Our logo is very meaningful to us here at Permian Court Reporters. In the center you will see a stenograph machine which represents our main service at the heart of our company.
We firmly believe there is no substitute for a Certified Shorthand Reporter and we have built the rest of our services to support those who have made it their passion to transcribe the spoken word.
Surrounding the stenograph machine is the graphic of a firework, which represents Permian's mission of acting beyond preservers of the record, to be catalysts in our community. The lines which make up the firework are also very intentional. The lines are Gregg shorthand, which write out our mission and celebrate the roots of court reporting and demonstrate how far the profession has advanced technologically.
OUR MISSION:
Beyond Preservers of the Record, Catalysts in Our Community.
Catalyst [kat-l-ist]
1. something that causes activity between two or more persons without itself being affected.
2. a person whose talk, enthusiasm or energy causes others to be more friendly, enthusiastic or energetic.
The history of Permian Court Reporters began with Jerry and Loretta Lancaster in 1974 and the Lilly family purchased the firm in 2012.
Susan’s interest in court reporting began with her father, J.R. Newcomer, who served in the U.S. Army as a court reporter. In the Army, J.R. utilized Gregg Shorthand, and after he was discharged, went to court reporting school to learn how to use a stenograph machine. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to make the transition from Gregg to Machine Shorthand and went to work for Exxon in Midland.
His attempt at learning Machine Shorthand was not in vain, as Susan had watched and become inspired to learn how to become a Stenographer herself. Susan committed just out of high school to "Live her Daddy's dream," and go to court reporting school. After attending Alvin Community College, Susan became a Certified Shorthand Reporter in 1988 and started her career in Houston.
In 1989, the current owners of Permian Court Reporters, reached out to Susan to offer her a job back in her hometown. Susan and her husband Joe jumped at the opportunity. Susan became a full-time reporter and Joe started as a full-time videographer. Working together every day was a dream for the Lillys and both of them loved working in the legal field.
After working for Permian for over 17 years, the Lillys went out on their own and started Lilly Court Reporting and Lilly Video Services. They worked with attorneys in Texas and Southeast New Mexico and eventually began hiring more reporters and videographers to help them keep up with their growing client base. Eventually, the Lillys knew that they needed to obtain their own office space and move their business out of their home.
As luck would have it, the Lillys were able to purchase Permian Court Reporters back from a large firm and come back to the office they had called home for so many years. The papers were signed on the Lillys’ anniversary in 2012 and they've been pouring love into Permian ever since.
In early 2019, Brandon, Joe and Susan's oldest son, came back to manage Permian after obtaining a business degree from Texas Tech. In 2020, Martin, Joe and Susan's younger son, and Sarah, Brandon's wife, enrolled in Mark Kislingbury's court reporting program held in Permian's office as well. Permian is truly a family business and the Lillys cherish everyone involved with the firm and consider them part of the family as well.
If you would like to learn more about Permian, or their partnership with Mark Kislingbury Academy of Court Reporting, please take a look at Permian's featured article on Midland AF's website.