WCRA Board of Directors

FALL 2023


President:  Greta Pedersen, RMR (2023-2025)
President-Elect (2021-2023)

Hello! My name is Greta Pedersen, RMR. I am an official court reporter for the Honorable Teresa Basiliere in Winnebago County. I am honored and look forward to serving on the Board as President of WCRA for the 2023-2025 term.

I grew up in Manitowoc, WI.  During my senior year of high school I found out about court reporting after attending a career fair at Lakeshore Technical College, and I was immediately interested in the program. I enrolled at Lakeshore Technical College and graduated in May of 2021 with an Associate’s Degree in Court Reporting and Broadcast Captioning. While in school, I was a recipient of NCRA’s CASE Scholarship and WCRA’s Student Scholarship.

I have served on WCRA’s Board of Directors since November of 2021. During this time, I have been on WCRA’s Convention Committee as well as a Wisconsin Delegate for NCRA’s National Congress of State Associations Committee. In February of 2023 I had the opportunity to attend NCRA’s Leadership & Legislative Boot Camp, training in leadership and lobbying skills in preparation for meeting with state representatives on Capitol Hill and lobbying for stenographers and sponsorship of the Training for Realtime Writers Act.

This is an amazing profession with so many opportunities; whether that be in the legal field as a freelance deposition reporter or official court reporter, a broadcast captioner providing accurate captions or a CART captioner providing equal access in higher education. I am hopeful for what the future holds for our profession and I look forward to being an advocate for stenographers throughout the state as the most accurate, efficient way to produce the official record and provide accessibility through accurate captioning services.



Past President:  Meredith Seymour (2023-2025)
President (2021-2023)

I’m an only child who grew up in Waunakee, WI. After I graduated high school in 2006, I completed two years at MATC-Madison for general studies; two years at Gateway Technical College with an associate degree in ASL interpreting; two years at UW-Milwaukee with a bachelor’s degree in ASL studies; and three years at Lakeshore Technical College with an associate degree in court reporting in winter of 2018. I was a full-time floating reporter for District 5 for three years. I’m currently an official for Branch 12, Judge Chris Taylor, in Dane County.

Before I became a stenographer, I was an American Sign Language interpreter at Gateway Technical College for four years and was a cake and cookie artist for three years in Whitewater, WI.

I was a recipient of NCRA 2017 CASE Scholarship, WCRA 2018 Student Scholarship, NCRF 2019 New Professional Reporter Grant, and WCRA 2019 Kelly Powers New Professional Scholarship. I’ve been a volunteer for WCRA’s Convention Committee and NCRA’s Veteran & New Professionals Committee.

Being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2009, I have proudly participated in two half marathons and multiple walks through the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America and have raised over $10,000.

Music has been a passion of mine.  I was a member of Sweet Adelines International from 2006 to 2015, singing with the Yahara River Chorus as a baritone with my mom.

I have been married to my husband, John, for seven years.  We also have the best feline companion, Adeline, a 10-pound, medium-hair brown tabby who is our pride and joy.

Between being a guardian of the record and editing transcripts, I enjoy decorating cakes and
cookies for friends and family, gardening, beachcombing, hiking, and spending time with family.



President-Elect:  Phillip Harrelson, RMR, CRR (2023-2025)

I am a U.S. District court reporter for the Western District of Wisconsin.  I’m from Madison, Wisconsin.  Originally born in Houston, Texas.  I have been reporting for over 10 years after graduating from Madison Area Technical College in 2013 with an associate’s degree in judicial reporting.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked in a lot of different counties throughout the state, including Rock, Dodge, Grant, Sheboygan, and Dane.  And since 2021, I have been working for the Western District of Wisconsin.

A little about me:  I have two daughters, the youngest of which just learned to walk.  I have multiple tattoos, which always seems to surprise people when I tell them.  I used to play the drums in a local heavy metal band in Madison about 10-plus years ago or so.  I hope to get back into playing the drums again.  Otherwise for a hobby, I like to draw and would love it if I could have an exhibit of my pictures someday.



Secretary:  Amanda Lunde (2023-2025)

Amanda grew up in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and went on to major in political science at Northwestern University. After college, she moved to Madison and worked for over 10 years in the healthcare software industry. In 2020, she began searching for something else, and she found her calling in the amazing career of court reporting! She attended the program at Lakeshore Technical College and graduated in the spring of 2023, after which she joined For the Record, the wonderful freelance firm in Waunakee. 

Amanda loves to travel and enjoy the Madison outdoors as well as baking, gardening, meeting new dogs, and knitting or crocheting cozy items for her friends and family. She lives in Verona, Wisconsin, with her partner, Jeremy, and their dog, Leia.  She is a member of the NCRA and is very excited to serve on the WCRA Board!



Treasurer:  Colleen Clark, RPR (2023-2025)
Treasurer (2021-2023)
Director (2017-2021)

In 2009, Colleen graduated from Midstate College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Realtime Reporting. Colleen then began working for the Honorable Sarah O'Brien in Dane County Circuit Court in a four year criminal rotation. After Judge O'Brien's retirement, Colleen took a position with the Honorable Frank Remington in 2013, this time experiencing a civil rotation, and continues to call Branch 8 her home. Colleen appreciates the great work-life balance the profession provides. Colleen is blessed to be married to her college sweetheart, Ben, since 2010 and they have three wonderful children. As a family, the Clarks stay pretty busy and enjoy being outside together, playing and exploring new parks as much as possible. 

Colleen started as a Director for WCRA in 2017. She has served on the Student Committee and Membership Committee. In November 2021, Colleen was sworn in as Treasurer. Colleen is honored to serve this professional community.



Director:  Christal Hansen Ruda (2023-2025)
Secretary (2021-2023)

Hello.  My name is Christal Hansen Ruda.   I am honored to be a part of the WCRA Board, and I'm excited to serve with the rest of the Board during this term.   I've already met some amazing people.  

I was born and raised in Northwest Illinois.  During my junior year of high school, a career speaker came and spoke at our school about careers in court reporting, and I was instantly fascinated and knew this is exactly what I wanted to go to school for after a little more research.   Upon graduation from high school, I attended the American Institute of Commerce in Davenport, Iowa, from 1989 - 1991 and have been reporting ever since

I have been a freelance reporter for almost all of the past 31 years, except for a very brief period of time where I held an officialship position.    After working for some wonderful freelance court reporting agencies for the first 10 years of my career as my family was relocating, I decided to go out on my own and now operate Accurate Reporting Service, which I started in the year 2000.

I am a Registered Professional Reporter through NCRA and also have the Certified Shorthand Reporter certifications for the states of Iowa and Illinois.

I am married to my husband, Joel.   We have one daughter, Cecily, who graduated from Mt. Horeb High School and UW-Whitewater and has recently moved to San Diego, California, to pursue her dreams.       

In my free time I enjoy traveling, swimming, live music, volunteering in our community, reading and spending time with friends and family.

I've always been passionate about this rewarding career I chose so many years ago and have always been excited to promote and protect our profession.   I am here to answer any questions you have or address any concerns.  Thank you for this opportunity to serve on our WCRA Board.



Director:  Tamille Bell (2023-2025)
Director (2021-2023)

Hi, my name is Tamille Bell.  I have just stepped into my middle age and there has been a shift in my being.

I am a mother of four and currently a mom of a GIRL hockey player.  I am so excited about that title.  Girl Power.  We can do anything.  The reward of being a mom at middle age trumps my free time.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Seeing the world through them has really helped my spirit.  My three-broke best friends are everything to me and has been my personal inspiration for my accomplishments.

I graduated from the Court Reporting Institute of Dallas Texas in 2015. From there I went on to do captioning for college students throughout the State of Louisiana. After chasing the money, getting married, and having three kids, I decided that I needed more security and became a floater in Dane County, Wisconsin. Currently, I’m an official for Judge Crawford in Dane County.  

Starting as a captionist gave me the courage and strength to really trust my writing. (Remember being told that throughout school?)  It’s true.

I love being a stenographer.  It is so interesting.  I’ve had many professions before, and none of them has been more exciting, rewarding, motivating, inspiring, and fulfilling.

I am so excited to be elected to sit on the Wisconsin Court Reporters Association board.  I am passionate about my career.  I can’t wait to meet all the future stenographers soon.  We need young, vibrant thinkers to take us even further.

P.S.  Don’t give up.  You are closer to reaching your dreams than you think!  You got this.



Director:  Ed Johnson (2021-2024)

I Freelanced a year starting in 1980 with Dorothy Wagner & Associates in Milwaukee.  Became an official in Marinette from '81 to '87.  Moved to Ozaukee County starting in '87 until 2007.  Worked as an official reporter for the house of Representatives from 2007 to 2018.  During that time I became Deputy Chief Reporter.  Dane County 2018 to 2020.  Back to Ozaukee starting in February of 2020.  Have been very active with NCRA, including a stint as legislative advisor.

Hobbies:  Reading, hiking, bird watching.  Married to the former Dairy Godmother from Alexandria, VA.  (She ran a custard shop in Alexandria called The Dairy Godmother.)  Two kids, three grandkids.



Director:  Kathleen White (2022-2024)
Director (2019-2021)

My name is Kathy White, RPR, RMR, CRR.  I am a WCRA Director.  I attended the Madison Business College from 1986-1988 and had Rachel Baker as an instructor.  I live in Potosi and I am an official steno reporter for the Hon. Robert P. VanDeHey at the Grant County Courthouse in Lancaster.  He is one of the best!  I have been a reporter for 34 years, and in June I will have completed 30 years with the State of Wisconsin.  In my spare time I enjoy traveling, boating, snowmobiling, reading, crocheting, sewing, and making costumes for the high school musicals.  

My husband, Vaughn works at John Deere Dubuque Works, Dubuque, IA.  He used to run a car repair shop on the side for 20 years, but after some health issues last year he decided to close the business.  We have been married for 30 years.  Our oldest daughter, Kaitlyn is 25 and graduated from the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa with a BS in business administration and also an MBA.  Last August she packed up her car and moved out to Chandler, AZ.  She works remotely as an HR/IS Analyst for Flexsteel Industries in Dubuque, Iowa.  In the fall she fostered two abandoned kittens from the humane society, and in December she adopted Theo and Olivia.  Our youngest daughter, Alyssa is 22 and is in her last semester of college at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  She is majoring in communications with a minor in German.  We are very proud of both of them.



Director:  Margo Lucas (2021-2024)

I would consider it a privilege to serve as a member on the Board of Directors for WCRA.  I believe in the value and importance of this profession and am enthused to advocate for it and share my insight and experience. 

I began my career in the 1980’s providing realtime for the Hon. Richard S. Brown in the Court of Appeals, District II.  After becoming engaged and moving to the Milwaukee area, I transitioned to depositions and worked for Halma-Jilek Reporting and then Colleen Reed Reporting. 

Presently, I am the owner of Seeing the Word, LLC and provide CART captioning in primarily the university, government, corporate, and nonprofit settings.  My certifications include CRC, RPR, CRI. 

My husband Jim and I have been married 31 years and have two adult children, Haley and Josh.  When not working, I love riding bikes – road, mountain, fat tire, or my Harley. 

Vince Lombardi, Jr. said, “The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”  I look forward in working alongside this dedicated board in achieving great things for our profession and its members.



Director:  Jodie Carrico (2023-2025)

My entire career has been about listening to someone tell a story and documenting that story.  After high school, I attended Fox Valley Technical College for medical transcription and became a Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist.  I loved learning medical terminology, researching medications, surgical instruments and procedures, names of doctors, places on the map, and so on.   When my job was eliminated due to offshoring, I needed a new career that allowed me to use my skillset of listening, documenting, proofreading, researching, and medical terminology and discovered court reporting.  I attended Lakeshore Technical College to obtain an associate degree in court reporting and an associate degree in broadcast captioning.  I appreciate the continued learning that comes with being a court reporter in the various cases that I am assigned and especially appreciate when there is a medical component to them.

I am on the Wisconsin Court Reporters Association Board of Directors Student Committee with the goal of mentoring and encouraging up-and-coming students in this profession.

When I am not writing on my steno machine, I enjoy camping, boating, and traveling to as many national parks as I can with my family.

If you have any comments, concerns, or questions about our association, or you would like additional information about court reporting as a profession, please contact us at president.wcra@gmail.com.

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