Technical Documentation Manager

Veronica Westfall

**********@*****.*** **** Daphne Drive, North Syracuse, NY 13212 315-***-****

Experience

Lead Writer/Project Manager, Topaz Publications, Inc. Liverpool, NY 1992 – 2017

Led diverse team of writers, editors, and subject matter experts producing print-based and online training materials, lesson plans, and assessments to support competency-based training programs. Responsibilities included:

Instructional system design and writing of competency-based training (served as lead writer and project manager of the four-year NCCER/Pearson Electrical curriculum since 1996, a title that has sold well over one million copies; also served as lead writer/project manager on Managing Electrical Hazards, Solar Photovoltaics, Project Management, Safety Management, Safety Technology, Your Role in the Green Environment, Sustainable Construction Supervisor, and many other titles)

Preparing online training, including active figures, video, assessments/remediation, and instructor resources

Preparing proposals and budgets for curricula development projects

Scheduling and coordinating in-house and freelance writing, editing, art, and layout teams in the production of over 10,000 pages of curricula materials each year in a wide variety of technical disciplines

Human resources and employee training/development

Communication with client, publisher, and subject matter experts

Quality control of contract deliverables to meet client/publisher content management system specifications and XML tagging schema, as well as national safety and building codes

Previous positions at Topaz Publications included Quality Assurance Manager and Vice President/Director of Publications

Editor, Smith-Corona Corporation Cortland, NY 1992

Smith Corona Cortland produced various electronic typewriters and word processors. (It now uses offshore production facilities.) Responsibilities included:

Writing and editing software and hardware manuals for electronic typewriters and word processors

Developing content for embedded help text

Coordinating schedules with marketing, production, and engineering departments to ensure documentation completion in accordance with project milestones

Beta testing

Interfacing with technical support to evaluate documentation quality and respond to customer inquiries

In-House Editor/Facility Security Officer, Benten Associates Liverpool, NY 1989 – 1991

Benten Associates was a technical publications subcontractor for General Electric Company producing U.S. Air Force and Navy technical orders and proposals. It was sold in 1992 to a technical writing group that eventually became Topaz Publications, Inc. Responsibilities included:

Ensuring documentation accuracy and compliance with MIL Specs and customer requirements

Executing Department of Defense protocols for the protection and disposition of classified materials, with full responsibility for the associated government documentation, Defense Investigative Service (DIS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) inspections, and employee training

Education

S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University: Dual B.A., English and Magazine Journalism, 1988

Defense Investigative Service Facility Security Officer Certification, 1990

Department of Defense Security Institute Courses: Essentials of Industrial Security Management, 1990; Protecting Secret and Confidential Documents, 1991

Skills

Ability to manage diverse teams including technical/subject matter experts, engineering, production, end users, instructors, and stakeholders

Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities for concurrent delivery across different platforms

Costing, budgeting, forecasting, and accounting

Familiar with Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) content management systems and associated extensible markup language (XML) tagging schemas

Extensive ISD experience producing technical training materials and assessments for print-based and online delivery

Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Project, and PowerPoint

Familiar with numerous codes and standards (OSHA 1910 & 1926, ANSI, NFPA 70 & 70E, API, MIL)

Volunteer Work

Over the past six years, I have had the honor of working with a group of students who have raised enough money to supply more than 78,000 meals to the needy in Central New York.

Adult advisor, Halloween for Hunger for the Food Bank of CNY: parent/student volunteer staff of 10, 2012 – 2016

Adult advisor, Hallowrun for Hunger 5K for the Food Bank of CNY: parent/student volunteer staff of approximately 65 per year, not including outside services (e.g., police support, park rangers, ambulance, food vendors, radio and print media, electrician, sponsors, etc.), 2013 – 2015

Adult advisor, Student Art for the Food Bank of CNY at the Golden Harvest Art Festival: parent/student volunteer staff of eight, September 2017

Adult advisor, Student Spirit Tree for the Food Bank of CNY at the Witches and Wizardry Festival: parent/student volunteer staff of four, October 2017

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