Connect Series: Meet Max K, our Digital Content Director!

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Max is the digital content director for Reportex, responsible for creating written and graphic assets for internal and external outreach and training. He is the creator of the ever-popular wiki as well as partly responsible for our successful bids for government contracts.

As a writer and designer with an extensive computer background, Max is responsible for bridging the gap between technology and the humans who can benefit from it. He works closely with our systems and communications leadership to create materials ranging from wiki articles to brochures and videos.

Fun fact: Max plays six musical instruments poorly but enthusiastically.

We recently asked Max a few questions. Here is what he had to say:

How did you come to be the Digital Content Director at Reportex?

I used to live in Vancouver, about six blocks from Reportex HQ. When I started at Reportex eight years ago, we were much, much smaller. I shared an office with our sole QC person and our transcription manager (one person coordinating legal and medicolegal transcription) and handled all our marketing and day-to-day tech support while acting as an assistant to the transcription manager. In between designing brochures and building macros for our reporters, I’d go out in a blizzard to deliver gift bags or stay up late making flowers from crepe paper for an event. I eventually took over all our IT duties and became Systems Director in addition to handling marketing. I was wearing a lot of hats (probably too many), but I loved it.

Eventually it came time to move to Victoria with my partner, and I was apprehensive about having to leave my job. I’d always felt supported at Reportex, and basically every single one of my friends had some sort of horror story about their boss. Our owner Christy was able to find a new role for me that would work long-distance and hired a seasoned IT professional to take over my tech duties (just being “good with computers” was no longer enough for our rapidly increasing needs) along with a marketing person who could attend in-person events in Vancouver.

I keep meaning to go back to school for a second degree in computer science, but I like my job so much that I keep putting it off. I get to focus on the things that interest me and that I’m good at, which is a pretty rare thing.

What are your top three tips for new wiki users?

The search bar is your friend! If something isn’t popping up, try a synonym for the word you’re looking for. You can also use your web browser’s search function (Ctrl + F) to find a word on the page.

We’ve tried to make articles easier to use by organizing them into hubs. Click a link on the sidebar to get to a list of the most helpful articles on a given subject. These lists may not be exhaustive, so if you’re still looking for information, use the search bar.

Remember that we want your feedback. One of the great things about the wiki is that editing it is trivial. If you see a mistake, let someone know, and we’ll fix it!

What is the phone app you use most?

I really like Firefox Focus, a secure web browser that erases itself every time you use it. I use this in conjunction with the DuckDuckGo search engine to avoid being tracked while surfing the web.

Where is the next place on your travel list and why?

The pandemic got in the way of a trip my partner and I were planning to visit my parents in California, so that’s next on the list when things get better. My hometown of Berkeley is cool place, and it’s right across the Bay from San Francisco, so we were basically planning on hitting a bunch of museums, tourist traps, and fancy restaurants before spending some time in wine country and finishing off with a couple days poolside in Las Vegas.

Connect Series: Meet our Production Team!

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Shishi & Talina with Larissa and Angel

While Reportex offers a wide range of services ranging from realtime reporting to boardrooms for mediations, our bread and butter has always been our transcripts. Including both discovery transcripts and transcripts from recorded audio, we produce thousands of transcript pages a week which need to be provided to the court and the ordering parties.

Our production team, directed by Shishi Fan with Talina Flores Vergara, is responsible for ensuring our printed transcripts meet Reportex’s high standards of quality.  Along with members of our office services team when needed, specifically Larissa Patlan and Angel Arena, this department works like a well-oiled machine. There are many different kinds of transcripts, each having special printing requirements and these experts make sure each and every transcript meets the stringent Rules of Court.  Excellence is our game!

We sat down with the team to learn a little more about them and their vital jobs:

First up, is Shishi Fan, our Production Director at at Reportex Headquarters, Vancouver.

What do you like most about being a production director at Reportex?

I get to be this evil-bringer of bad news, striking hearts with fear with every back-order email to our lovely group of reporters. The amount of trees production has used to make transcripts might be a small forest! Jokes aside, in my position I get the chance to speak to all sorts of people from our audio department to our medical transcript department.

What would you be if you weren’t a part of the Production Team at Reportex?

I see myself fitting in the scheduling department. I used to schedule discoveries in the past between printing, so I look back on those experiences fondly.

What is your top tip for staying organized?

I used to use sticky notes and printed papers. Now that I don’t have a printer at home, I’ve gone into the new age of unread emails in inboxes to annoy the heck out of myself and the (God-blessed) reminders from Slack.

How do you take your coffee?

Clearly the answer is to not take coffee. Why would you want coffee when you can have tea that has 100 different other flavours and has caffeine in it too? Come join the tea team with me.

What three things are on your bucket list?

Exercise, exercise, and some more exercise. Sadly, I don’t think I’m the only one who has gotten used to staying indoors to avoid crowds during the best hours of our beautiful summer weather.

Second, is Talina Flores Vergara, our Production Assistant at at Reportex Headquarters, Vancouver.

What do you like most about being a production assistant at Reportex?

I enjoy working as a part of an amazing team. I enjoy the daily challenges, and I am able to gain lots of new skill sets.

What would you be if you weren’t a part of the Production Team at Reportex?

I came to Canada three years ago hoping to work in the HR field because that’s what I love to do. But life took me to the hospitality industry, where I had worked for a while, and then I got hired on by Reportex. This was a life-changing opportunity for me. I believe that I can passionately work towards my goals and dreams.

What is your top tip for staying organized?

My organizational skills are not something that I was born with. Over the years I have made it a habit, which helps me stay organized.

How do you take your coffee?

Usually with milk and sugar, but my top one is when it comes with a shot of Baileys.

What three things are on your bucket list?

  1. One-month cruise trip.
  2. Start my own business.
  3. A train journey across Canada.

Third, is Larissa Patlan, our Office Services Coordinator at at Reportex Headquarters, Vancouver.

What do you like most about assisting the Production Team at Reportex?

I like working at production because the people around me train me well, and we are good at working together. Furthermore I like being part of it. My grandmother used to say a very well-known proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go further, go with others.” I am very grateful to this company because I really feel at home.

What would you be if you weren’t a part of the Production Team at Reportex?

If I wasn’t here, it would be hard to guess where I would be right now, but I would probably be studying some kind of masters degree related to biotechnology or biology, simply because that subject is my passion and my hobby.

What is your top tip for staying organized?

I am completely sure that most of the time I try to be organized not only at work but at home as well. One of the methods I usually practise (or at least try to practise) is the 5S. For example, if I don’t use something for a year, I keep it or throw it away or donate it. But if I use something daily (at least once), I put it within reach. This way I only keep what I need without losing efficiency.

How do you take your coffee?

I like the tea with cinnamon better, but if I had to choose a coffee, I would choose decaffeinated coffee without sugar and maybe with soy milk or oat milk.

What three things are on your bucket list?

  1. I would love to see a paradise bird dancing.
  2. It would be amazing to see the Northern Lights as well as a night of star rain.
  3. Swim in icy waters.

Last but not least, is Angel Arena our Receptionist at Island Reporters located in Victoria.

What do you like most about assisting the Production Team at Island Reporters?

It is the trust I have received from my direct superior and the management team, especially since I am the only one working in the office most of the time. The feeling of being valued and supported by the team. I may be alone, but I am connected!

What would you be if you weren’t a part of the Production Team at Island Reporters?

I would probably be in a production team or supply chain team of a manufacturing firm where I can intensively utilize my skills in production planning, scheduling, materials control, procurement and logistics.

What is your top tip for staying organized?

Whether on your desk, e-files, instructions, tools, etc., I find it the most basic system in order to be organized — the 5S: sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain.

How do you take your coffee?

If not for my sleep disorder and hyperacidity, I would take my coffee with one cream and half a sugar. I love coffee, but my body does not — no matter how little the amount is.

What three things are on your bucket list?

  1. Get (at least) a permanent residency in Canada.
  2. Build my dream house.
  3. Take a family vacation.

Connect Series: Meet Nancy Gratham, our Medicolegal Transcription QC Director!

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At Reportex we do so much more than just court reporting!

We have many different departments offering all types of litigation support — from discoveries, mediations and other legal proceedings, to legal tech and editing services, to trial coordination and even a whole medicolegal section. Our medical transcribers transcribe expert reports, reference materials and other documents needed during the litigation process. Nancy Gratham (along with her colleague Louise Kennedy) leads a specialized team that is key to Reportex’s ongoing success.  

As the medicolegal transcription quality control director for Reportex, Nancy is responsible for managing our vast medicolegal transcription reference materials, overseeing the consistency of our medicolegal report style (including adherence to the Rules of Court) and training all of our new medicolegal team members.

#notjustcourtreporting

We recently asked Nancy a few questions. Here is what she had to say:

What do you like most about being a medicolegal transcription QC director at Reportex?

What’s not to love? I love my medicolegal team, which is made of the most dedicated, skilled, hard-working, unflappable women imaginable. The Reportex leadership team is cut from the very same cloth and has been an inspiration as they’ve faced down the unrivalled challenges 2020 has so far thrown their way. I’ve always loved working with words and with documents, so that’s a win. Our medical specialist clients are the best at what they do, and every day presents new language, new cases and new challenges. I also love being completely immersed in it all without having to commute to do so.

Did you find this career, or did it find you?

This career definitely found me. Teenage me only wanted to work at a magazine, so that’s what I set out to do. Years later I was managing editor at Western Living, and as much as I loved the work and the people who came with it, when I had my first baby, I knew I had to find a way to work closer to home. After a few years of freelance writing I came across an article with a picture of a woman who was sitting at her dining room table and waxing poetic about her work as a medical transcriber. I was hooked by the idea of a new challenge and by the prospect of never having to pitch an editor another story, so I went back to school, and 15 years later here we are.

Sushi or tacos?

Sushi! No explanation necessary.

What is your top tip for staying productive while working from home?

Work in a deadline-based business. Deadlines are the best motivators! 

More practically, I have a lovely office in my home where nothing happens but work. I “go to work” every morning and don’t leave the office until the job is done for the day. While I cherish the lack of commute, I treat my workday as though I’ve left my house behind entirely. Laundry and dishes and dust mites only exist outside of business hours. 

A genie gives you three wishes — what are they?

  1. A COVID-19 vaccine.
  2. Everyone who is able gets said vaccine.
  3. Chef Nye mysteriously moves into my house and is made exceptionally happy by plying me with his latest creations.

Wellness Wednesday: Welcome Back, Chef Nye! Bonus: Breakfast Chia Chug Recipe

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With our offices open again, we are excited to welcome Chef Nye back to work.

As part of our ‘Wellness Wednesday’ series Chef Nye has graciously shared with us his recipe for a delicious an nutritious Breakfast Chia Chug. This recipe can be blended into a smoothie or packed in a mason jar to enjoy.

We hope you give this recipe a try and share your results with us.

Breakfast Chia Chug

Yield:
5 cups of base pudding

Chia Base Pudding Recipe           

  • 1 cup black chia seeds
  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup sugar (optional)

Method:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a large container and whisk until mixed.
  2. Cover and chill in the fridge overnight. 
    Use base pudding to make Breakfast Chia Chug (see below).
  3. This base also goes great with fresh or dried fruit, granola, nuts, yogurt or a little honey.

Chia Chug Shaker Recipe

  • 1/2 cup chia base pudding
  • 1/2 cup oat milk (or other non-dairy milk)
  • 1/2 cup cereal granola
  • 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
  • Fresh mint to taste!

Method:

  1. Layer all ingredients in a mason jar.
  2. Store in the fridge until ready to eat.
  3. When ready to eat, stir and enjoy!

Connect Series: Meet our Wiki Reboot Team Members!

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Gaynell, Jamie, Jenni and Miki

At Reportex, one of our most prized resources is our ‘Wiki‘. It’s exactly as it sounds… a master repository for anything and everything our team needs to succeed. The Wiki is akin to a Reportex manifesto containing detailed information to support each department and staff member in their role and is edited on a regular basis. Updates can be an enormous undertaking and we’ve recently recruited a team to tackle some of the more intricate details of our latest sweep of updates – The Wiki Reboot Team.

For the past several weeks, our Reportex Legal Wiki has been undergoing a review by our Wiki Reboot Team members – Gaynell, Jamie, Jenni and Miki.

We recently caught up with these team members to ask them a few questions as part of our ‘Connect Series.’ Here is what they had to say:

Gaynell Noel

What do you like most about what you do?
What I like most about proofreading is the variety of topics that I get to read. I have learned a lot about so many things that I would never have been exposed to before.

What is your favourite read?
Because my job is reading, I hardly read for pleasure anymore. I read news articles online if the headline grabs my attention.

Top grammar tip:
Watch out for homophones! There are many words that sound alike but are spelled differently. “Its”/“it’s”, “there”/“their”/“they’re” and “your”/“you’re” are common ones that are frequently used incorrectly. Just remember a contraction is made up of two words. If you break them up, it helps to figure out the correct word to use. “It’s” becomes “it is,” and “they’re” becomes “they are.”

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
To compensate for not reading as much as I used to, I listen to audiobooks and podcasts. I love putting one of these on when I’m in the kitchen, walking or driving. Some of my favourite podcasts are This American Life, Radiolab, The Moth and Crime Junkie. And I use the Libby app to borrow audiobooks from the library. Check them out when you get a chance.

Jamie Kurzdorfer

What do you like most about what you do?
Doing research and learning new things.

What is your favourite read?
My favourite book is To Kill a Mockingbird. I can read it every year, and it never gets old.

Top grammar tip:
Use a semicolon or a period to separate two complete sentences. 

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
Reading and teaching my puppy tricks.

Jenni Reed

What do you like most about what you do?
As I work exclusively with spoken (not carefully thought out and arranged) words which cannot be corrected, it gives me such pleasure to face what seems to be a tangle of words, and by using the art of punctuation turn it into something that makes perfectly good sense and flows nicely.

What is your favourite read?
I’m currently rereading an old favourite of mine: The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco — monks, murder, herbals, libraries, labyrinths, oh my!

Top grammar tip:
Speak in complete sentences!!!

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
I enjoy getting out graph paper and plant catalogues and losing myself planning/imagining the flower and landscape garden that I don’t yet have…or going for a hike with my hubby or playing games (card games or Carcassonne) or trying new recipes! And a bit of yoga makes a great break in the middle of a workday.


Miki Patel

What do you like most about what you do?
What I like most about proofreading is that it can be applied to any industry. Where there are words, there’s a need for proofreaders to ensure that the quality of what is written is met. I also like the fact that proofreading is a skill that can’t be completely automated, so there will always be a need for proofreaders no matter how far we get into automation. Working from home on my bed is also a perk. I can work anytime, anywhere.  

What is your favourite read?
It’s been a while since I’ve read for leisure, so I’m going to have to go back to my teenage years. My favourite book would be Night World. I really did enjoy reading fiction back then. I’m sure I would still enjoy it if I had the time to sit down and read.  

Top grammar tip:
Memorize homophones (words that sound alike but have different spellings, meanings or origins) and learn how/when to use them. There’s no way around this, and it drives us proofreaders crazy when we see people using words like “effect” and “affect” incorrectly.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
I enjoy learning new skills. I consider myself to be a lifelong learner. I didn’t want to just stop at learning how to proofread court transcripts. I’m currently enrolled in Internet Scoping School so that I can also potentially scope in the future. I want to learn transcribing, bookkeeping and graphic design in the near future. I always like to say that no skill is a wasted skill. All these skills that I build might all come in handy one day in my professional life. 

 

 

Connect Series: Meet our Office Managers!

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Avang Aboubakr (Headquarters, Vancouver), Alicia Tobias (All-Star by Reportex) and Kelsey Fletcher (Island Reporters, Victoria).

With our offices slated to safely open on Monday, July 6, we couldn’t think of a better time to introduce you to our office managers at Reportex – Avang, Alicia and Kelsey.

We recently asked them each a few questions. Here is what they had to say:

First up, is Avang Aboubakr, our office manager at Reportex Headquarters, Vancouver. Avang joined the team right in the middle of our office closure and has hit the ground running.

What are you most looking forward to about the safely re-opening?

I am overjoyed to be reuniting with my colleagues, as well as adhering to our safety protocols.

What has been the silver lining in having the offices temporarily closed?

The opportunity to spend more time with family and having their support as I embarked on a new position with the Reportex team.

How have you connected with yourself during these challenging times?

I have focused on centering myself through meditation, and finding my inner ‘handyman’ with home renovations. I’ve also discovered some at-home fitness routines… and red wine has been a huge part of my diet.

Fun fact: When not in the office, Avang enjoys meditation, wine and Korean dramas.

Next, is Alicia Tobias, our office manager at All-Star by Reportex located in New Westminster. Alicia has been a member of the All-Star team since January 2012.

What are you most looking forward to about the safely re-opening?

I am most looking forward to reconnecting face to face with my co-workers and clients. Prior to our offices shutting down I had been on mat leave for a year so it has been an extra long time since I have seen everyone’s smiling faces.

What has been the silver lining in having the offices temporarily closed?

Something positive that has come from having the office temporarily closed is being able to catch up on a large backlog of work emails.

How have you connected with yourself during these challenging times?

I found that at the beginning of the pandemic I was spending too much time cooped up in the house. This was adding to my anxiety and stress surrounding everything going on in the world.  So now I try to spend as much time outdoors as I possibly can, whether it be going for a walk, or sitting outside and enjoying a cup of coffee.  I realized that it is the simple things like getting fresh air or reconnecting with nature that help ease my mind and give me a sense of calm.

Fun Fact: When not in the office, Alicia enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching Netflix, reading, travelling and exploring local trails and parks.

Last but not least, is Kelsey Fletcher, our office manager at Island Reporters located in Victoria. Kelsey opened Island Reporters three and a half years ago, with a partner Colleen Murray. Kelsey doubles as an Office Manager and Realtime Court Reporter. Kelsey has been instrumental in the Cowichan trial in Victoria.

What are you most looking forward to about the safely re-opening?

I’m looking forward to having the office stop looking like a ghost town! It will be great to start hosting in-person discoveries again because it’s hard to feel connected to our clients from afar like this.

What has been the silver lining in having the offices temporarily closed?

For me personally, I have been involved in a lengthy and intense land claim trial, and once COVID hit and things shut down, the courthouse closed and I found myself on an extended holiday. After the initial stress wore off, I realized that I had been given an amazing gift of plenty of time off at the perfect time of year. I live on a farm with a big garden, and it was spring, so I threw myself into gardening, breeding chickens, incubating/hatching eggs, baking, and I tackled some projects that had been on the back burner for a long time. It was amazing to have eight weeks off.

How have you connected with yourself during these challenging times?

I’m introverted and used to spending time on my own, so the social isolation wasn’t really something I found terribly difficult. And I don’t tend to get overly stressed or anxious about stuff in general, so the pandemic didn’t really have a big impact on my life, other than in a positive way with the bonus time off. I would say I fared well through this strange COVID time, but I’m aware that many people weren’t so lucky. I found myself feeling grateful more often and appreciating everything I have. 

Fun Fact: When not in the office, Kelsey enjoys sailing.

Connect Series: Meet Megan Ejack our Marketing & Communications Director!

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Meet our Marketing & Communications Director, Megan Ejack. Megan joined the team in March 2019, and has since been an amazing asset to the Reportex team. Megan is known for her strong leadership and interpersonal skills and endless creativity.

A highly experienced visionary with a background in dance, communications and strategic planning, Megan previously worked at TLABC for 12 years as their Development Director.

When not at the office, Megan enjoys football, travel, sunshine and wine and is currently working towards her certification at the acclaimed International Sommelier’s Guild (ISG).

We recently interviewed Megan on our theme of ‘connection’ and to see how she was making out during these challenging times. Here is what she had to say:

How have you found meaningful ways to connect with your work during these challenging times?

I feel incredibly grateful to be able to keep working, albeit a little differently, but it has also been very intense to lead a team, with my colleagues, through this crisis. I’ve found that the key is balance. People are looking to you for answers and assurance, and there is a huge push to adapt quickly and keep the business running, so you have to try and remain calm and focused even when things are in chaos around you. There have been days when putting on a brave face has taken everything I have. But knowing that what we’re doing really does matter and is helping the whole industry keep running feels amazingly gratifying.

I have found some solace in my role as Mktg & Comms Director, because it’s my job (even in normal times) to find ways to connect with our team, our clients and our industry. But these days, I get to be a little more creative! In many ways, I have found inspiration in new platforms to use, in connecting through our social media and our marketing efforts, as well as checking in with our team as much as possible.  

It helps to have the greatest team beside you, for the good days and the hard ones… and wine, wine helps too.

Have you found a way to connect with your community during these challenging times?

Despite being isolated on my own, I’ve been really grateful for what I affectionately have been calling my morning and evening freedom walks in my neighbourhood. I live in Kitsilano and I like to walk down to the beach. As I pass my neighbours who are doing the same, it has been nice to slow down and take the time to say hello or good morning more than usual… and the faces are becoming familiar, it really feels like a community now.

Although it has always been part of my life, I feel that I’ve also been really focused on shopping and supporting local. There are so many new options for delivery and services coming out of this, it’s easier than ever to support my neighbourhood restaurants and businesses. I imagine that there will be a huge focus on continuing to support, shop and travel locally and prioritize supporting our Canadian economy.

Also – the Facebook group “What do you see from your window” has been a shining light joining people from across the world – all of us existing in this same pandemic! Really cool.

How have you connected with yourself during these challenging times?

It has been more important than ever to really listen to my body and soul as we navigate our health, the media, business, family, fear, anxiety and the whole range of emotions every day. I carve out the time to meditate each morning and afternoon and to move my body, even if it’s just a short walk or some yoga.

I’ve also been fueling my mind with productive and positive things to combat the fear and uncertainty. I’ve been focusing on developing my leadership skills through the ‘Masterclass’ app and I’ve also been reading a lot – my recent favourite is ‘Untamed’ by Glennon Doyle.

Speaking about connection generally, is there something specific that inspires you about this idea?

Everything about connection inspires me.
Understanding how we are all interconnected and how we connect to our own selves in this world is truly all there is.

Megan’s recent favourite read.

Connect Series: Meet Erin Monahan our Business Development Director!

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Meet our Business Development Director, Erin Monahan. Erin joined the team in August 2019, and has since been an awesome asset to the Reportex team. Erin is known for her positive attitude and strong work ethic.

A highly experienced planner with a background in meetings and events, Erin has a varied background and worked as an education director (8 years at TLABC), actress, waitress and assistant cruise director, prior to joining the Reportex team.

When not at the office, Erin enjoys reading, hiking, knitting, travelling and all things that involve wine.

We recently interviewed Erin on our theme of ‘connection’ and to see how she was making out during these challenging times. Here is what she had to say:

How have you found meaningful ways to connect with your work during these challenging times?

This I have to say for me has been the most challenging. While the world is generally embracing Zoom as a way to connect with friends and family that we can’t see in person, I have found I am experiencing “Zoom fatigue”. Work relies quite a bit for me to be on Zoom meetings (which I know is common for everyone working from home) but I find at the end of the day and on weekends I lack the energy or desire to sit in front of my computer. I really do prefer the face to face interactions, and while we are incredibly lucky to be experiencing this in a time where we do have access to technology, it is still just not the same for me.

Have you found a way to connect with your community during these challenging times?

Not as much as I would like to, for the reasons above. However, I have made a commitment to support local business for all my needs. I had to replace my Blundstone boots recently (I walk quite a bit, and good walking shoes are an essential for me) and I made sure to find a local business that I could purchase them from rather than ordering online.

How have you connected with yourself during these challenging times?

I have started to really recognize what I need in order to feel balanced. During the first few weeks of social isolation, I essentially just hid from the world. I worked (from home, obviously) in my “yoga pants” and was intentionally inactive. I was not sleeping well, had quite a bit of anxiety building up, felt listless and uneasy. It came to a breaking point when I had to take a mental health day and made a point not to look at any screen (especially social) media. I very quickly realized that I need exercise, and a routine, to stay sane. I do not allow myself to “work in my pj’s”. Every morning I shower, blow dry my hair, and put on “real clothes” for the workday. I only allow myself to wear yoga pants on the weekend, as that is the reward for a week of hard work. I also started running, which is an activity I have always avoided in the past because I had convinced myself that I did not like it. I found that not only I do like it (quite a bit!) but it is essential for my mental health to get out there and get my heart rate up. I have also found that when I feel the anxiety start to build, a good run or bike ride tends to shake out the anxiety and get me back on track.  

Speaking about connection generally, is there something specific that inspires you about this idea?

I find this time very interesting. We are discovering that for many of us, working from home is not only possible, but for some people preferred. Most of the services Reportex offers have traditionally been in person, but we had to adapt and start to offer them virtually, which was easier than one might have thought. I wonder, once the pandemic is over, how much of this “virtual world” will come with us. While I believe that access to justice and healthcare as well as other essential services can certainly be advanced by virtual technology, will we be as connected if we no longer make an effort to be face to face?

The best thing I have discovered with my running, is quiet mornings with gorgeous views.

Connect Series: Meet Leanne Kowalyk our Operations Director & Realtime Court Reporter!

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Meet our Operations Director/Realtime Court Reporter, Leanne Kowalyk. Leanne joined the team in 2014 and has since been an irreplaceable asset to the Reportex team.

A highly skilled and experienced realtime court reporter with a background in mentoring newly graduated court reporting “grasshoppers,” Leanne (in addition to her work in Canada) has extensive experience working on a variety of international arbitrations, high court and American depositions throughout Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

When not at the office, Leanne enjoys competitive dragonboat paddling, non-competitive curling, doing multi-day hikes and hanging out with Milo, her four-month brown mutt.

We recently interviewed Leanne on our theme of ‘connection’ and to see how she was making out during these challenging times. Here is what she had to say:

How have you found meaningful ways to connect with your work during these challenging times?

Taking time during my work days to step away and regroup mentally has strengthened my clarity and focus and processing abilities. I feel this has allowed me to better apply myself in my role and assuage the burnout I was feeling pre COVID-19.

Have you found a way to connect with your community during these challenging times?

I have been connecting with family and friends over Zoom during this time, and we have been getting our weekly (ish 😉) take-out to support our local businesses (and breweries!)  I have found people are much more social when I am out walking with my puppy, which has helped me feel more connected to my community.  We have even had people asking us to walk by their house/establishment regularly so they can watch little Milo grow!

How have you connected with yourself during these challenging times?

I have attempted to work regular meditation and yoga into my schedule, which doesn’t always happen, but when it does I find it makes a big difference in my day.  I have also been embracing the quiet and solitary time that I don’t normally have in my life to reflect, refresh, enjoy a cup of tea and just breathe.

Also while spending so much time on Zoom and thus experiencing the dreaded Zoom fatigue, I am trying to spend more time “unplugged” when I am at home, either reading, playing crib with my hubby, being more creative in the kitchen, etc.

Speaking about connection generally, is there something specific that inspires you about this idea?

While taking advantage of the time to connect with myself, I do feel a weight slowly lifting.  I enjoy my work and life more when I feel rested and balanced and more able to apply myself to the task at hand.  I feel inspired to keep that going post COVID.

I am acutely aware of how I am choosing to spend my time while everyone is staying home, who I am connecting with and why I am choosing those specific individuals.  It gives me a chance to reassess my own value system and priorities, both in relation to my work and my personal life.

We thank Leanne for her time!

Check back in next Friday when we will be featuring Business Development Director Erin Monahan.

Meet Milo!

Connect Series: Meet Nicole Riglietti our Receptionist/Client Services Ambassador!

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When you walk in the door or call the Reportex office, often the first smiling face or cheerful voice you will hear is that of our Receptionist/Client Services Ambassador, Nicole Riglietti. Nicole joined the team in November and has since been a tremendous asset to the Reportex team. Nicole is known for her cheery disposition and good vibes, even on the gloomiest Vancouver days.

Highly talented and creative with a background in directing, writing and acting, Nicole has starred in a commercial she wrote and directed for the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver, a national commercial for Lay’s potato chips and Romeo e Giulietta, a bilingual (English & Italian) play that she directed, edited and produced. A review of her production can be read here.

When not at the office, Nicole enjoys being in nature, spending time with her dogs and exploring her creativity through writing comedic skits, short stories/films and theatrical plays.

We recently interviewed Nicole on our theme of ‘connection’ and to see how she was making out during these challenging times. Here is what she had to say:

How have you found meaningful ways to connect with your work during these challenging times?

During these unprecedented – sometimes distressing – times, which often feel like that old spaghetti western ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’, I have been doing my best to find ways to connect professionally. I have been one of the fortunate few who have been able to continue working, but working remotely is new to me and has a very different feel than being in the office. I am a social being and crave connection in my everyday life.

With the sudden move to working remotely, I found myself missing my co-workers and our clients and the day-to-day interactions, the friendly smiles, the sweet moments of ‘Welcome to work’ and ‘Welcome to Reportex’.

To combat these feelings of loss, I decided to reach out to some of our clients and to Reportex team members via email. It was a great feeling to re-connect, share and check in. There are so many unique clients and team mebers, and I often feel grateful to be part of such a wonderful, diverse team and community! We all need each other and we are all here to help each other.

My family in Italy has said from the beginning of this pandemic ‘Vinceremo’, which translates to ‘We Will Win’. And all of us together, we will.

Have you found a way to connect with your community during these challenging times?

Where there is deep sorrow, there is pure joy.

Like two sides of a coin – the yin and the yang – sorrow and joy are intrinsically connected. Humans around the world have united together to cheer on our healthcare workers at 7:00 p.m. during the shift change, encouraging, supporting and showing our immense gratitude for their sacrifice so that we may carry on, safe and healthy. I have joined this inspirational trend of banging my pots and pans, with loving kindness in my heart.

In fact, it has become a type of game. In my quiet neighbourhood in South Vancouver, what began with children creating all the noise led to me wanting to support the kids. They were trying so desperately to get the adults to join in around the block, so I answered their call and realized how much joy it brought me. In an instant I felt connected, strong and not alone. Each evening the banging became louder and louder as one by one more households joined in. The game became who could cheer the loudest.

I did not realize how a simple act could unite us all.

I also have had some of the best video chats with my dear friends who live in New York, Chicago and Toronto and with my family in Italy. We chat weekly, sharing many belly laughs.

How have you connected with yourself during these challenging times?

During this time I have tried to find balance and connection through meditating, dancing, singing and writing. I find myself loving the serene moments, especially when meditating outside, listening to the birds singing around me. I have been connecting with my inner child, dancing and singing and putting on performances in front of the mirror or even for my dogs. It’s a release of effervescent energy which naturally flows through me. I find solace in writing, especially during these troubled times. One of my favourite songs has a couple of stanzas which perfectly sums up how I’m feeling with the new normal amongst us.

Nicole and her dogs.

We thank Nicole for her time!

Check back in next Friday when we will be featuring Operations Director & Realtime Reporter Leanne Kowalyk.