Technical editor/writer and instructional designer

John Cobb

***** ***** ***. ** *******, WA ***** Phone: 425-***-**** Email: ****.****@*******.***

Career Path: Technical editor/writer and instructional designer with background in content development for IT

pros and software engineers. Skilled at working with teams to develop, manage, and produce a wide variety

of technical content for a global audience that includes documentation and web content for operating

systems, applications, tools, and processes.

Certifications and Training:

• Structured Authoring and DITA, Bellevue College, Bellevue, WA. (Winter 2014)

• Designing Learning Certificate, American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) (Fall 2013)

• Technical Writing and Communication Certificate, Bellevue College, Bellevue, WA. (Fall 2004)

Documentation and Publishing Experience:

o Technical editor for 3-day Instructor Led Training (ILT) course on Lync Server 2013 Network Readiness

Assessment.

o Instructional designer/technical editor for EMC2 Isilon Training Division. Developed content with SMEs and

project managers for Isilon Data Migrations, a course for engineers on planning and testing big data

migrations to an Isilon cluster. Course content analyzes complexities introduced by multiprotocol

environments, explains the Isilon permissions model, and provides a tool overview to perform migrations.

The course covers the three phases of data migration engagements: Requirements Gathering, Testing, and

Delivery.

o Project editor for the Security Compliance Manager (SCM) 3.0: A security guidance resource tool that

enterprises use to configure and manage computers in private cloud environments with Group Policy and

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager. The latest version of the tool, released in February 2013,

includes product baselines for Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, and Internet Explorer 10.

o Project editor for the Data Classification Toolkit for Windows Server 2012 : A tool and resources that

enterprises can use to identify, classify, and protect data on file servers in private and public clouds.

o Project editor on comprehensive product guide for Amazon WebStore, a multichannel ecommerce platform

hosted by Amazon that companies use to operate their online businesses in a secure, reliable and scalable

environment. Worked closely with Amazon’s marketing team to gather source materials for the guide that

included existing feature and design guides, functional specifications, and style sheets. Develop detailed

outline for the guide, gathered input from technical and marketing subject matter experts at Amazon, and

highlighted key features of Amazon WebStore. The guide became a key component of other marketing

collateral for Amazon WebStore, including datasheets, case studies, and other leave behind materials.

o Project editor for the Windows 7 Security Guide and the Internet Explorer 8 Security Guide.

o Project editor for the Windows Server 2012 Security Guide.

o Project editor for the Microsoft Security Compliance Manager.

o Project editor for the Windows Vista Security Guide. The guide received more than 108,000 page views and

94,000 downloads within six months of publication.

o Technical editor and information designer for Designing the Data Tier for Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Clinic

2783A for SQL developers and database administrators produced by the Microsoft E-Learning Group.

o Technical editor for Web Service Security, Scenarios, Patterns, and Implementation Patterns for Web

Services Enhancements 3.0, a guide produced by Microsoft information architects.

o Lead technical writer for the Malware Removal Starter Kit: How to Combat Malware Using Windows PE for

SA-SC. Developed content with lead developer. The kit generated more than 865,000 downloads from 2007 to

2010.

o Website editor for the Microsoft Training & Certification website comprised of more than 800 pages of content

dedicated to IT pros. The site received a monthly average of 700,000 unique users and 5 million page views.

Researched and implemented metadata strategy for website to improve search results for site content,

developed process documentation, and maintained trademark and legal guidelines for site content.

o Wrote user manual for XML-based content management system designed for Orchard Supply Hardware for

Saltmine.

o Edited and produced content for CD-ROM-based sales tool for Pivotal, a B2B firm focused on CRM for

Saltmine.

Computer Skills:

o Content Development and Publishing Software: Word 2013, Visio 2013, Office 2013, Office 365, Lync 2013,

Adobe Acrobat, Adobe FrameMaker 12, SharePoint 2012, HTML Help Workshop. WordPress.

o Operating Systems: Windows 8 Pro, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP Pro, Windows Server.

o Programming: Visual Basic 6.0, HTML 5/CSS3.

Content Management Software: SharePoint 2013, Visual Studio 2012 Team Foundation Server, Excel 7.0,

o

Product Studio (Microsoft bug tracking system), Raid v4.54, Visual SourceSafe 6.0b, DocStudio (Microsoft

content management system), Groove, Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) structured authoring.

Permanent Employment:

Wadeware, LLC

Kirkland, Washington (November 2005–November 2014)

o Technical Editor/Writer Instructional Designer: Edited, wrote, and designed variety of technical

documentation on software products, tools, and security guidance for groups within Microsoft. Worked in

this capacity in collaboration with project managers, developers, information architects, information

designers, and testers.

Saltmine, LLC

Seattle, Washington (February 2000–April 2001)

o Technical Writer: Wrote technical documentation and marketing material for variety of company clients.

Worked as a project writer in close collaboration with project managers, developers, information architects,

designers, multimedia specialists, technical writers, and business analysts.

The Japan Times

Tokyo, Japan (October 1990–January 1999)

o Staff Editor/Reporter/News Broadcaster: Designed and produced regular feature news pages on world

events, business, sports, and entertainment for The Japan Times Weekly and The Japan Times daily. Wrote

articles on business, politics and society. Compiled and broadcast headline news for the company’s English-

language radio station.

Contract Assignments:

EMC2 Isilon

Seattle, Washington (May 2013-September 2013)

o Instructional Designer/Technical Editor: Developed content with SMEs and project managers for Isilon Data

Migrations, a course for engineers on planning and testing big data migrations to an Isilon cluster. Course

content analyzes multiprotocol environments, and explains the Isilon permissions model and data migrations

tools. Content covers the Requirements Gathering, Testing, and Delivery phases of data migration

engagements.

Volt

Microsoft Corp. Solutions for Security Group and Compliance Group (November 2004-Novermber 2005)

o Technical Writer II/Editor II: Worked with project teams to develop security documentation for the

Implementing Quarantine Services for Microsoft Virtual Private Networks project, Windows SteadyState, and

the Identity and Access Management Series for SA-SC.

Microsoft Corp. Solutions for Security and Compliance Group (November 2003-August 2004), (August 2002-July 2003)

o Technical Editor II: Created security documentation for Microsoft products and services. Received

Outstanding Contributor Award for editorial work on the Securing Microsoft Windows 2000 Server guide

(2002). Worked with several project teams to write, edit, manage, produce, and publish security guide

information on Microsoft products for consultants, customers, the National Security Agency, and the general

public. Performed content reviews to meet quality assurance standards for localization.

Microsoft Corp. Content Development and Delivery Group (August 2001-March 2002)

o Site Editor: Wrote, edited, managed, produced and published technical and marketing content focused on

Microsoft training and certification for IT professionals, trainers, and business decision makers; standardized

product and certification terms on site pages; trademarked Microsoft products, fixed broken links; managed

editorial review of content for site migration; wrote and edited content for third-party vendors.

Microsoft Corp. Windows Desktop User Assistance Group (April 2001-June 2001)

o Technical Editor I: Copy edited variety of technical content for IT professionals and administrators, ensured

consistent use of technical feature names and definitions, trademarked Microsoft products, fixed HTML

coding issues.

Education and Training:

• Adobe FrameMaker and Acrobat training, Lynda.com (Winter 2015)

• Structured Authoring and DITA, Bellevue College, Bellevue, WA. (Winter 2014)

• Designing Learning Certificate, American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) (Fall 2013)

• Authoring Help, Bellevue College, Bellevue, WA. (Spring 2013)

• XML for Technical Writers, Bellevue College, Bellevue, WA. (Spring 2009)

• Technical Writing and Communication Certificate, Bellevue College, Bellevue, WA. (Fall 2004)

o B.A. in International Studies/Business Minor, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR (June 1986)

Trained in the standards of the followings style guides and references: Microsoft Manual of Style 6.1, Microsoft Computer

Dictionary, The Chicago Manual of Style, The Associated Press Manual of Style, and The American Heritage Dictionary .

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