Where Are They Now?

Name: Eric Smead

School:

Class: 1986

Occupation: Court Reporter

What was your career path leading up to your current job?

My career path took a few turns. My first job out of college was in Dayton, OH, and from there I spent two years in West Virginia. In 1993 I returned to Akron and spent the next 12 years as a freelance court reporter. Starting in 2005 I took my talents to Cleveland also as a freelance court reporter. Currently I am an Official Court Reporter for the Summit County Court of Common Pleas in downtown Akron.

What does your job entail, and what is your career goal?

My job entails taking a verbatim record of all proceedings held in court, and my goal is to stay in this position until retirement.

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?

My greatest professional accomplishment was graduating from college and becoming nationally certified as a Registered Professional Reporter.

What’s your favorite high school memory?

My favorite high school memory (they all merge after this long) is my senior year. I became much closer to many of my classmates, and the majority of my friends today are my former high school classmates.

What advice would you give to future graduates?

My advice to future graduates is concentrate more on your work in school and not the social life that accompanies a coming-of-age adult. The better you do in high school the more likely your post high school education and life experiences will be to accomplish.