Training Technical Writer

Daniel R. Travis

**** *. ********* ***., **** C

Chicago, IL 60641

Phone 773-***-****

e-mail: **************@*****.***

EDUCATION

Illinois State University, Normal, IL - May 1997

Bachelor of Arts - English

Elgin Community College, Elgin, IL - December 1995

Associates of Arts - English

EXPERIENCE

Technical Writer August 2009 – Present

Chicago Tech Writing Consultants, Chicago, IL

Working as a freelance Technical Writer on 1099 contracts.

Used Adobe FrameMaker 9.0 to update existing user guides for an inventory

management software company converting their application to a .NET framework.

Developed training materials in Microsoft PowerPoint that were used by the sales

force to train client users.

Used Snag-It for screenshots and Microsoft Visual Studio for Source Control.

Used Microsoft Word to update existing user guides for a company specializing in

search advertising and audience targeting.

Created online knowledge base containing all user documentation, training materials,

release notes, press releases, FAQs, and a glossary of terms.

Recorded screen activity and wrote scripts for online training videos.

All work done remotely using video conferencing, conference calls, and email.

Technical Writer June 2009 – August 2009

CME Group, Chicago, IL

Short-term W-2 contract updating FIXML message specification documents and

developer reference guides using Adobe FrameMaker and Microsoft Visio.

Interviewed SMEs to identify changes needed for each message in the current

documentation.

Worked with developers to create messaging diagrams and compile sample

messages.

Wrote release notes highlighting the specific changes in this release for distribution to

the trading firms as a PDF and published to the customer support wiki.

Used ClearCase for version control and Snag-It for screen captures.

Technical Writer February 2008 – May 2009

Google, Chicago, IL

Worked as a Technical Writer for Google's Search Advertising division in Chicago.

Wrote introductory guide, marketing materials, and online help for advertiser

networking project based out of New York City office.

Created inline tooltips and FAQs for the application’s UI.

Authored Getting Started Guide and Best Practices documentation for new clients.

Responsible for updating internal Wiki Knowledge Base with most current version of

all documentation.

Used MadCap Flare to create help systems for online data feed project and search

advertising software.

Created external users guide for both projects using Adobe FrameMaker.

Used Microsoft Visio to create data flow diagrams reflecting how information is

disseminated in the data feed project.

Converted and maintained online help for sales reporting tool from RoboHelp X5 to

MadCap Flare.

Worked extensively with various software packages including: Microsoft Office, Adobe

FrameMaker, RoboHelp, MadCap Flare, Google Docs, and Visio Designer.

Senior Technical Writer/Trainer August 2002-February 2008

FutureSoft Consulting, Chicago, IL

Technical Writing Duties and Projects

Worked on a W-2 Contract at the Options Clearing Corporation in downtown Chicago.

Maintained more than 20 versions of online help for two different financial trading

systems using RoboHelp X5.

Created 12 levels of Web Help for an internet based application and 10 versions of

Oracle Help for an internal, Java-based system.

Created and maintained technical specification forms, user reference guides, and

user supplements for all DDS documentation used both internally and externally to

create and format inbound and outbound FIXML messages.

Supervised two junior technical writers.

Created and maintained technical documentation such as implementation strategies,

architecture design documents, security approach documents, and deployment plans.

Worked with developers to produce requirement and design documentation for new

screens, modules, reports, and functionality in the internet and Java based

applications.

Responsible for documentation sent to the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC)

detailing all new functionality, changes, and enhancements in new system releases.

Produced user guides, system manuals, FAQ documents, and Clearing Member

manuals for five individual user types for each release.

Instituted procedures for internal departments documenting step-by-step instructions

for each function and troubleshooting steps used during member support.

Maintained internal web site where all documentation, training materials, internal

procedures, and reference guides were made available for download.

Updated external web site with all relevant documentation for clearing members,

exchanges, banks, and clearing corporations based on their respective security level.

Documented roles and responsibilities for each department prior to each release.

Created and maintained projects using RoboHelp X5, HTML, Microsoft Word,

Microsoft Visio, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Adobe Acrobat Professional 8,

and XML Spy.

Training Responsibilities

Worked with individual departments and end users to determine training strategy and

approach prior to each release for both internal employees and external members.

Created materials used for various levels of classroom training delivered both in

person and via web conferencing across the country.

Solicited estimates from multiple printing companies before creating printed materials

that will be distributed across the industry for training sessions.

Scheduled training classes/sessions for all internal employees, clearing member

firms, banks, exchanges, and clearing corporations as needed.

Led classroom-based training for internal users prior to new releases.

Co-presented training sessions for external users in New York City, Dallas, Boston,

and Philadelphia as part of software updates.

Senior Technical Writer January 2002 – August 2002

Greenbrier & Russel, Schaumburg, IL

Worked as a Technical Writer on a W2 contract at the clearance center for the

Chicago Board of Trade.

Project work included creating reference manuals for two separate on-line trading

applications and documenting the process flow of the coded messages passed

between systems.

Documentation will be distributed to users at every firm trading on-line at six major

financial exchanges.

Documents were created in Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Excel, Visio

Professional and Microsoft Photo Editor.

Technical Writer January 1998 – September 2001

Greenbrier & Russel, Schaumburg, IL

Served as a Technical Writing Consultant, being assigned to clients in a variety of

industries throughout the Chicagoland area.

Project work consisted primarily of system documentation, user training, and web

development.

Worked extensively with various software packages including: Microsoft Office,

FrameMaker, RoboHelp, ForeHelp, Microsoft Front Page, Visio Designer and Visual

InterDev. Completed training classes in HTML, JavaScript, DHTML, ASP, SQL and

Oracle.

Completed projects in Windows, Unix and Mac environments.

Technical Writer June 1997 to December 1997

Bradford & Galt, St. Louis, MO

Received a six-month placement at Caterpillar's East Peoria plant in the Corporate

Information Systems Department.

Duties focused on system documentation, web development, desktop publishing and

user testing.

Completed assignments using the Lotus Office Suite, Doc-To-Help, RoboHelp, Quark

Express, Adobe PageMaker and Adobe Photoshop.

GROUPS & CERTIFICATIONS

Member of Society of Technical Communication.

Certified in MadCap Flare.

Certified in Adobe FrameMaker.

Certified in Adobe RoboHelp.

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