Michelle Jones
Michelle Jones is the Transcript Operations Coordinator and Senior QC Editor at Prevail.ai, and a Certified Electronic Transcriber (CET) with nearly 30 years of experience in the transcription industry. I’ve spent my career building expertise in both medical and legal transcription, and I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve accomplished. I built a medical transcription business from the ground up, working as both a transcriptionist and business owner for many years. As the medical field evolved, I embraced change and transitioned into legal transcription, exploring technological advancements and digital reporting to stay at the forefront of the industry.
Throughout my career, I’ve honed my skills in operations, leadership, and quality control, with a focus on workflow optimization, team training, and managing complex, high-volume projects. In my current role, I oversee the delivery end of operations, coordinating editors, ensuring service agreements and deadlines are met, and certifying transcripts for accuracy and quality. My work allows me to combine my attention to detail, leadership, and technical expertise to maintain excellence across all projects.
I am currently completing CER coursework at Wallace State Community College and pursuing CDR certification to further expand my expertise in digital court reporting and higher-level operations leadership. I expect to graduate next month at age 50, an achievement that excites me as I continue to grow in my field. With decades of experience and a commitment to innovation, mentorship, and excellence, I strive to advance the transcription and legal operations industry while delivering exceptional service.
• Professional Career Development Institute, PCDI,
Medical Transcriptionist Certification
• Wallace State Community College
• CER course (graduating next month)
• PCDI
• Medical Transcription Certification (1993)
• Association for Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AERT)
• AERT's Mentorship Committee
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the hard work and dedication that it has taken to get to where I am today. I've been in the field for my entire career, about 30 years, and I've always been willing to evolve and change with the industry. I started in the medical field and built a business from the ground up, and when that field started changing, I didn't become stagnant - I transitioned over to the legal field and embraced the technological and digital reporting side of things. Throughout my career, I've worked very hard to ensure that I provide excellent service and that deadlines are met. The mentorship that I provide has been a very meaningful part of my success - I have always trained and mentored new editors, and helping develop those people to become excellent in our industry is very important to me. I'm very proud of what I've accomplished, from becoming a transcriptionist to moving into a business owner, and now moving over into legal and becoming an operations coordinator.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is that you can have a career you truly love if you are willing to work for it and stay committed to your goals. This advice has inspired me to pursue my passions fully and has fueled my ambition to one day start my own court reporting firm, turning what I love into a business that can make an impact.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering this industry to embrace change and stay ahead of technological evolution, recognizing that adaptability is key to long-term success. It’s equally important to value mentorship and consistency—seek guidance from those who have walked the path before you, remain committed to continuous learning, and, as you grow, help others advance as well. By combining adaptability with a dedication to both personal and collective growth, you can thrive in a dynamic and rewarding career.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now, I'm in school attaining more certifications, and I'm looking forward to bigger opportunities in my future. I'm working on my CER and CDR certification and should graduate next month from college. It's kind of crazy to think I'm in college at my age, but I'm committed to continuing my education and professional development. Once I get my certification, I'm planning on starting a court reporting firm, which is a really exciting opportunity for me. I see the evolution of the transcription industry as an opportunity - the field is shifting toward technological and digital reporting, and I've embraced that change rather than letting it hold me back.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being able to provide excellent service is extremely important to me in my work - I work very hard to ensure that service agreements and deadlines are met. In my personal life, being with my family is what matters most. I'm very family-oriented and spend a lot of time with my family when I'm not working or in school. I have four grandchildren, and spending time with them is a huge priority for me. When I have free time, I love to sit with a good book and read, sit outside, and garden. Sometimes I'll take my book down to our local winery and just sit outside in the sunshine with a glass of wine and read. But mostly, it's taking the grandkids places and doing things with them - they're my world.