Off the Record: A Steno Town Hall for Court Reporters #2

Joe Stephens

Joe Stephens, J.D., is Steno's Director of Legal Solutions as well as a Clinical Lecturer at Texas Tech University School of Law. With over 15 years of experience in criminal defense and public service, he founded and led Texas' largest rural public defender office, which serves a 12-county area. A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law (cum laude) and Vanderbilt University (B.A.), Stephens currently serves as a Board Member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (TCDLA) and sits on multiple State Bar of Texas committees. His expertise spans the intersection of legal practice and technological innovation in the justice system.

Treissa Matakaetis

Treissa Matakaetis serves as the Reporter Recruiting Manager at Steno, where she leads initiatives focused on recruiting, onboarding, professional development, and retention for court reporters nationwide. Treissa worked as a court reporter in Pennsylvania for seven years before relocating to Florida, where she continued to stay connected to the field through scoping and proofreading. She also serves on the College of Court Reporting Advisory Board to empower the next generation of court reporting professionals by aligning academic programs with industry needs.

Sophie Townsend

Sophie Townsend is Director of Product at Steno, where she focuses on enhancing the provider experience and building innovative solutions for the court reporting industry. She began her career in sales at a court reporting agency before transitioning into health tech, where she spent several years developing products that helped people make healthier food choices. Drawn back to the legal industry, Sophie is now dedicated to revolutionizing court reporting technology. With a deep understanding of both the industry and product development, she is passionate about creating solutions that drive efficiency and ease for court reporters.