St. Petersburg, Fla. Thirty years ago, Diane Emery quit her job on whim. She wanted to leave work early to meet some lawyer friends for happy hour and her boss wouldnt let her, she explains in the The Queens Courts, the article on her in Maddox Business Reports May 2009 issue, which is focused on executive women. It was then the 21-year-old Emery decided to start Executive Reporting Service, turning her job loss into job creation.
First, though, came the tears and regret, as Emery sat at the bar and told an attorney friend she just quit. He offered her his deposition work in the meantime, which gave her an idea: OK. Thats what Ill do Ill start a business, she says in the story.
The two-page magazine feature touches on what makes Diane tick: creating opportunities for women and making the legal profession a creative place. Perhaps thats why her business continues to thrive and is still creating jobs even in this tough economy.
Elusive work and job losses are evident these days, but not in Dianes court. She hired two more reporters in May, growing her staff to about 25. Her mother and her daughter Alix, who begins court reporting school in the fall, also work at ERS.
Its not all business as usual in this economy: shes switched gears and us amping up her marketing efforts. Emery launched a new, user-friendly Web site (www.executivereporting.com) in May and was just named secretary the newly formed Tampa Bay chapter of Women in eDiscovery.
She started what she calls Legal Arts meets Creative Arts three years ago to support local artists. ERSs office in downtown St. Petersburg and Clearwater serve as gallery spaces. When a piece is sold, she gives the entire proceeds to the artist. As she says in the story: I like the creative aspect because the legal environment can be pretty stuffy.
