From the Front Row: Witnesses to History
Join us on March 28th in the Kelly Education Center at the beautiful Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond, Virginia. Dive into a full-day experience with an inspiring roster of speakers, fun connections with fellow attendees, and complimentary access to the stunning botanical gardens!
Register Now
Early bird ends February 26th
Cost:
$260 VCRA Member Early Bird| $295 VCRA Member Standard Rate
$350 Non-member|$175 Non-reporter/Guest | $85 Student
Note: Ed Day registration fees may be transferred, but NOT refunded. Early Bird not available to Students, Non-Members and Non-Reporters/Guests.
~ Schedule ~
Registration and breakfast will open at 7:30 a.m. Programming will begin at 8:00 a.m. with a welcome from your VCRA President, Dana Pon.
Attendance/participation will be tracked by Board members punching a hole in a member’s punch card after each session concludes. Each punch card will have the participant’s name and NCRA ID number identified.
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Virginia Crossings Hotel, please click here. Hotel rooms MUST BE BOOKED by March 6th!
| Topic/Speaker |
Description |
Time/CEUs |
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Registration Open and Breakfast
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7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
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Becoming Irresistible
Amy Doman
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If you're looking for tips and tricks that will help you shine in the steno world, Amy's got some nuggets of wisdom to share. Learn some tidbits for marketing yourself, playing and working well with others, strategies for surviving and preventing burnout, and reaching out for help to set and reach your goals.
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8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
(.10/.10/1.0)
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Break
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9:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
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Inside the BTK Serial Killer Trial (Part 1)
Kevin O'Connor
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Kevin will examine the decades-long law enforcement investigation that ultimately led to the capture of the BTK Serial Killer. Beginning with the first murders in 1974 and continuing through Dennis Rader’s arrest more than 30 years later, this presentation traces how multiple agencies—led by the Wichita Police Department and supported by the Office of the District Attorney—worked together to identify and apprehend a serial offender who eluded authorities for decades.
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9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
(.15/.15/1.5)
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Break
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10:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
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Beyond the Bench: A Federal Court Reporter’s Journey Through the Courts by Gil Halasz (moderated by Ruth Levy, RPR)
Gil Halasz and Ruth Levy
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Participants will gain insight into the traditions, expectations, and evolving demands of federal court reporting, along with practical reflections on adaptability, trust, and longevity in the profession. This is an opportunity to learn from a seasoned professional whose career reflects the quiet excellence and dedication that define the federal court reporter’s role. This engaging session will be moderated by Ruth Levy, who will facilitate a dynamic Q&A, allowing attendees to delve deeper into Gil’s journey and invaluable insights.
|
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
(.10/.10/1.0)
|
| Business Lunch/ Town Hall |
Town Hall, Annual Business Meeting, COEF and GMH Scholarships and Awards and Elections |
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
(.10/NA/NA)
|
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Inside the BTK Serial Killer Trial (Part 2)
Kevin O'Connor
|
Kevin will discuss how investigators navigated intense media attention, evolving forensic techniques, and the unique challenges posed by BTK’s communications with the public. The presentation will also cover the District Attorney’s Office’s preparation for trial, Rader’s plea hearing, and the subsequent sentencing proceeding. Kevin will take audience questions at time allows. |
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
(.15/.15/1.5)
|
Break
|
50/50 and Heads or Tails
|
3:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. |
|
Preserving the Record Under the Spotlight: Reporting the Johnny Depp Trial
Judy Bellinger
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Participants will explore the unique challenges of celebrity trials, including intense media scrutiny, rapid-fire testimony, heightened public interest, and the responsibility of maintaining accuracy and neutrality when the spotlight is at its brightest. Judy will discuss preparation strategies, realtime demands, courtroom logistics, and professional composure, along with practical lessons that apply to court reporters at every stage of their career.
|
3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
(.10/.10/1.0)
|
| Break |
|
4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
|
From Chaos to Calendar: Timing is Everything
Carol Naughton
|
This session is designed to help participants transform disorganized schedules into structured, efficient time management systems. Through practical strategies, proven techniques, and interactive discussions, attendees will learn how to prioritize daily tasks, optimize calendars, and maintain productive habits. You will walk away with a clearer, more sustainable approach to managing time effectively.
|
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
(.10/.10/1.0)
|
| Swearing in VCRA Officers, Silent Auction winners |
|
5:30 p.m. |
|
|
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VCRA .80 CEU | NCRA .70 CEU | NVRA 7.0 CEU
~ Friday Night Social~
The party starts early!
We will be holding a pre-Education Day social at River City Roll in Richmond on the evening before Ed Day, Friday, March 27th at 6:30 p.m. Save the date, and plan your arrival to Richmond accordingly. Join us for a little networking and a lot of fun!
~ The Garden ~
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden offers year-round beauty on a historic property with more than 50 acres of spectacular gardens, dining, and shopping. A classical domed conservatory is the only one of its kind in the mid-Atlantic. More than a dozen themed gardens include a Children’s Garden, Rose Garden, Asian Valley and Cherry Tree Walk.
Your registration for the Mario A. Rodriguez Education Day comes with free admission to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden!
~ Speakers ~
Amy Doman, RDR, CRR, CRI
Amy has been a freelance stenographer since 1990. Born and raised in Texas, she attended Iverson Institute of Court Reporting in Arlington. As much as she misses her family – and winters – in Texas, Amy has enjoyed working around the country as a freelance reporter based in Indianapolis. She’s had the opportunity to work in high-profile criminal and civil cases as the official and unofficial record, as well as providing CART and corporate services. She’s been a NCRA speed contest qualifier each year since 2021. Amy was the first recipient of the National Court Reporters Foundation Court to CART grant in 2023. When not working, Amy enjoys family time with her husband of more than 30 years, their four almost-out-of-the-nest children, and her Havanese, Lucy.
Kevin O'Connor
Kevin O’Connor retired in 2022 as a district court judge and returned to the field of prosecution as an Assistant District Attorney in Johnson County. O’Connor was appointed by the Governor to fill a judicial vacancy in the 18th Judicial District, Wichita, Sedgwick County in 2015. O’Connor brought extensive litigation experience to the bench. O’Connor was the presiding judge of the criminal division when he retired.
O’Connor has over 25 years of prosecutorial experience. O’Connor’s career started as an Assistant District Attorney in Wichita. In that position, O’Connor handled numerous high-profile murder cases and was responsible for prosecuting the most serious and complex criminal litigation in the State including State v. Michael Marsh (the first death penalty case in Sedgwick County), State v Dennis Rader (BTK), State v Reginald and Jonathan Carr, State v Theodore Burnett and Elgin Robinson (Chelsea Brooks murder case) and many, many other cases which have resulted in published appellate opinions. O’Connor supervised the trial division and resigned as Deputy District Attorney after 17 years of service. O’Connor served as a Special Prosecutor for the Butler County Attorney after leaving the District Attorney’s Office. O’Connor was also a Special Assistant Attorney General for Attorney General Derek Schmidt and traveled the State prosecuting high level criminal cases, including State v. Adam Longoria, a capital murder trial in Great Bend. O’Connor also served as the chief of the sex crimes unit in the Johnson County District Attorney’s office.
O’Connor was named by his peers as Kansas Prosecutor of the Year in 2004. O’Connor’s experience includes the position of Trial Attorney with the United States Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Terrorism & Violent Crimes Section, Capital Litigation Unit. O’Connor’s responsibilities with the Department of Justice included advising the Attorney General of the United States on matters concerning federal death penalty prosecutions and assisting United States Attorneys with all aspects of Capital Litigation. O’Connor worked under Attorney General John Ashcroft while with the Department of Justice.
O’Connor earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Kansas and a law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law.
O’Connor and his wife, Jennifer, are the proud parents of four children, Jameson, Quinn, Hunter, & Blayne. Jameson is an Assistant District Attorney in Johnson County.
Gil Halasz
Gil is a past president of the Virginia Shorthand Reporters Association (now known as VCRA) and the United States Court Reporters Association (USCRA) and has also served as a member of the board of directors of the National Shorthand Reporters Association (NSRA). He is a Fellow of the NSRA Board of the Academy of Professional Reporters (BAPR). He has served as an Official Court Reporter for the United States District Court since 1964, with more than six decades of continuous service. Throughout his career, he has been a frequent speaker for NCRA, VCRA, USCRA, and the Metropolitan Judges Conference. He is among a very small group of reporters who court-tested Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) and lectured at Federal Judicial Center–sponsored seminars to educate reporters on its use. In addition to his professional achievements, he is a licensed private pilot with an instrument rating.
Ruth Levy, RPR, CCR
Ruth has been a court reporter for almost 32 years, starting her career doing daily copy in Toronto, Canada, her dream city, at the age of 20. After moving to Richmond in 1994 with her husband Ty, she worked at various freelance firms (usually more than one at a time) and loved the flexibility it afforded her as she raised her son and daughter. Ruth wanted to become a court reporter since the 10th grade when a court reporter came to her typing class explaining her career. She can’t imagine doing anything else! In April of 2023, she decided it was time to try something new and became a Federal Official Reporter for Judge Hannah Lauck in the Eastern District of Virginia. Ruth loves to cook, play pickleball, read, do puzzles, and spend time with her family and friends (and Mojo the cat). She loves meeting new people and learning new things - court reporting (and life!) has always offered both.
Judy Bellinger, RPR CRR
Judy has been a freelance court stenographer since 1984; graduated from the Academy of Court Reporting in Cleveland, Ohio. She taught at the Stenotype Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana, is Past President of the then Indiana Shorthand Reporters Association, and served on several committees with ISRA. She has reported and provided realtime services for various high-profile depositions and trials throughout her career, including the NFL, NBA, NCAA, a 10-week murder trial in Indiana, State v. Camm, and most recently, the Depp v. Heard trial in Fairfax, Virginia.
She also provides stenography services for several unions during their conventions and has provided CART for students at IUPUI, Purdue University, the former Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis, and The Indiana School for the Deaf. She considers her career a passion, not a job.
Carol Naughton, RDR, CCR
Carol is an official court reporter for the U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Va. Previously, she worked as a freelance court reporter for 27 years in the markets of Los Angeles, Calif., Chicago, Ill., northeast Wisconsin, and many areas throughout Virginia and Washington, D.C. She graduated from Bryan College of Court Reporting in Los Angeles, Calif., where she qualified to take — and passed — the California Certified Shorthand Reporter exam. She also holds the nationally recognized professional certification of the Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR), NCRA’s highest certification.
At the national level, Naughton has served on the NCRA A to Z® and the Brand Ambassadors committees. She has nine years of experience serving with the National Congress of State Associations (NCSA), including six years as chair or co-chair. She assisted in the newly revised resolution process, and drafted resolutions, most notably, the reinstatement of exam history and the ability of NCRA’s Membership to vote online for any dues increases. She is also a proud supporter of the National Court Reporters Foundation and a second year NCRF Angel.
At the state level, Naughton is a past president of the Virginia Court Reporters Association and continues to serve on the Association’s Legislative Committee.
