2026 Presenter Bios and Session Descriptions
WEBINAR: Sessions will not be recorded or made available for video playback after the event.
SESSION: Karina’s Law
This will be an informational session about Karina’s law and how it provides a safer, more secure response to orders of protection and domestic violence in IL. House Bill 4144 (Karina’s Law) seeks to protect domestic abuse victims by removing firearms from their abusers' possession. This law grants law enforcement the authority to conduct search warrants and to seize firearms from alleged abusers. The Bill is in honor of Karina Gonzalez and her 15-year-old daughter, who were shot and killed in July 2023 by her husband.
Jamie Mosser, Kane County State's Attorney. Highly educated in Political Science and Criminal Law, Jamie Mosser’s career began in New Orleans, LA as an Assistant District Attorney and has led to her prosecuting for the Kane County State’s Attorney, co-founding a private practice and eventually opening her own firm, working with the equal access justice initiative Prairie State Legal Services, and ultimately being elected as Kane County State’s Attorney in 2020. When voters re-elected her in 2024, Jamie became the first two-term female State’s Attorney in Kane County history. Her accomplished career, which includes pro bono work and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, demonstrates her strong dedication to justice.
In her time as Kane County State’s Attorney, she has focused on criminal justice reform centered on public safety, launching several projects addressing the underlying causes of criminal behavior, increasing efficacy and consistency in the State’s Attorney’s office, and launching specialized units to investigate and prosecute cases involving child exploitation and human trafficking. She has continued advocating for public safety at a legislative level, playing significant roles in the SAFE-T Act and Karina’s Law. Jamie also currently serves on the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Elder Law and the Illinois Judicial Conference's Emerging Adults Task Force.
SESSION: “Truth Changes Us”
This informational training will cover the history of polygraph use in the United States and Illinois, when and how polygraph services are utilized, and will provide attendees with practical applications for polygraph use.
Darrell Hite is a licensed polygrapher and the owner of Truth Changes Us Polygraph & Investigative Services.
Truth Changes Us is licensed in Illinois and Iowa and provides polygraph, investigative, and consultation services to individuals, criminal justice partners, and behavioral health agencies. Mr. Hite holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice/criminology and a master’s degree in Public Administration. He has over 30 years of experience in the criminal justice and behavioral health systems. He is a member of the American Polygraph Association and the Illinois Polygraph Society and is also a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.
SESSION: “The Portrayal of Court Reporters in Movies and Television”
This seminar will cover a brief history of court reporters’ portrayal in movies and television and how today’s court reporters can advocate for their profession by appearing on screen, as well. That will be followed by a discussion of the filmmakers who have taken an active interest in court reporters and put them front and center.
Brad Benjamin, RPR, CSR-IL, worked behind the scenes in Hollywood for 10 years before deciding to become a court reporter in his early 30s. In addition to being a full-time freelance court reporter in Chicago, Brad has also played a court reporter on TV! He has appeared in episodes of Chicago P.D. and the pilot episode of Bosch: Legacy.
SESSION: “All Rise for Organization”
A practical seminar covering proven methods to organize dockets, calendars, CAT systems, deadlines, billing, backups, taxes, email, and essential contingency planning — including what happens in case of death.
Andrea Jent is from West Frankfort, Illinois. She attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale and completed its court reporting program in May of 1999. She worked for 13 years as a freelance court reporter. She has been an Official Court Reporter with the Second Judicial Circuit since 2013. She is currently serving on the Illinois Court Reporters Association board as vice president. She is also a fitness professional with over 15 advanced certifications and currently teaches barre and yoga classes.
Angela Miller is an Official Court Reporter and Supervisor for the 15th Judicial Circuit. She has been a court reporter for 25 years, 18 of which have been with the State of Illinois as an Official Court Reporter. Prior to employment with the State, Angela freelanced in the northern Illinois and Chicagoland area for multiple different agencies. She has served as an executive member of the Illinois Court Reporters Association and is also a member of the CRS Formbook Committee and the Court Specialist Training Workgroup.
SESSION: "ShareFile Refresh: Back to the Basics." - Tammy Gulley and Robin Winters
A "Why-How-What" method to ShareFile. This session provides a guided refresher on ShareFile; the best practices to help you work more efficiently and securely. Please bring your laptop.
SESSION: "Fix That Transcript!" - Formbook FUNdamentals- Tammy Gulley and Robin Winters
How well do you know the Mandatory Standards for Transcript Production (Formbook)? Let's make compliance both memorable and fun. Put your skills to the test in this engaging and interactive session designed to challenge your knowledge and sharpen your accuracy.
Tammy Gulley is an Official Court Reporter and the Court Reporting Services Supervisor of the 17th Circuit in Rockford, Illinois. Tammy graduated from MacCormac College in 2002 with an Associate in Applied Science in the Court Reporting degree program, where she was also an active member of the academic honor society Phi Beta Kappa. Upon graduating, she began her career in the 18th Circuit as an Official Court Reporter working in the Electronic Recording Department, where she stayed until 2004. From 2004 to 2006, she worked as a scopist and proofreader for Jensen Reporting in downtown Chicago. In 2006, she returned to Court Reporting Services as an Official Court Reporter for the 17th Circuit, working in criminal and juvenile courtrooms until 2012, at which time she was selected by her chief judge to further develop the court's electronic recording department. What she loves most about her role as a supervisor is the opportunities afforded her to collaborate with colleagues across the state, supporting a profession and a field she is deeply passionate about
Robin Winters is an Official Court Reporter and Court Reporting Services Supervisor in the 17th Circuit, Rockford, Illinois. Robin graduated from MacCormac College in 2000 with an Associate in Applied Science in Court Reporting and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Upon graduating, she began her career in the 18th Circuit as an Official Court Reporter in the Electronic Recording Department, working on their “CourtSmart” system, where she remained until 2005. From 2005 to 2012, she enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom raising her three boys. In 2012, she saw an opportunity to return to the field she loves and once again joined Court Reporting Services as an Official Court Reporter. She is responsible for maintaining “For The Record” electronic recording equipment as well as management of the 17th Circuit's transcript production, including working closely with the cross-circuit partners.
SESSION: “Financial Planning” - Rik Stone and Morgan Stone Padget of Robert Gordan & Associates
This session is designed to help reporters develop strategies for their financial futures.
Rik Stone is the Regional Director and Financial Advisor of Robert Gordon & Associates, Inc. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Illinois State University and is a graduate of the College for Financial Planning’s CFP Professional Education Program. Mr. Stone holds a Certified Financial Planner designation from the College of Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado. He was the Secretary of the Central Illinois Chapter of the Financial Planning Association. With memberships in the Illinois State University Alumni Association, Sangamon Valley Estate Planning Council, and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Stone has conducted over 1500 seminars and workshops throughout the Midwest on various topics regarding retirement, estate, and Investment Planning.
Morgan Stone Padget serves as a Financial Advisor, focusing on creating strategic financial plans and engaging with clients to discuss investments, cash flow, and client preferences to provide comprehensive and tailored financial planning services. Her background includes experience as a technical recruiter for an IT company as well as roles in finance at JPMorgan Chase and Edward Jones.
Morgan holds a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is a graduate of the College of Financial Planning in Denver, earning her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificate.
SESSION: Case Catalyst Software Training
Attendees will learn valuable tips and tricks to make their Case Catalyst software work better for them.
(Springfield and Webinar) Pam Szczecinski has been servicing the court reporting community for 30+ years. Her business, Tutor4computers, has established a global career working with reporters, captioners, CART providers, scopists, teachers, students, and various legal teams worldwide. She services both the US market and the international sector, including England, Ireland, Australia, Canada, the USA, the Bahamas, and many parts of Africa. Tutor4computers was established in 1999.
Pam has actively trained and set up courtroom hardware and software for the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal, War Crimes Trials in both Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and the Hague. She’s also helped schools establish curricula for CAT software in Cyprus, the Virgin Islands, and the Midwest.
Prior to working with reporters, she was a certified training agent for LEXIS/NEXIS, working with judges, attorneys, paralegals, law librarians, and law schools on legal research.
Her training background with major corporate management teams has created a strong background in computer technology, working with large companies, including Epson International and MICROS Point of Sale systems.
(Lombard) Lee “Lili” Leigh, RPR, CRI - As an Official Court Reporter for the State of Wisconsin, Lili has built a career grounded in precision, integrity, and a deep With years of experience in both criminal and civil courtrooms, I bring a calm presence, technical expertise, and unwavering attention to detail to every assignment. In addition to her work in the courtroom, she is a Stenograph Certified Training Agent and has trained court reporters on Case Catalyst since 2006.
SESSION: Eclipse Software Training
Attendees will learn valuable tips and tricks to make their Eclipse software work better for them.
(Springfield and Webinar) Michael Starkman is a certified advanced Eclipse software trainer with 27 years of experience presenting and teaching the Eclipse platform. During this time, Michael has given countless seminars, including regular presentations at the ESP Network Meetings (the Eclipse Users’ Group) and Eclipsewebinars.com, as well as appearances as a speaker at both NCRA’s national conventions and state conventions. In fact, Michael has been hired by 15 different State Associations to provide Eclipse training at their conventions. He's provided seminars for officials in NYC, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Wilmington, DE, Columbus, OH, and more. He has also provided many training seminars in the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as countless hours of private, one-on-one training.
(Lombard) Julie Samford has been in the court reporting industry since she was 19. She was a freelance court reporter for 14 years. She has been working with the Advantage Software team since 200. She has experience working with court reporters, CART providers, scopists, and closed captioners.