in the car with me, piping in when they heard me chatting her up about the A to Z program and what kind of career this was.
By the end of the ride I told her, listen, look up the A to Z program and here is my business card — of course I did try to tell her Maine would be a great state to work in — but then Oregon piped up and so did Canada; we were all vying for a newbie. I told her to contact me with any questions, and I’d be willing to talk more or help guide her to find the right program and people to mentor her.
A few weeks later she e-mailed me and told me she had signed up for A to Z this October and had questions about schooling, licensing and how to get started. I e-mailed her back, excited for her, and told her I’d find someone local that she could meet with if she wanted to, but I could help her with the regulations in her state.
That’s where I emailed my NCRA firm owners family and asked for someone in Colorado to mentor her. Jason Meadors was willing to help, so I sent an e-mail to her and Jason to get them connected.
JCR | Have you had this experience before of talking to someone who becomes interested in court reporting?
MRF | Yes, I’ve talked to others about becoming a court reporter. Actually, right now my niece, a senior in high school, is looking at the A to Z program and wants to shadow me. Yay!
JCR | Anything else you would like to share?
MRF | I plan on checking in with her after the first class and intermittently, but I know she’s in good hands with Jason, one of the best in our industry!
