The Caption First Team...
...at your service
...at your service
Staff
Patricia K. Graves founded Caption First in 1989 in Chicago, IL. She is president, CEO and lead writer of Caption First. In addition to providing CART and captioning services, Pat’s responsibilities include overseeing all facets of Caption First, leading the growth of Caption First to more than $2 million annually, and recruiting new team members.A graduate of Triton College where she earned a degree in Court & Convention Reporting, Pat is a certified stenowriter. She holds multiple certifications from The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) including Registered Professional Reporter (RPR), Registered Merit Reporter (RMR), Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR), Registered Diplomat Reporter (RDR), and Certified CART Provider (CCP). Pat has 13 years’ experience as a court reporter in New York City, South Carolina, and Illinois, and 22 years as a CART and captioning provider across the United States and around the world.
Pat has been involved with NCRA since 1977 and has served on various committees of the organization. Pat currently serves as an elected member of the NCRA Board of Directors. She served as a member of the NCRA CART Task Force from 1998-2001, chairing the committee from 2000-2001. In 2003, Pat became a member of the Realtime Certification Committee, and continued serving on the CART Community of Interest (formerly CART Task Force), where she was a member, then chair. Since 2004, Pat has served as Board Member, Secretary-Treasurer, Vice President, President, and Immediate-Past President of the Colorado Court Reporters Association. Pat is also a member of the Advisory Committee for Ad Hoc Rules and Regulations for the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, a position she has held since 2006.
Pat has taught both on the local and national levels on CART and captioning for Court Reporters and consumers. In 2000 she was listed in Today's Chicago Woman as one of the 100 Women Making a Difference. Pat is widely published and has spoken at many conferences around the world on bringing spoken communication via CART and captioning to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and to those whose native language is not English.
Roy K. Graves is the vice president for Technology and Finance. He joined Caption First in 1990 on a part-time basis, then on a full-time basis beginning in 2003. As Vice President, Roy oversees all financial aspects of the company, as well as the development and implementation of current and emerging technologies.Roy earned his bachelors degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He served with honor in both the US Navy and the US Air Force Reserves. In addition to his stellar military career, Roy has an extensive list of work experience which includes computer programmer, engineer, engineering supervisor, technology director, and accounting director.
Roy has been instrumental in bringing Caption First to international audiences by studying various technologies and creating ways in which CART and captioning services are delivered worldwide. He has provided technical support and in many international venues among 18 countries including Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Switzerland and others.
Roy is active in his community; from 2007-2010 he served on the Colorado School District 38 Operations Advisory Council. He also served as Vice President of the Speech-to-Text Services Network, Treasurer of Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, and treasurer of his Home Owners Association.
Sharaine Rawlinson Roberts is the Marketing & Account Manager for Caption First. Her responsibilities include marketing Caption First's services to new audiences, giving presentations at meetings and conferences, and assisting with proposal writing. Sharaine has a Masters Degree in Social Welfare from the University of Kansas and a BSSW Degree from Rochester Institute of Technology / National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Deafened as a young teen, she is fluent in American Sign Language and has used CART, captioning, and interpreters in a variety of settings. She has more than 25 years experience in the field of Deafness and Hearing Loss. When not working, Sharaine enjoys photography with her husband, travel, reading, and playing with their dogs and cats.
Ray Pecora is the Scheduling/Office Manager for the Chicago-area office of Caption First. Ray graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Northern Illinois University. His primary tasks are to set up and maintain a long-term schedule, as well as to build relationships with clients and writers. Ray is also in charge of making sure the necessary prep information is received and forwarded to the writers. When not in the office, Ray is either at home with his wife and dogs, playing hockey, or rooting for his beloved Cubbies.
Heather Theriaque is a realtime captioner and CART provider for Caption First, working both remotely and on-site when needed. Heather has a degree in Court Reporting from Springfield Technical Community College in Massachusetts. She received further training from the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Heather’s experience includes CART reporting in the classroom and legal settings, as well as for conferences. She also has extensive experience in captioning for local governments. Heather is married and loves spending time with her husband and three beautiful children.
George R. Schaumburg is a staff voice writer for Caption First. He provides remote CART services for business teleconferences, lectures, educational classes, as well as captioning for television broadcasts. George holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City Conservatory of Music. He has training as a stenotype machine writer and is the first graduate of Verbatim Careers Institute where he received his voice writing training. He has co-presented voice writing seminars and demonstrations for NCRA and NVRA. George continues to advance the efficacy of voice writing technology as well as promoting the voice writing profession.
Michelle McCannon is a Caption First scheduler. She helps support clients and writers by coordinating the execution of meetings and events. Michelle is a 2006 Graduate of Columbia College Chicago, and holds a Bachelors Degree in Art, Entertainment, and Media Management. Her work experience thus far includes account management, marketing, sales, and HR. Michelle also works part-time as a test preparation tutor. She enjoys reading, music, and travel.
Joe Booth is a Caption First Scheduler. He helps support clients and writers by coordinating the execution of meetings and events. Joe graduated from Bradley University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology. Past work experience includes customer service, sales, and restaurant management. In his free time, Joe tries to spend as much time as he can outdoors. His favorite activities are cycling, skiing, cooking and traveling.
Brian Lammert is the Technical Specialist for Caption First. His duties include network/systems administrator, help desk, technical support, equipment testing, and various other roles that require technical expertise. Brian has several years of call center experience in Internet and technical support. Brian enjoys spending time with his family. His other pleasures include mountain biking, reading, and nature.
Louise Creutz is a Part-time Accounting Assistant responsible for processing completed job sheets from the writers and preparing the invoices for the clients. Louise’s employment history includes sales development at Apple Vacations; customer service at Eli's Cheesecake Company; and usher for many concerts, plays, and sporting events. She and her husband of 30+ years make their home in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. In her spare time, Louise enjoys entertaining, participating in a book club, volunteering at a homeless shelter, and traveling.