Debi graduated Valedictorian from Empire Business College in Santa Rosa, California, in the spring of 1990. Shortly thereafter, she joined the court reporting firm of Schiller & Hillabrand where she proceeded to get her clearance to do federal grand jury work and New York Stock Exchange Arbitration. In the fall of 1991 she joined Jeffries Court Reporting as an independent contractor in the Hamilton office. To this day Melody remains grateful to former Judge Jim Haynes for that referral. Debi obtained her national certification as a Registered Professional Reporter in late 1992. Debi served two terms as President of the Montana Court Reporters Association from 2001-2003. In June 2014 Debi passed the Certified Realtime Reporter test. Her hobbies are hiking, gardening, needlework and Griz games.