WCRA Board of Directors

FALL 2024

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:  Michelle Gudex, RDR, CRR, CRC, CRI, B.A. (2024-2025)
Secretary (2015-2017)

I graduated with an associate’s degree in Court and Conference Reporting from Lakeshore College in 2002. Upon graduation, I did a combination of freelance, per diem, and official work. From 2004 to 2016, I worked for Judge James Bolgert in Sheboygan County until he retired. I also served as Secretary on the WCRA Board of Directors from 2015-2017. While serving on the Board of Directors, I had the opportunity to attend NCRA’s Legislative Boot Camp in Washington, D.C., I proofread the quarterly newsletter, and I provided 29 weekly/monthly realtime tips to WCRA members. In addition, I served on Lakeshore College’s Court Reporting Advisory Board for many years. In December of 2021, I graduated from Lakeland University with a bachelor’s degree in education, and I taught elementary students for a few years before returning to court reporting. I am currently engaged in freelance work with Cream City Reporting, and I love it!

In my free time, I love supporting my children in their various activities, playing board games, watching favorite shows and movies, and going on vacations. I have also sewn quite a few Bucilla Christmas stockings for family members.

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, RPR (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:  Nicole Bresnick, CRC (2024-2026)

I studied captioning at Madison Area Technical College. My first job was captioning a class at UW-Madison in 2007. I started my freelance business, Realtime Community, captioning for UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, onsite at conventions, and events around the world virtually during the pandemic. Some of my most exciting work has been remote -- providing job accommodations and public access captions in England, Ireland, and Scotland, the EU, the UN and the World Economic Forum. I have been on the CART team at UW-Madison full time since 2013, but I continue to do freelance work. My hobbies are painting, paragliding, and card tricks — all very much works in progress! — discovering new nature areas, and volunteering in the jails.  My partner Charles and I live in Madison with three cats. I'm honored to be joining the WCRA Board this year.

Director:  Kathleen White, RMR, CRR (2022-2024)
Director (2019-2021)

My name is Kathy White, RPR, RMR, CRR.  I am a WCRA Director, and I am also on the student scholarship raffle committee.  I attended the Madison Business College from 1986-1988.  I live in Potosi, WI, and I am an Official Stenographic Court Reporter for the Hon. Lisa A. Riniker at the Grant County Courthouse in Lancaster, WI.  I am so lucky to have yet another amazing boss.  I have been a reporter for 36 years.  In my spare time I enjoy traveling, boating, snowmobiling, reading, crocheting, sewing.

My husband, Vaughn is a Continuous Improvement Coordinator at John Deere Dubuque Works, Dubuque, IA and is looking forward to retiring next year.  We have been married for 33 years.  Our oldest daughter, Kaitlyn lives in Chandler, AZ and is a Senior Analyst in Talent & Acquisition Process Systems for United Airlines and also is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Dubuque, IA.  Our youngest daughter, Alyssa lives in La Crosse and is a Professional Cake Decorator at Hy-Vee in Onalaska, WI.

Director:  Alycia Bein (2024-2026)

Hi! My name is Alycia Bein, RPR, and I’m honored to be selected to serve on the WCRA Board of Directors.

I was born on July 3rd in Geneseo, a small town in Illinois. In 2000 my family moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. I graduated from Lincoln High School in 2006 where I then attended Lakeshore Technical College. I graduated in 2010 with a degree in Judicial Reporting and Broadcast Captioning.

Upon graduating, I had the opportunity to do per diem work for the state of Wisconsin where I traveled throughout the state providing coverage in various counties for my fellow court reporters. Looking back, I’m grateful for that opportunity as it grew my confidence as a reporter and I learned so many valuable tools that I use to this day. Not only that, but I was also able to see a number of beautiful courthouses that Wisconsin has to offer!

In 2012 I accepted my first full-time position in Milwaukee County. Coming from a small town, it was quite the eye-opening experience, but in the best way. In 2022 I made the decision to transfer to Racine County where I have the privilege to work alongside the Honorable Faye Flancher. I love how each day brings something new and the knowledge that you can gain from the cases before you.

When I’m not in court, I volunteer weekly at a local horse stable that specializes in equine therapy and houses the Mounted Patrol Unit for our community. I love the outdoors and staying active. I also enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.

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.