Technical Writer Training
Resume:
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY: ** Years General
QUALIFICATIONS:
Over 20 years of experience designing, researching, and producing contract-deliverables.
A technical documentation professional with extensive prior experience in programming and freelance writing.
Proven ability to manage conversion of advanced engineering concepts into friendly, accessible manuals and training documents through exceptional interview, research, communication, and illustration skills. Skill-set also includes the functions of educator and librarian.
Solid track record of success improving overall product satisfaction
Has served clients in both the government and private sectors.
Experience in collecting and organizing information for preparation of user manuals, training materials and installation guides. Has also produced proposals and special reports.
Has been tasked with enhancing the full range of software documentation, and has managed and contributed to Functional Descriptions, System Specifications, Design Specifications, Test Plans, and Impact Studies.
Has performed the full gamut of technical writing administrative functions and has extensive experience working under tight timelines with limited direction.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
JonPed Inc. - Self Employed – Baltimore, MD
Technical Writer – (June 2010 to Present)
As a coauthor and ghost writer, contributes to the large body of work on Buddhist meditation written by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana.
Venerable Gunaratana has nine books currently available on Amazon. John’s contributions are especially noteworthy in the following works:
oMindfulness in Plain English
oBeyond Mindfulness in Plain English
These books are unique in two important ways:
oThe ancient mental techniques of insight meditation and Jhana meditation are usually described in highly scholastic and ceremonial language; these books present the material in simple, straightforward English.
oThe techniques derived from 2500 year old Buddhist sources are offered in the format of modern procedural manuals.
Kforce Professional Staffing – Baltimore, MD
Technical Writer – (July 2003 to May 2010)
Worked with the software development team serving the needs of the State of Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Systematized and managed a library of over sixty documents that encompass every aspect of this complex project, which handles EDI documents in HIPAA format.
Created seven major documents that organize the set as a usable library.
Coauthored a full training course, including electronic and hardcopy, plus classroom slideshow presentations.
Wrote and produced value-added User Guides and Technical Manuals for other State of Maryland Medicaid programs.
Impact Innovations Group – Columbia, MD
Technical Writer – (July 2003 to June 2004)
Contracted to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which maintains the Declaration of Independence and other documents, artwork and records pertaining to the history of the U.S. Federal government.
Responsible for documenting the day-to-day operations of their nationwide network-and-database system, which allows researchers to search and access NARA’s holdings.
Documented the week-by-week progress of major initiatives within the IT department and created an electronic newsletter to keep executives and department heads abreast of these developments.
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. – Annapolis, MD
Technical Writer – (July 1999 – June 2003)
Designed, researched, and updated contract-deliverables, including manuals and training guides.
Responsible for translating complex technical information into readily accessible manuals, Specification Requirements, and Software Design documents.
Covered the entire range of the Software Development Lifecycle.
Comprehensive working knowledge of every stage of the technical writing process, including all data gathering, word-smithing, creation of illustrations and diagrams, page layout, capture and incorporation of meaningful feedback; publishing via print and electronic mediums and distribution to end-users.
Collaborated extensively with subject matter experts, marketing teams and training personnel to ensure delivery of top quality written materials, crafted to exactly meet the needs of specific target audience segments.
Played a key leadership role in the creation of seven manuals covering the highly complex National Mail Order Pharmacy Business Management Application for the Department of Defense’s Personnel Support Center.
Advanced technical skill set allowed direct interpretation of program code into user-friendly instructions.
Digex, Inc. – Beltsville, MD
Technical Writer – (July 1998 – May 1999)
Supported a Microsoft Windows and UNIX operating system environment.
Wrote and illustrated manuals detailing software security procedures for the largest provider of web hosting services for companies conducting business via the Internet.
Published hard and electronic copies for use in internal training programs and global distribution.
Wrote the firm’s first network security standards and formalized agreements through the publishing of reports.
RPM Consultants – Columbia, MD
Technical Writer – (March 1997 – November 1997),
Delivered advanced information technology services to drive sales through development of powerful, expressive summaries of exceptional service to client firms.
Conducted in-depth personal and telephone interviews with a dozen of the firm’s technology professionals and translated their verbal information into concise marketing reports.
Statutory Benefits Management Corporation – Baltimore, MD
Technical Writer – (June 1996 - January 1997)
Researched, authored, and illustrated a library of manuals describing the operations of the three business units of this independent insurance, medical and dental services packager and reseller.
Completed comprehensive internal training tools as well as the documentation of unit boundaries. Successfully captured and communicated both the intent and requirements in manuals.
SourceCom Corporation – Westlake Village, CA
Technical Writer – (June 1995 – December 1995)
Designed, created, and diagrammed clear and concise installation, configuration, and operation manuals for the end–user customers of this cutting edge network interface hardware manufacturer.
SunSoft Corporation – Los Angeles, CA
Technical Writer – (June 1994 – December 1994),
Performed comprehensive revisions of the operations and installation manuals for one of this industry giant’s Solaris operating system products.
Ericsson Inc. – Oceanside, CA
Technical Writer – (January 1994 – May 1994),
Wrote and illustrated two manuals for the new Windows-based telecommunications management software created by this global telecom leader.
Locus Computing Company – Ingleside, CA
Technical Writer – (May 1988 – December 1993),
Wrote, illustrated and updated a series of books, manuals and document sets that translated highly technical data into information that was accessible without compromising depth or strength of content.
EDUCATION
B.S., Psychology, University of Maryland, 1969
Programming Certificate, Computer Learning Center, 1985
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