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Boot Camp is the premier learning environment for the new reporter, almost new reporter, and/or transitioning reporter. CCRA has once again assembled some of the best reporters and speakers in the industry for a full-day event offering a wide range of topics. Whether you are a student transitioning to a professional, official to freelancer, judicial reporter to CART provider or into Captioning, this interactive event offers everything you need to ensure success and confidence in your new endeavor.   As a bonus, after every session, you'll have the opportunity to meet and ask questions with the speakers! 

Whether you are a student entering the field, or you’re a freelancer, official, steno/voice, CART provider or captioner wanting to explore another component of our profession, this interactive event promises everything you’ll need to succeed in your new endeavor. Our carefully selected industry experts will teach you the ins and outs of whichever new avenue of reporting you choose and will help prepare you for your first day on the job in this exciting and challenging multi-faceted profession.

Objective #1: Attendees will learn how to work as an official in court.
Objective #2:  Attendees will understand the importance of building relationships and effective networking skills.
Objective #3: Attendees will learn all about what being a freelancer entails and how to be efficient and successful through all phases of the job

Boot Camp has always been one of our most beloved and well-attended events. Come see what the buzz is all about. It’s never too late to learn something new. We’ll see you there!

Schedule & Sessions:

Diana Van Dyke will cover the duties of an official and official pro tem. Learn the rules of a pro tem and official, including freelancers working in court, and all that you’re responsible for. Diana will highlight the importance of networking and creating positive relationships with court staff. 

9:45 am – 10:00 am: Break

10:00 am – 10:45 am: How to Succeed as a Freelance Reporter – Mike Hensley, CSR, RDR
Mike will cover what firm owners want from new reporters and reporters transitioning into the freelance workforce. Attendees will learn all about what being a freelancer entails and how to be efficient and successful through all phases of the job. Realtime tips for more efficient transcript preparation will be discussed by the speaker. This session will cover the importance of dressing the part and how to maintain professionalism at all times.

10:45 am – 11:00 am: Break

11:00 to 12:15: Bad Grammar/Good Punctuation – Margie Wakeman-Wells
The presentation will open with a discussion of vocabulary development: how to increase vocabulary, the fallacy of trying to “memorize” words; daily vocabulary building; the study of word pieces and parts. This will be followed up with a discussion of the basics of commas and how the myriad comma rules fit into just two categories. Examples will be given for practice. This will conclude with some of the recent changes in traditional rules.

12:15 pm – 1:15 pm: Lunch

1:15 – 2:00: CART/Captioning – Cristine Ramirez Gerongco, CSR, CCG and Jessica Borynack, RPR, WA CCR, OR CSR
Christine and Jessica will be covering CART Captioning and the ins and outs of the job. They will thoroughly discuss CART, from how to land the job, doing the job, and what comes after the job. We’ll learn tips on writing styles that work for them and the things that are most important for being a top-notch CART Captioner.

2:00 pm – 2:15 pm: Break

2:15 pm – 3:00 pm: Talk it Out Panel – All Speakers
This is a legislative update for the world of officials and freelancers.  Our speakers will give an update on the issues facing California's Court Reporters, including this legislation regarding electronic recording, remote reporting, court recruitment and retention issues, and more!  We'll also give you an overview of CCRA's Action Team, a powerful community of California's Court Reporters from all 58 counties!  You'll find out how to stay abreast of statewide issues and keep CCRA informed of what's happening in your county.

3:00 pm – 3:15 pm: Break

3:15 pm – 4:15 pm: How Marketable are You? 
Help distinguish yourself from the pack.  If you had a change of circumstances in your job situation, would you be ready?  As a new reporter, would you be the one hired?  This will help you get started in networking and making a name for yourself.  When the dream job comes along, would you get "the call"? Would YOU even be considered in the first place?

4:15 pm – 5:00 pm: Rules & Regs 101 – Brooke Ryan, CSR, RPR
Brooke Ryan, CCRA President and past legislative chair will present a high-level overview of the role the California court reporter board plays as well as legislative stakeholders.  We will then cover the most pertinent laws, code sections, local rules, etc., that apply to a working court reporter.  This is an absolute must, so you know your legal responsibilities.

Speakers:

Mike Hensley, CSR, RDR, is a dynamic force in the world of court reporting, proudly owning a cutting-edge firm in Dublin, California. Mike has tirelessly pursued and achieved significant milestones within the profession with standout accomplishments of obtaining RDR certification within his first five years as a court reporter and becoming a nationally ranked speed contestant. 

Mike's expertise spans coverage of a diverse range of legal proceedings at all levels. His specialty includes matters involving biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, software development, and mechanical engineering.  

Beyond his individual accomplishments, Mike is deeply passionate about inspiring and mentoring fellow court reporters. He has served as President of the California Court Reporters Association. Mike's infectious energy and enthusiasm shine through in his interactions, making him a captivating speaker who motivates seminar audiences to seize the day and transform their ambitious goals into achievable realities.

Cristine Ramirez Gerongco, CSR, CCG, obtained her California CSR in 2009 and CA CCG in 2019, showcasing her versatility in the court reporting field. From a deposition reporter to a CART Captioner and later an Official for the San Diego Superior Court, she eventually returned to freelance work, excelling in reporting and captioning diverse events nationwide. Cristine's steno journey began in 2005, inspired by her love for typing and a desire for a meaningful career. Despite initial challenges, including a school closure and personal commitments, she persevered, passing the CSR exam in 2009. With a passion for mentoring, she embraced roles in various legal settings and CART Captioning, even realizing her dream of providing services at an Ivy League university. Now, she looks to pay it forward by volunteering with ProjectSteno, reigniting her teaching passion. Her enthusiasm has inspired family members to embark on their court reporting journeys, with three cousins enrolled in ProjectSteno and her sister progressing toward becoming a CART Captioner. Cristine's remarkable career and commitment to education reflect her dedication to the court reporting profession. 

Jessica Borynack, RPR, WA CCR, OR CSR attended Sage College of Court Reporting and has spent her career as an enthusiastic supporter of the profession. Her passion for reporting is palpable and infectious, as evidenced by her long list of accomplishments, both as a court reporter and as a CART captioner. She has served the profession well in a career that has spanned a variety of freelance work, including dedicating herself to the art of CART captioning, and most recently has broadened her professional career even wider as an official for the United States Judiciary.

Diana Van Dyke, CSR, has been a CA CSR since 1995. She began her career as an independent contractor reporting depositions for over five years before fulfilling one of her professional goals of becoming a Los Angeles Superior Court Official Court Reporter in 2001. After more than ten years of serving the public as an official primarily in an unlimited civil courtroom, she spent several year covering in almost all of the various case types for which Los Angeles provides a court reporter. As of November 2020, she has been enjoying the challenge of a regular assignment in a long-cause felony trial court reporting high-profile and complex criminal cases. 

Margie Wakeman-Wells is in her seventh decade of teaching, 48 of those years in court reporting education. She has presented, under the auspices of NCRA and state organizations, over 300 seminars for reporters, teachers, and students on English-related topics. 

Court Reporting: Bad Grammar/Good Punctuation is her best-selling reference text, which has an accompanying Workbook with 250 pages of exercises to practice the rules. She has also published Word Pares, Pears, Pairs, a reference work of 2,000 word pairs; All Things English, a practice book on English skills; and Practice Really DOES Make Perfect, a drill book series for improving accuracy. Margie operates Margie Holds Class, her online school for live and recorded classes; answers questions on the popular subscription site Margie’s Gurus; and sponsors Margie’s English Corner, a free Facebook group.

Brooke Ryan CSR, RPR graduated from Humphrey’s College in 1996. She quickly became a Pro Tem for the Sacramento Superior Court which led to an officialship in 2001. In 2003 Brooke was elected CCRA Legislative Council Representative for the Sacramento Officials Court Reporters Association which began her affinity for CCRA. It was around this same time she became a board member for her union, United Public Employees. She ultimately became Chair of the union board and held that position for numerous years. At the same time she was nominated for a Board of Directors position with CCRA. She worked her way up through the positions culminating in her first presidency in 2016. She was re-elected as president in 2017.

In 2020, Brooke left her officialship to become a freelancer. Her goal was to come back to CCRA this time as a freelancer.

Her passion lies in legislation. She has helped to advocate for multiple bills on behalf of CCRA over the years. Brooke has two boys, Oliver and Truman, and together they love to travel the world.

Christina Taylor, NVRA, CVR started her court reporting career in the U.S. Army. She graduated from the Army Court Reporting School in 2003, as the distinguished honor graduate. While serving as a court reporter in the Army, she traveled the world reporting courts-martial. She also had the opportunity to mentor and train new court reporters. In 2006, she was selected to be the Army court reporting instructor at the JAG school in Charlottesville, South Carolina. However, she had to decline the position due to a 12-month deployment to Iraq.

In 2007, after her deployment to Iraq, Christina left the military to pursue a career as a civilian court reporter. However, she continued reporting courts-martial and military proceedings through government contracting. From 2007 until 2023, Christina ran a reporting firm which catered to military clientele.

In 2023, after learning of California's acceptance of voice reporters, Christina applied for and passed the California CSR. She currently works as an Official in Kern County Superior Court, which truly is her dream job. She is very passionate about the profession and training and mentoring new reporters.

Susan Gallagher, CSR took and passed the CSR for voice writing in November of 2022, and she's been loving every minute of it! Prior to moving to Los Angeles this past August, Susan was reporting in North Carolina, first as a machine writer and then as a voice writer. While in North Carolina, she not only reported depositions, hearings, and arbitrations, but she also reported for the North Carolina Legislature.

Susan has her CSR, as well as a CVR-CM, which is the National Verbatim Association's equivalent to the NCRA's RMR. Her next goal is to get that realtime certification!

After graduating from San Diego State University with a BA in English, Susan worked as a technical writer and editor before becoming a teacher. She left teaching to stay home with her son, and when she was ready to return to the workforce, she was ready for a new challenge.

"Court reporting is a challenge, whether machine or voice, but it's so worth it. It's an amazing career!"

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