At BlueLedge, our instructors are the heart of what we do. With more than 106 years of combined industry experience, they bring real-world insight, strong industry connections, and a passion for teaching. Through 46 courses and live webinars, they empower students at every stage of their journey to reach their goals in the legal field. This series introduces you to the experts guiding your path to success.
Meet Merritt | Meet Tamara | Meet Kristin | Meet Sharon | Meet Natalie
Tamara Candeloro, Enrollment Manager
Tamara made a successful mid-career pivot from corporate finance to court reporting, where she discovered her calling in education and workforce development. As BlueLedge’s Enrollment Manager, she combines her business acumen with industry experience to guide students toward their ideal career paths and partner with organizations to address the court reporting field’s staffing needs.
What’s your favorite part about helping students navigate their educational journey?
What I love most is that BlueLedge offers so many different pathways and options, which means I can truly meet students where they are in their careers. Whether someone is just starting out or has decades of experience in another field, I get to help them put their background into perspective alongside their budget, timeline, and goals. There’s something incredibly rewarding about helping someone save both time and money while still ensuring they get exactly the right learning experience to set them up for amazing success. Every student’s situation is unique, and I love the puzzle of finding their perfect fit.
What’s a success story that reminds you why you love working in student services?
I’ve had the privilege of watching several professionals make mid-career transitions into court reporting, and their transformations never fail to inspire me. These are people who went from feeling exhausted and drained in their previous careers to finding genuine joy and fulfillment in their work. What makes it even more exciting is seeing how these same individuals have become some of the biggest advocates and mentors in our industry—they’re giving back in incredible ways. Many of them have become close friends, and I still speak with them regularly. Witnessing their journey from uncertain career-changers to confident professionals and industry champions reminds me every day why this work matters so much.
TESTIMONIAL
What an amazing experience! I found BlueLedge and my second career purely by accident. The legal transcription curriculum is exceptional and challenging. The instructors are OUTSTANDING! I highly recommend BlueLedge and the Legal Transcription course to anyone considering a new or second career. Give BlueLedge a try. You’ll be glad you did!
– Kim H.
What factors do you consider when helping someone determine if this career path is right for them?
I take a holistic approach by looking at several key areas. First, I consider their existing experience and what they’re hoping to accomplish professionally. Then we dive into lifestyle preferences—do they want to work remotely or in-person? What kind of schedule flexibility do they need? Are they looking to be an employee, or do they want the independence of being a contractor or business owner? I also assess their available resources, both in terms of budget and time commitment, now and in the near future. Beyond the practical considerations, I pay attention to their communication style, attention to detail, and ability to work under pressure, since these are crucial skills in court reporting. I also explore their motivation level and realistic expectations about the learning curve. This career requires dedication; but for the right person, it offers incredible rewards in terms of flexibility, income potential, and job security.
How do you support students who are balancing training with work or family commitments?
My approach is always to be encouraging and help students maintain a positive, non-stressful mindset about learning. I find that when students focus on just the next step in front of them rather than feeling overwhelmed by the entire journey, they make much better progress. One thing I see constantly is students putting tremendous pressure on themselves to be perfect right away, so I like to remind them that learning is a process and encourage them to be kind to themselves along the way. We also help them with providing realistic timelines they can gauge themselves against throughout their course. We work hard to make sure our students know we are always available for check-ins and encouragement because having that support system can make all the difference when life gets busy.