ESTHER M. WHEELER

Four Retrop Road

Natick, MA **760

508-***-**** abpplv@r.postjobfree.com

Summary: Extensive experience in originating and revising technical material and on-line documentation for end users,

system administrators, and developers. Specializing in extracting information by working directly with subject matter

experts and products.

Skills/Technologies: XMetaL, Arbortext, DITA, Agile methodology, FrameMaker, RoboHelp Classic, RoboHelp HTML,

Sharepoint, Confluence, JIRA, WebHelp, Acrobat, Word, Visio, PowerPoint, FrontPage, Eclipse, Emacs, SnagIt,

Illustrator, Lotus Notes, ClearCase, Perforce, VSS, CVS

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

January 2010 to present SDL LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES Waltham, MA

A leader in translation management systems that manage the end to end process for translating and localizing information

for a global audience. A division of SDL plc., based in Maidenhead, U.K.

Principal Technical Writer. As a sole writer, worked in a multi-national Agile team including six developers, to support

WorldServer enterprise software development. Researched, wrote, and published help systems and user, administrator,

and developer guides in a single-sourced DITA environment. Participated in six product releases of a 14-publication set,

along with READMEs and knowledge base articles.

As team leader, updated and migrated a 1300-topic pre-DITA XML repository to a DITA 1.2 Trisoft component

content management system.

As subject matter expert, supported remote writing group on CCM system, and coordinated topic integration in two

document sets, at the WorldServer enterprise and SDL Trados Studio desktop levels.

Restructured planning and installation material into three guides for pre-sale, post-sale, and post-installation audiences.

Produced localization targets in two languages for two releases of seven PDF guides and two help systems.

Managed and maintained process material for WorldServer technical communications, including Sharepoint

dashboards, engineering wiki pages, and Agile backlogs.

December 2008 to March 2010 CITHAERON PARTNERS Burlington, MA

Partner with Cantor Fitzgerald, developing the Cantor Exchange for movie box office contracts.

Contract Technical Writer. Planned, researched, and wrote online help for beta release of a new website for traders of

futures contracts.

August 2008 to November 2008 AFFINNOVA SOFTWARE Waltham, MA

A global leader in optimization technology for developing and marketing consumer products, services, and online assets.

Lead Technical Writer. Updated and coordinated outdated development information for in-house client services people.

Drafted documentation suite for new survey development tool using single-source, topic-based tools to provide DITA

maps and content. Wrote and managed information on new wiki platform, including training all groups on wiki use.

February - August 2008 BMC SOFTWARE Lexington, MA

A leading global provider of enterprise management solutions for Information Technology automation.

Contract Technical Writer. Planned, researched, and wrote user and administrator documentation for beta release of

Operations Advisor, a data center analysis and planning tool. Worked with local product/program management, and

remote development and QA groups in Ukraine and Pune, India. Found and helped resolve problems with UI text and

operation. Provided on-time, up-to-date information for test sites at three checkpoints.

March - December 2007 n2N COMMERCE Cambridge, MA

Hosted on-demand cross-channel commerce platform integrating in-house and third party software, for large multi-

channel retailers (venture-funded).

Lead Technical Writer. Helped design and write technical communications for internal and external audiences, using

single-source, topic-based tools to provide DITA maps and content. Produced multiple versions of product user guide,

tracking development changes, for user acceptance tests. Helped establish documentation processes, style and terminology

standards, and output formats.

Esther Wheeler Page 2

2004 to 2007 SALARY.COM INC. Waltham, MA

ASP solutions for enterprise HR departments including salary analysis, compensation plans, performance programs, and

incentives plans.

Manager of Technical Documentation. Created documentation plan. Defined standard deliverable formats for customer

documentation, working with product management, marketing, and customer support. Defined, researched, and wrote

client documentation for four major product releases, consisting of ten role-based getting started guides and a 600-topic

set of online help. Provided internal support documentation as needed.

Delivered first version of documentation (books and help) within six weeks of starting.

Configured demonstration data for all modules illustrating product features, exposing and fixing inconsistencies in the

product. Participated in ongoing QA for product to meet client go-live requirements.

Wrote cleanup specification for second implementation of incentives product, simplifying the user interface.

2003 to 2004 UNVEIL TECHNOLOGIES INC. Waltham, MA

Voice self-service applications for enterprise call centers (venture-funded).

Manager of Documentation. Created documentation plan. Defined standard deliverable formats for customer

documentation. Defined, researched, and drafted user/customer documentation for three product releases, consisting of

over 15 pieces including native Eclipse help. Obtained reviews and signoffs on development schedule.

Wrote and distributed rolling in-house installation and configuration documentation for multiple application servers

and switch/telephony equipment, with typical one-day turnaround. Worked closely with QA to test and revise on

demand.

Coordinated callers and agents for mission-critical Friends and Family test calling sessions, a two-month project that

included working at customer site. Created directions, survey feedback, and bug report procedures. Received Quick

Start award for project.

2000 to 2003 VIGNETTE CORPORATION Waltham, MA

Integration, content analysis, and Web content management tools, based in Austin TX.

Senior Technical Writer. Researched and wrote books, on-line help, and release notes for middle-ware integration

product, a Java-based application that provides a graphical API to non-programmers. Worked with developers, QA

engineers, project managers, and release engineers to develop and review material. Collaborated with remote groups in

Texas and California through three company mergers.

Wrote and updated on-line help for core product and many different adapter libraries, including JDE OneWorld, core

functions, terminal emulators, and IBM Content Manager. Included writing and debugging interface examples.

Took over content collaboration documentation set from another division, received outstanding contribution award for

project.

Coordinated all documentation for product through one major release: four writers, 42 release notes, 46 help systems,

and five books. Personally updated two core books and four help systems. Product and company rebrand included

documenting upgrades and new technology. Contributed to three other major releases.

1995 to 2000 GN NETTEST Hopkinton, MA

Data communications and telecommunications testing, based in Brondby, Denmark.

Technical Writer for Enterprise products. Planned, designed, researched, and wrote original installation and user

documentation for completely new Windows LAN/WAN network protocol analyzer. As sole writer in Hopkinton,

supported 10 to 14 hardware and software engineers who provided occasional specifications.

Produced hard copy manuals, and online documentation (manuals and help) for three major releases and interim point

releases, on time and on budget.

Coordinated information with Canadian, Danish, and French marketing, development, and publication groups.

Provided information to local and international technical support and quality assurance groups.

Esther Wheeler Page 3

1992 to 1995 PENRIL DATABILITY NETWORKS/CLEARPOINT Natick, MA

Modems and bridge/router hardware and software, based in Gaithersburg MD. Role: Senior Technical Writer.

1989 to 1992 KENDALL SQUARE RESEARCH CORPORATION Waltham, MA

Massively parallel UNIX supercomputers with a shared-memory architecture. Role: Director of Documentation.

1984 to 1989 CHARLES RIVER DATA SYSTEMS, INC. Framingham, MA

Microcomputers with UNIX-based software, communications, real-time extensions, and database accelerators. Role:

Manager of Documentation.

1979 to 1984 HONEYWELL INFORMATION SYSTEMS Waltham, MA

A worldwide computer manufacturer. Role: Principal Writer, Marketing Communications.

EDUCATION and MEMBERSHIPS

Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), World at Work

Senior Member, Society for Technical Communications

M.S., Communications, Boston University, Boston, MA 1978

A.B., English, Earlham College, Richmond, IN 1975

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