The Long Island, N.Y., native studied at the New York School of Court Reporting, where graduation is based on being able to transcribe 225 words a minute with 95 percent accuracy. “Most people take three years to finish, but I did it in two,” said Tropia. With her certificate in hand and a desire to leave cold winters, she moved in 1995 to Jacksonville and quickly discovered her skills were in demand. “Everywhere I walked in, I got a job,” she said. In addition to transcribing depositions for attorneys, one of her first clients was City Council. Taking the notes at city meetings has since expanded....MORE
