May marks NCRA’s ninth year of Celebrate Certification Month, a time for members to celebrate the their own and their peers’ professional achievements, to commit to earning a new certification or adding to those they already hold, and to share with others why specialized certifications are so important.
But did you know that NCRA celebrates its newly certified members all year long? After each testing period, NCRA’s Professional Development Department sends a list of those members who have successfully earned a new certification to the Communications Department. Newly certified members are then sent a press release template they can customize with personal and professional information, including what earning that certification means to them and a headshot.
Members are asked to return the completed release to NCRA where the communications team will then distribute it to members’ local media outlets within a 30-mile radius of where they live. The releases are sent to reporters and editors who cover business, education, information and technology, legal issues, and general news at the local and regional levels. Outlets the press releases are distributed to include news bureaus, daily, weekly, and twice-weekly newspapers, and television and radio stations.
The service is free to all NCRA members who earn a certification and is optional for those who want to take advantage of it. While there is no guarantee that a press release will be picked up by a local media outlet, NCRA’s communications team does monitor outreach and shares any announcements or stories generated by the press releases on TheJCR.com under news.
NCRA members who are newly certified are also recognized on the Association’s social media platforms and in the JCR print magazine.
Here’s what some members shared in the press releases celebrating their certifications:
“To have earned my RMR certification is such a relief, honestly. The ability to provide an accurate record at a high speed and have the skill set to perform this effortlessly is so valuable both professionally and personally because it allows the freedom of having a stable work/life balance, reiterates the invaluable service stenographers provide for the judicial system, and most importantly, reaffirms the reasoning to have a seat in the courtroom. NCRA understands all of this and provides for the education and testing to obtain these goals.”
Rachael Lundy, RMR, Fresno, Calif., a court reporter for the U. S. District Court, Eastern District of California.
“As a member of NCRA, earning my CLVS demonstrates my commitment to providing professional quality and impartial capturing of the record by video.”
Christopher Foreman, CLVS, from Sherwood, Ark.
“What once seemed an unachievable dream is now an exceptional reality. Thank you, NCRA, for allowing us to showcase our skills through these certifications.”
Blanca Espericueta, RMR, from San Antonio, Texas, an official court reporter in Bexar County, Texas.
“I consider it a privilege to contribute to the legal process by providing verbatim reporting of proceedings, and this certification assures attorneys that they will receive quality realtime transcripts when working with me in high-stakes litigation.”
Douglas Armstrong, RPR, CRR, Bellingham, Wash., a court reporter for Seattle Deposition Reporters and other Washington area agencies.
“Membership in NCRA is extremely important to me because having a strong community behind you is important. As I start my career, I want to have the strong foundation that NCRA provides. The journey to get here was not an easy one, but it has been so worth it. I feel proud to have completed my certification with NCRA. Being a certified member gives me credibility and accountability. I look forward to my future and this new chapter as a registered court reporter.”
Larie Kuzma, RPR, from Gurnee, Ill.
“I’m grateful to have earned this CLVS certification within an organization filled with talented professionals, many of whom I’ve had the privilege of working with on multiple occasions. The standards upheld by NCRA and the immense value they bring to the industry are something I’m very glad to be a part of. As a professional and as a member of the NCRA, I am delighted to continue advancing in my career and remain committed to providing impartial, professional-grade video and audio capturing of the record.”
Richard Morales, CLVS, from Perth Amboy, N.J.
To help members celebrate throughout May, NCRA has made available a special resource page full of materials such as a press release template, suggested social media posts, email signatures, the official Celebrate Certfication Month logo, CART and certification fliers, fillable certification business cards and career business cards, and more.
Share with NCRA how you celebrate the month by sending your story to pr@ncra.org or posting on social media using #NCRAcertified.
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