Technical Writing Specialist
Insightful, results-driven writer with extensive experience in the IT world of technical documentation.
Ability to grab key words and concepts from a presentation or essay in order to do further research.
Excels at learning different pieces of software by hands-on use and networking with the developers who
created the software to ask them questions. Then adapts that knowledge into the best possible expression
for the end user. Specialties include Help file creation using the RoboHelp Office products, Microsoft
Word in the development of technical manuals, Microsoft PowerPoint to create presentations used during
training classes, the teaching of training classes, designing Captivate tutorials, and Visio to diagram the
flow of information thru software. 20+ years of MS Word and MS Office knowledge.
Professional Experience
LifeWatch, Inc. 04/14/2014 – 12/05/2014
Contract Technical Writer Rosemont, IL
Composed a number of different documents for LifeWatch. These documents included user manuals, in-
house documents for the network infrastructure team, Adobe RoboHelp 11 projects, and Excel
spreadsheets. The audience for these documents ranged from outside end users to new LifeWatch hires
learning their job duties.
• Created a MS Word template for use with all documentation.
• Wrote user manuals for the web application LifeWatch Connect, and for the application support
team to be used for troubleshooting issues as they came in to the help desk.
• Created Configuration, Quick Start, and Troubleshooting guides for the EMR (Electronic Medical
Record) project.
• Created gap analysis Excel spreadsheets to document the necessary data for moving from one
EMR data collection application to a new application.
• Used Visio to map the network Data Room and how the racks and other items were laid out.
• Converted all documentation into Adobe RoboHelp 11 projects after explaining the benefits to the
IT Director.
United Airlines 05/08/2013 – 10/01/2013
Contract Technical Writer Chicago, IL
Created 150+ knowledge management (KM) documents for use by United’s customer support
representatives in troubleshooting issues concerning the UC360 web application. UC360 is used by
United to keep track of their cargo planes as they transport goods around the globe.
• Created a MS Word template for use with all of the KM documents.
• Created a MS Excel spreadsheet to keep track of the development of the KM documents.
• Identified all of the SMEs needed to create the KM documents and organized and facilitated
conference calls since they were located in Chicago, Atlanta, London, and Dubai.
• Uploaded all of the completed KM documents to MS Sharepoint for storage.
Joint Commission Resources, Inc. 10/08/2012 – 04/26/13
Contract Technical Writer Oak Brook, IL
Updated all user manuals for the company’s four web based applications using MS Word. JCR’s software
suite is used by hospitals to meet federal healthcare standards, including HIPAA. I then made a
presentation to upper management on the advantages of moving all of the documentation into help
projects, and they purchased RoboHelp 10 for me to develop those WebHelp files.
• Created and maintained four WebHelp projects using RoboHelp 10. Compiled and added a new
layout for one of those help projects to be used in an iPad app.
• Created and edited online training classes using Adobe Captivate 6, and embedded the Captivate
videos into the RoboHelp projects.
• Updated Visio diagrams for use in the manuals and help, showing how the applications improved
workflow by meeting healthcare standards.
• Uploaded all the latest versions of the projects to MS Sharepoint.
The Chamberlain Group 02/20/2012 – 09/21/2012
Contract Technical Writer Elmhurst, IL
Brought on to create a documentation suite for The Chamberlain Group as they implemented SAP into
their Helix project. Gathered all necessary information from SMEs, and wrote installation guides,
standard operating procedures (SOPs), and created Visio diagrams to present the data visually.
Documentation topics included Java Install, Vertex Install, SAP Console, Disaster Recovery, and various
Backup programs. Presented various network landscapes in Visio such as CGI Architecture, PKMS
Landscape, VNX Landscape, and Web Services.
• Interviewed all SMEs to obtain the data necessary for the documentation.
• Wrote 24 pieces of documentation which included installation guides, SOPs, backup guides, and a
general handbook which gave a high level overview of the entire Helix project.
• Drew eight Visio diagrams that explained the setup of the different network landscapes between
the three locations in Elmhurst, Tucson, and Nogales, Mexico.
• Uploaded all of the information to MS Sharepoint.
Joint Commission Resources, Inc. 11/1/2011 – 1/31/2012
Contract Technical Writer Oak Brook, IL
Created a user manual for a web based application using MS Word. The application, Tracers, is used by
hospitals to meet set healthcare standards in various departments – by taking surveys on the system
process used in those departments and recording the results in the application. Created online training
material for both web applications using Adobe Captivate.
• Created and edited online training classes using Adobe Captivate.
• Reviewed and edited a user manuals, and created Release Notes with MS Word.
• Created and edited Visio diagrams for use in the manuals, showing how the applications
improved workflow by meeting healthcare standards.
• Researched HC standards on government websites in order to fully flesh out the documentation
and uploaded to MS Sharepoint.
• Published all material to the Joint Commission Resources, Inc. website Wiki.
Emmi Solutions 02/2011 – 08/2011
Contract Business Analyst / Technical Writer Chicago, IL
Studied the business process used at Emmi Solutions in developing their healthcare tutorial programs, and
wrote the documentation that was put into escrow for Emmi 3 rd-party clients. Researched and
documented the platform on which the programs were built, the 3 rd-party and proprietary applications that
ran on the platform, and the servers and databases used in the business process. The production process
used in the development of the programs (xls, xml/html, fla/swf, and wav/mp3) was also documented –
the writing of the script, the designing of graphics, the recording of audio, and testing.
• Interviewed all SMEs in each area of the business process.
• Researched the computer requirements and features of 3 rd-party applications and updated the
information on Emmi’s Wiki.
• Gathered all source code that needed to be placed in escrow and added it to the documentation.
• Designed Visio diagrams to express the Emmi business process, and designate those items to be
placed in escrow. Uploaded to escrow using MS SharePoint.
Joint Commission Resources, Inc. 11/2010 – 01/2011
Contract Technical Writer Oak Brook, IL
Edited existing user manuals for web based applications using MS Word. The applications, E-dition and
Accreditation Manager Plus (AMP), are used by hospitals to meet set healthcare standards in various
departments – whether it be housekeeping, HR, food service, etc. Trained myself in the use of the
applications while comparing the latest versions to the previous ones in order to compile new Release
Notes. Created online training material for both web applications using Adobe Captivate 4.
• Created nine online training classes using Adobe Captivate 4.
• Reviewed and edited two user manuals, and created Release Notes, with MS Word.
• Created and edited Visio diagrams for use in the manuals, showing how the applications
improved workflow by meeting healthcare standards.
ARAMARK
Technical Writer / Instructional Designer 2003 – 2010
Downers Grove, IL
Created the help file for the software ISISpro using RoboHTML. ISISpro is used by the healthcare and
education clients of Aramark. Hospitals use it to keep track of patients as they are dispatched to various
areas of a hospital, for housekeeping purposes, to purchase and inventory equipment, to keep track of any
HIPAA codes that may apply to a patient, etc. Schools also use it for housekeeping, purchasing, and
maintenance purposes. Was given the responsibility of being the Testing or QA Manager for ISISpro.
• Interviewed SMEs, designed and wrote 33.4 MB help file for the ISISpro using RoboHTML.
• Ongoing editing of the help was done as new modules were created or existing ones updated.
• Designed the QA method to be used in the test scripts and one was created for each of the 31
modules in ISISpro
• Assigned the test scripts to those developers who created the modules in ISISpro and completion
of the test scripts was scheduled for every Wednesday.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in English & Psychology
Luther College, Decorah, Iowa