Chapter Presentation

Florida Gulf Coast ARMA Chapter

March 6, 2007

Making Your Images Work for You

By Karene L. Leworthy, CRM

The Sarasota County Clerk of Circuit Court’s office implemented a new court case maintenance system with imaging and workflow in 2001. That project had a broad scope and significantly changed business practices. That was the beginning of an exciting time for growth and new ideas about the way business was handled. Imaging court case file documents paved the path for many opportunities to utilized new technology and increase efficiencies.

Making the images work for you is the key to a successful imaging system. Attend the March FGCARMA Chapter Meeting to hear about how the Sarasota Clerk of Court’ operations benefited from imaging technology. Find out about the workflow improvements, electronic court dockets, filing electronic documents, and other new business practices that emerged because the records are maintained as electronic images.

These benefits and opportunities reach beyond the elimination of the physical issues associate with paper records and provided a solid foundation for improved service to the public, our agencies, and the judiciary. Imaging technology effectively supports and enhances both business operations and records management practices of an organization. At the same time imaging and electronic records present their own set of new challenges and issues that require attention.

KARENE L. LEWORTHY, CRM

Karene L. Leworthy is a Certified Records Manager and presently holds the position of Manager of the Records Management Division for the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Sarasota County. As Records Manager she is responsible for all records management services for the Clerk as well as providing records management services to Sarasota County Government. Her responsibilities include tracking active and inactive court files (current inventory in excess of 750,000 cases), securing evidence, disaster protection, electronic records imaging, and archival microfilming. Highlight accomplishments include writing a comprehensive vital records and disaster plan, structuring an active centralized filing system for court case files, and participating on case management workflow system implementation teams.

Karene began her career in records management in 1981 as the Manager of the Board Records Division prior to her current position.

In August 2002, Ms. Leworthy had the opportunity to accompany the Clerk with a delegation to Angola on the west African coast to provide training for improved records management practices in their judicial system. Sponsored by the Department of Commerce, this team was one of the first steps to provide assistance to rebuild the country since the end of their civil war.

Karene served two terms as President of the Florida Records Management Association, is a member of the Association of Records Managers and Administrators, and makes presentations on disaster planning, records management practices, and electronic imaging and workflow systems.