Hanson Renaissance Court Reporters & Video is one of the oldest independent court reporting companies in the United States. Based in Detroit, Michigan since 1963, Hanson offers its premium court reporting, conference hosting and legal videography services across Michigan.
Recently the editors of Court Reporters.co spoke with Gerald Hanson, the President of Hanson Renaissance Court Reporters & Video. Below is a transcript of our interview that was conducted via email.
CO: Court reporting is a family trade for you. When did you know you wanted to follow that path?
Gerald Hanson: I’ve always had an interest in business and seeing the success of my father I decided I wanted to be a part of the family business.
CO: How long have you been with Hanson Renaissance?
GH: Since 1991. 31 years.
CO: At what point did you decide you might want to run the firm as opposed to working as a standard employee?
GH: As the firm grew, I saw that my dad needed help and I gradually took on more responsibilities. I learned the business from my dad and with technology it continues to evolve every year. I enjoy the responsibility of running the firm and am very involved in the day-to-day operations.
CO: What is it that the firm does differently from other court reporting firms?
GH: We are a family owned business and provide the best service in the industry. As the owner I am available 24/7 to work directly with clients. We are based in Michigan and take pride in being able to help clients in last minute emergencies or scheduling situations.
CO: How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed how the firm operates?
GH: Our transition during the pandemic was seamless. We opened our first video conference room in 1985 and have been scheduling remote virtual depositions for the past six years so we were ahead of most companies. Virtual depositions continue to be the preference; however, we continue to see an increase in scheduling in person depositions. Our firm has been a leader in videoconferencing for years and our team of video technicians are on every virtual deposition as a resource. Lastly, our court reporters and employees continued to operate very efficient during the pandemic and our state-of-the-art technology and unmatched client service have helped us to set the highest standards in servicing court reporting needs.
CO: How has the industry changed since you first started?
GH: The court reporting industry has evolved over the years with innovation and technology. Everything from scheduling depositions to taking depositions virtually has evolved. We continue to be leaders in innovation providing the best service in the court reporting industry.
CO: What do you think it takes to be a good court reporter?
GH: To be a good court reporter it takes many skills including, concentration, organization, good grammar, punctuation, and proofreading. Court reporters must be punctual and have great time management skills. As real time court reporting continues to grow reporters must be detail oriented and become familiar with legal and medical terminology.
CO: What are your hopes for Hanson Renaissance for the near and long-term future?
GH: My hopes for Hanson Renaissance for the remainder of the year are to continue to work closely with clients and provide the best client service in the industry. We will continue to be the best firm for both in person and virtual depositions. Our court reporters are professional, and we deliver timely transcripts and take pride in our work.
CO: What would you tell someone who wants to get into the court reporting industry in today:
GH: Court reporting is a challenging career that comes with tremendous benefits. Successful court reporters are ultimately in charge of their own earnings potential and there is an opportunity for a high income with flexibility. A good court reporter is highly valued and there is always a demand as court reporters can’t be replaced. We award a scholarship in honor of my father and our founder Gerald Hanson. We welcome any students looking to go into the court reporting field in the state of Michigan to apply for our scholarship. We mentor students attending court reporting school and attend high school recruitment events to drive interest in the court reporting industry. Students can apply for the scholarship here.