STRENGTHS
* Highly motivated self-starter.
* Ability to work well independently or on a team.
* Excellent problem-solving and organizational skills.
* Ability to see both the big picture and the implementation details.
* Ability to define and document processes, procedures, and internal tools.
* Ability to write and edit for diverse audiences.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Self-Employed Writer, Editor, Artist, Internet Marketer 2003 - 2004
* Researched, wrote, edited, and self-published two books.
* Created web site and marketing materials.
* Promoted books and giclée prints on eBay, web search engines, etc.
* In process of writing news and magazine articles for informational/promotional purposes.
* Experience with digital photography, formatting, and publishing content to web sites.
* Worked with Photoshop, layout programs, and paint programs.
Note: This is a small part-time business that involves only a few hours a week when I am working on other contracts.
Online Help Specialist, Who's Calling, Inc., Jan 2004 - May 2004
* Used RoboHelp X5 to write and edit HTML Help for web applications.
* Documented the processes, procedures, and tools used on the Documentation team.
Sr. Technical Writer / Editor / Project Lead, Concur Technologies, 1999 - 2003
* Wrote HTML Help and WinHelp for front office and back office web applications.
* Wrote and edited What's New documents for the new and revised features in each release.
* Created product tutorials and miscellaneous documents.
* Created graphics and structured layout.
* Documented the processes, procedures, and tools used on the Documentation team.
* Developed schedules, coordinated schedules, tracked progress, and trained new writers.
* Performed UI reviews and tested products and documentation.
Sr. Technical Writer / Documentation Lead, Quintessent Communications, 1998 - 1999
* Managed projects and produced technical and requirements documents, and instructional guides.
* Researched and created content for the company web site.
* Created graphics and structured layout for all documents.
* Created PowerPoint presentations and Visio diagrams for Professional Services.
* Created templates and documentation processes.
* Trained new writers on processes and tools.
Contract Technical Writer / Editor, Microsoft Corporation, 1987 - 1998
Note: I was employed as a Contract Technical Writer and Contract Editor at Microsoft on the
following dates: 5/87 - 10/87, 9/88 - 8/89, 12/91 - 2/92, 9/97 - 3/98.
* Worked in the following departments as a contract employee over an 11-year period: Microsoft Works, Applications User Education, Systems User Education, and Microsoft Press.
* Researched, wrote, edited, and indexed software books and manuals.
* Wrote online Help. Performed User Interface (UI) reviews and participated in usability testing.
Contract Instructional Designer, S&T On-Site, 1997 - 1997
* Developed training courseware and labs for a two-day class on Writing Online Help.
* Planned and executed every phase of the project, including: researching, writing, constructing the labs, art, desktop publishing, and creating presentation slides in PowerPoint.
* Created graphics and layout for all materials.
Contract Sr. Technical Writer, Visio Corporation, 1997 - 1997
* Managed, researched, wrote, and tested print and online documentation for Visio Technical.
* Introduced a plan for online demos to be used for training and for the company web site.
Sr. Technical Writer, Microsoft Corporation, 1992 - 1995
* Managed, researched, wrote, and tested print and online Help documentation for Microsoft Word, Excel, and Works.
* Documented in-house processes for creating context-sensitive Help.
* Performed UI reviews.
Contract Instructional Designer / Project Lead, Aldus Corporation , 1990 - 1992
* Developed the first online tutorials produced by Aldus: Learning Aldus Freehand and Learning Aldus PageMaker.
* Managed all phases of the projects.
* Worked closely with Production Artists to storyboard the tutorials.
* Conducted usability tests on the tutorials.
Technical Editor, Microsoft Corporation, 1987 - 1988
* Performed individual and team editing of software development kits (SDKs) and other software manuals.
* Implemented an online indexing system.
EDUCATION
Bachelor's Degree, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Professional Education
* Writers conferences for the Pacific Northwest Writers Association (PNWA)
* Marketing, Sales, and Promotion (ongoing self-study)
* Adobe Photoshop (Cascadia Community College)
* Software Project Management (ESI International)
* Microsoft FrontPage (Bellevue Community College)
* Beginning and Intermediate HTML (S&T Onsite)
* HTML Help (Society for Technical Communications)
* Microsoft Word for Windows, Excel, Online Help Files, Microsoft Windows, SLM, RAID, Web Design (Microsoft Corporation)
* Aldus PageMaker, Aldus Persuasion (Aldus Corporation)
