Brett Penfield

Block 3

Biography

5/16/08

Born in the Midwest

Born in the Midwest with two sisters and a brother, all of them are older than her.

Lynn Penfield knew that she wanted to be a certified shorthand reporter when she was

only a sophomore in high school. Now she has been a reporter for 18 and half years. She

has been happily married for 18 years, in those years she had two boys one is 15 and the

other is 12.

Lynn still loves doing her job even for 18 and a half years. The reason she still

loves being a reporter is because it is flexible, she gets to meet new people everyday, and

sometimes she gets to work at home. Being a reporter, Lynn is really good with

computers, but sometimes she needs to call someday for some help with things that she

has no control over like if her computer shuts down and she has no reason why. Also her

vocabulary expands everyday. She still has a wish involving her computers and that is

finical freedom. I can see why she wants finical freedom she probably has a big electric

bill from being on the computer so much. In high school she was second in her class.

Even today she is doing homework, but not hers she is helping her sons with their

homework and they both are doing pretty good in school.

Lynn likes to play card games her favorites are poker, let it ride, and black jack.

Also she is very big on fitness and history. She likes to make scrapbooks because it

relaxes her. She also likes to make scrapbooks because she cant draw and in scrapbooks

you need to cut and paste. Her father is also a big card player and that hobby must have

been passed down to her. Lynn is very fit and is still doing fitness.

If Lynn could go back in time and change anything she wouldn’t have moved so

far away from her family. Her family lives in Wisconsin, so she is very far away from

them and probably misses them. She idolizes her mom (a very big person in her life)

because her mom always knew what to do in every situation and her mom is also a good

person. That is a person that everybody should idolize. Just like her mom they both have

completed so many important goals and Lynn is still working towards some more.

Lynn is a mom and a wife (that’s a full time job). She is a perfect woman and is

still trying to be a better person in anyway she can. If she is not working, or taking care of

her family she is trying to reach some of those goals she is trying to complete. In my

opinion she doesn’t need to be a better person, she is already perfect the way she is. If

you ever see her walking down the street say thank you for being such a great person, I

know I would.

Bogart the Mascot

 

Here you see Bogart.  He is our mascot and keeps us grounded.  Bogart knows he is in a very formal office and stays 98% of the time in his bed.  Sometimes he will sleep on the floor, but as you can see he is always ready for the FedEx guy to come over and throw the ball. 

 

You might ask, “Why would a court reporting firm have a mascot?”  The answer is simple.  Bogart makes us smile and laugh.  There was one time we were a little worried about him because he decided to be bad and ran away for two hours.  We don’t know where he went.  He  sure got into trouble when he came back, opening the front door with his nose and walking in all lotty-dah.  Allison would hardly look at him the rest of the day and gave him the silent treatment.

 

We have clients come take depositions at our office.  Our conference room is upstairs, and most people don’t notice Bogart.  When a stranger does see Bogart in his bed, he/she inevitably smile and want to talk to him.  He is very polite and only visits when he is approached by someone else first.

 

I think everyone should have a mascot in their office.  The world would be a happier place.

 

rosalie@kramm.com

 

Allison’s Art

 

I am lucky enough to be surrounded by a wonderful staff.  Allison runs our production department.  Allison started at Kramm Court Reporting on September 1, 2006.  As you can see by the photo, Allison is artsy.  She found an old manual steno machine out back.  She secretly took it home, found a perfect little table for it, and planted happy yellow daisies in a pot. 

 

Allison and Sheri (Sheri works with Allison in production) share what is known as the Aries room (the production room).  Both Allison and Sheri are Aries. A lot of our reporters are Aries.  I think the Aries people have formed a little informal club and like to hang out in the Aries room.  It is a peaceful room with the window typically open, a candle burning, and our mascot Bogart sleeping in his bed.  Bogart comes to work every day and keeps us sane.  I believe having one of God’s creatures in our office keeps us grounded.  He stays in the Aries room 98% of the time, only coming out for treats from Steve and Clark and to play ball with our FedEx guy.  Sometimes Walter comes over with Linda (an Aries reporter) and Walter and Bogart play together.

 

It might sound like all fun and games around here.  I can assure you Allison and Sheri and all of the Aries reporters work really hard.  Our production department gets things done right and on time. 

 

rosalie@kramm.com   

 

 

 

The Summit – The Sun and Stars

 

I am proud of my team.  Kramm Court Reporting is about to host Summit II.  Our first Summit was at the W Hotel in August 2008.  We had 14 reporters there along with Chris Jordan and Clark Wilson.  Clark runs our calendar and Chris, as you might know by now, runs video and technology.  Clark was in charge of coordinating all of the details for The Summit.  He did a marvelous job.  The food was amazing.  Clark knows how to throw a party.

 

We introduced the exciting new innovative technology that Kramm Court Reporting is doing for our clients.  The reporters were incredibly wonderful in embracing everything we were showing off. 

 

I believe the best part of Summit I is the fact that reporters did some of the presenting.  Lynn Penfield went through and showed everyone all of her “gadgets” and magic ways of being organized.  Lynn is a Virgo through and through.  She shared everything from a laundry bag that folds up and can hold exhibits to how to have her depo assignments go straight to Outlook and how she could send Clark her days off electronically.

 

Then Jane Bramblett talked about Sugarsync.  It is a sweet way to send massive files (wav files) that costs 0.0.

 

Linda Pool and Nichole Miller shared their experiences with wireless realtime. 

 

On January 24, 2009, we will hold Summit II.  We have a full house.

 

I know from experience many firms have reporters that would rather not help their fellow reporters be better than themselves.  It is human nature in the freelance world to take care of yourself and be jealous of people who might get a job that you want.   We all suffer from the same crippling disease of jealousy sometime or other.

 

About 16 years ago I was in Puerto Vallarta to take a deposition.  I was sitting by the pool with my wise friend, Patty O’Neil, who had come along to keep me company.  The depo was only about two hours long, so there was time for fun.  Patty is super wise.  She gave me some wonderful advice.  She said, “Rosalie, why don’t you just be the sun that shines light on the people around you and let them be stars?”  Her words totally resonated with me.  I knew that by holding back what I know to “be better than everyone else” was wrong and actually went against my nature.  It takes practice and consciousness to break the bad habits of jealousy, but the payoff is marvelous.

 

What is happening is the individual reporters get to be the sun and shine on each other during our Summit.  Our team is stronger than ever.  The feedback from the reporters is positive.  Everyone is becoming empowered.  Everyone gets to be a star.  The energy is addictive.

 

I would wish for all my profession that we can alternate being the sun and the stars.  I love court reporting.   I would love it if our profession could shine on the world of litigation and make this a better place.  

 

rosalie@kramm.com

 

 

 

The Wall Street Journal:

 

About two years ago I decided that I needed to know more about the world and particularly finances.  As a court reporter, I am privy to hearing about almost every subject on the planet.  I am attracted to complex business litigation and intellectual property because both subjects are fascinating and completely out of my “box.”  I have a basic high school education.  I was a C, B student.  I really struggled with math and science.  I took the minimum amount of math classes in high school (2) to graduate and barely got through them.  I tried really hard, but my mind didn’t work that way.

 

So two years ago I set a new goal, understanding high finance and the marketplace.  In my mind’s eye I see people of my past who would read this raising their eyebrows, thinking, “Rosalie trying to understand market fluctuations?  Short selling?  She is dreaming.”  That is my old, negative thinking at work.  I scoff at those thoughts.

 

Two years ago I subscribed to The Wall Street Journal – hard copy every morning on my front porch and online access.  Before subscribing to The Journal, I had always loved reading The Wall Street Journal when I was traveling, staying at a hotel that gave me access to it.  I kind of thought The Wall Street Journal was for super sophisticated people who did complicated business, and I was sneaking into their world as an imposter when I got my hands on a paper.

 

So for the past two years I have gone through the Journal on a daily basis.  My rule is that I at least read all of the headlines and the first two paragraphs of every article.  If I am bored or totally lost, I just move on.  I’d say about one-third to two-thirds of the paper I read completely. 

 

It just hit me today that I am really starting to get it.  I understand so much more than I did two years ago.  I am reading more of the articles all the way through.  Being a firm owner, I am becoming more confident because I am learning that the “super sophisticated businesspeople” share a lot of the same insecurities, decision making quandries, and need for advice as I do.  Of course, they are in a league of their own, but when it comes to business acumen and philosophy, it is incredibly interesting to find out how these people think, and I try to find parallels with my business and learn from them.

 

I still struggle with percentages and ratios.  Luckily, I have smart people around me who can get me answers.  I have found reading The Wall Street Journal has absolutely made the world bigger for me.  I feel connected to the international economy as well as the US economy – not just California and San Diego.  My “box” has expanded. 

 

The economy sucks right now.  That is just the way it is.  I believe the more I understand what businesses around the world are going through, the better I can protect my business and my people, make smart decisions, and weather the storm. 

 

I love my Wall Street Journal.  I would encourage everyone to read it.  You don’t have to be a big business exec.  rosalie@kramm.com

 

 

 

 

Now that 2009 is finally here, I want to start the new year with new best practices.  As our industry shifts, both firm owners and independent court reporters need to become more “businesslike.”  What does that mean?

 

Court reporting firms throughout the nation are requiring transcript order forms to ensure payment of transcripts.    The reporter is the one onsite who gets the order forms filled out.  Many reporters don’t want to get into the business of having order forms be filled out.  Attorneys don’t want to always sign them.  Reporters are shy to ask for the form to be filled out.  Attorneys run out at the end of the deposition and are not interested in filling out forms. 

 

Why do reporters have to get these filled out?  Why do they have to get into the middle of the whole thing?  The answer is more and more attorneys are not paying their bills and/or are refusing transcripts.  We as an industry need to become more businesslike.  Contracts are a typical part of every business from gyms to janitors.  Some attorneys get their rough draft and never plan on paying for a final transcript and sometimes won’t even accept the COD for the certified copy.  The “old days” are gone when attorneys are trusted to pay for their copies.  Even though you might get the order on the record, having a signed order form is a contract, and if an agency has to take the attorney to small claims, having that signed order form is a contract.

 

I have talked to Jon Imel, one of our videographers, who does a really good job getting the forms filled out.  Here are his tips:  (1) Fill out the generic part of the form, and then have the attorney just initial the order and sign the form.  It saves the attorney time.  (2)  Start early, either before the deposition begins or at the first break.   Ask, “Counsel, are you going to be ordering a copy of the transcript?”  Then you can follow up and say, “A rough draft will be available following the deposition if you would like it sent to you.  Just let me know.”   

 

For attorneys you are not familiar with, use the form.  If the attorney does dozens of depositions with our firm, don’t worry about getting it filled out or signed.  If you don’t know if the attorney does work with Kramm and the attorney says, “I have done work with Kramm for years,” you can quietly check with the office and confirm the relationship.

 

The order forms are important.  I have found attorneys like them because they don’t leave the deposition having forgotten to order their rough draft or order an expedite.  The sooner you know as the reporter what to expect, the better off you are.  No one wants the phone call when you are in another deposition asking for a rough or an expedite. 

 

I wish everyone a fabulous 2009.  Let’s go out there and be better than ever.

 

rosalie@kramm.com