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Award-Winning Writer and Editor

Location:
Colorado Springs, CO
Posted:
March 29, 2023

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Resume:

D I R ECTV

Donald L. Jones

Vice President & General Manager Castle Rock Broadcast Center

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to recommend a colleague of mine, Jean Saunders, for consideration of a position, within your company.

It has been my pleasure to work with Ms. Saunders since 1994 at DIRECTV. While at DIRECTV, I supervised Jean when she was an operator in our broadcast operations department.

Jean is a high achiever noted for her dedication and commitment to our business. She relies on a vast knowledge and experience base that she has acquired during her career to guide her decision making process. I often highlight Jean's strategic planning and excellent communications skills as the keys to her success.

Looking back on our partnership at DIRECTV, I am impressed with the numerous initiatives and projects we worked on. From the beginning, Jean has been a major contributor to our success. Many of the procedures and processes are still in use. Jean is a quick study, and is capable of multi-tasking and sharing her knowledge with her peers.

Jean's skill set includes strength in operations and technical coordination, backed up by outstanding leadership abilities. I have appreciated her support of our culture and active participation in many of our site wide teams.

I have no doubt that your organization would benefit from Jean's experience and skills and I would not hesitate to recommend Jean to you. She will be a valuable member of your Team.

Please feel free to contact me directly for more specific details. I wish you well in your efforts.

Sincerely,

Donald L. Jones

5454 Garton Road Castle Rock, CO 80104-5454 Phone 303-***-**** Phone 303-***-****

A Unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation

Jean L. Saunders

TECHNICAL CONTENT WRITER, EDITOR, & DOCUMENT SPECIALIST

(Active Secret Clearance)

Technically-adept and Highly Productive: Contributed to multiple proprietary project Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) Teams; Invited to be on a team of eight Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) that wrote, tested, and edited over 150 technical Digital Broadcast System (DBS) Operations User and Operator Reference Manuals, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Operating Instructions (OI), and Quick Reference (QR) Guides

Reliable, Consistent, and Dedicated: Regularly meets deadlines; Frequently sought for assistance with critical client and customer-facing project infrastructures and intricate details; Love to work and goal-focused at all times; Open and willing to accept: change, new ideas, avenues, suggestions, corrections, insertions, deletions, interruptions, postponements, and last minute updates with professionalism, courage, curiosity, understanding and applied knowledge, and the propensity to think objectively, analytically, technically, critically, quickly, and decisively while maintaining a positive attitude and the willingness to learn from and laugh at my mistakes

Diversified, Responsible, and Internally-motivated: Possess strong, practiced communication skills; Desire to establish excellent rapport with clients and customers, engineers, technicians, vendors, investors and shareholders, executives, supervisors, team members, and co-workers; Appreciate receiving detailed, precise work and Project Management assignments; Enjoy engaging in projects that are often considered ‘too difficult’; Resourceful, insightful, intuitive, and inventive; Crave hard, constant work and creative, productive thought

Government Directed and Company-focused: Performed detailed analyses of Government procurement and solicitation documents as a Proposal Support Specialist (Analyses included: reading, outlining, breaking-down, interpreting, researching, writing, editing, and coordinating responses to Requests for Information [RFIs], Requests for Quotes [RFQs], and final Requests for Proposals [RFPs]); Checked final proposal document references, links, flow, and continuity; Researched cited companies’ trademark, service mark, registered mark, and copyright usage guidelines and related laws (for print and media); Assisted with compliance verification for Government documentation before proposal submissions; Skilled in understanding, explaining, simplifying, and working with Government terminology; Steadfast in complying with all laws and Government regulations; Firm adherence to all company-specific procedures, policies, rules, requirements, and requests

Completed Client and Customer, Task Force, and Team-Building Classes: ‘Putting Clients First’; ‘Psychological Elements Behind Giving Clients What They Want, Expect, & Deserve’; ‘Ensuring Client Satisfaction through Intelligent Interactions’; ‘Earning Repeat Business – Again & Again’; Several management classes focused on ‘The Strategy Required: An Executive’s Guide to Using Analytical Skills to Build Effective, Efficient, and Empowered Teams for Contracting and Successful Project Management’

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ACCOLADES, AND SKILL HIGHLIGHTS

Excellence in Writing Award from Jacobs Technology/Jacobs Engineering on the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Cheyenne Mountain Complex (NCMC) - Integrated Tactical Warning/Attack Assessment (ITW/AA) and Space Support Contract II (NISSC II)

PARSQUEST©—An ‘Original and Technical RDT&E Training Tool’—Invented, researched, wrote, and produced an RDT&E Training Tool sourced from the Playback and Record Systems (PARS) Automation department at DIRECTV®—Created and designed to: Teach, review, reinforce, and enhance the knowledge, response speed, and accuracy of technical experts learning and applying complex, digital broadcast theory, concepts, and practices; Provide critical information on signal routing and repairs; Programming; Signal coding and security; Analog/digital system integration; Signal monitoring; Risk Discovery, Escalation, Mitigation, Analysis and Prevention. Taught and reviewed: Essential, time-constrained processes and critical, DBS operations; Signal processing procedures; Provided a ‘SAFE’ environment to discuss ‘What if?’ and ‘Best and Worst Decision/Case Scenarios’; Heightened Situational Awareness through back-up and off-line system failures/recovery simulations featuring ‘daily operations’ files where ‘problems’ were introduced by SMEs to exercise, refresh, test, and/or redirect an operator’s understanding of a situation; Reinforced mandatory procedure and process adherence; Reduced number of procedure deviations; Helped maintain DIRECTV’s average On-air Availability at a consistent 99.9%; Discussed new equipment, features, functions, tasks, responsibilities, computer systems, programs, processes, and procedures being ‘beta-tested’ or implemented. Key Features: Easily adaptable for any procedure/process-reliant department or technical environment for equipment familiarization, to establish training requirements, to identify cross-functional needs, or review Risk Management strategies

Received one of two EXCELLENT Review Ratings awarded by DIRECTV (Castle Rock, CO) for inventing PARSQUEST. The Training Tool trained operators at several DIRECTV locations around the world.

Wrote 40+ promos for “Hollywood Blockbusters” that premiered on DIRECTV

Wrote a MasterCard® commercial for KVOD FM Radio in Denver, Colorado using an ‘Original Beach Concept’

Performed Document Control functions for the archived Broadcast Operations Control (BOC) department’s library

Reviewed materials in BOC’s document library and updated and ensured data, drawings, flowcharts, figures, information, and instructions were accurate, timely, and included product enhancements, changes, and new features while researching, writing or rewriting, and replacing outdated and/or incorrect information

Became ‘Unofficial’ training program writer, designer, developer, coordinator, mentor, and trainer for all operator levels (from New hires to Sr. Operations Managers) in the BOC department

Performed extensive Risk Management functions including: Error Monitoring, Tracking, and Logging; Problem Discovery, Mitigation, and Escalation; Error Reporting and Client/Customer Notification; Anomaly or Serial, Equipment and System Problem Source Identification; Tactical Troubleshooting and Problem Resolution/Recovery; Data Analysis, and Host File Debugging. Additional Error Prevention procedures included: Documenting film, tape, transmission, atmospheric, environmental, source, vendor, systemic, and/or equipment-based anomalies that affected digital signal transmissions and satellite access processing systems which would affect home viewers/customers at a rate of 28-30 frames-per-second (FPS)

WORK EXPERIENCE

Jacobs Technology/Jacobs Engineering, Colorado Springs, Colorado (October 2020 – Present)

Deputy Content Writer, Lead Technical Manual Writer; Technical Writer, Shared Services, Sustainment, NISSC II

United Services Automobile Association (USAA), Colorado Springs, Colorado (January 2020 – October 2020)

New Member Acquisitions (NMA) Fully-licensed Insurance Agent

Allied Universal Security (AUS) Services, Thornton, Colorado (August 2018 – January 2020)

Badging Administrator, Corporate Security Operations Center (CSOC) Operator and Officer – Contracted to Avaya Communication’s Global Command Center (Operations and Control)

Aapex Legal Services, Longmont, Colorado (February – July 2018)

Administrative Assistant – Wrote sales estimates and invoiced clients; proof-read and edited original court transcripts; and performed administrative duties such as filing, scheduling, documenting, organizing, researching, and verifying audio integrity for transcribers; corresponded and followed up with invoiced clients

IBM/Kelly Services, Boulder, Colorado (April 2017 – March 2018)

Sensitive Security Clearance with the United States Postal Service (USPS)/Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Commissary Advanced Resale Transaction System (CARTS) – Tier 1 Help Desk Support - Contractor

HX5, LLC., Fort Walton Beach, Florida (May 2014 – September 2016) – HX5 is a Privately-owned Defense & Aerospace Company Providing Research & Development (R&D), Engineering, & Technical Services to the U.S. Government – Proposal Support Specialist – Performed Government RFP Draft & Final document research; Writing; Editing; Proof-reading; Web, archive, & database research; Assisted with document version control & maintenance in Microsoft® SharePoint®; Learned, designed, & built Customer Relationship Management (CRM) End-user Business Development (BD)/Proposal Department pages & databases for Opportunity / Proposal Progress Tracking using Deltek® GovWin® Capture Management® (CM) Software As A Service (SaaS); Created, designed, & built: The HX5 Past Performance Database (HX5 PPDb) using Microsoft SharePoint. The HX5 PPDb, sorts complex Company Proprietary data relevant to past & current contract fulfillment facts & statistics. This information is essential for writing Past Performance & Historical sections of formal Government proposals.

Courtyard Plaza Cafe, Everett, Washington (February – March 2014) – Writer; Barista; Cashier

Olympic Security Services Incorporated, Everett, Washington (June 2013 – January 2014)

Snohomish County Courthouse – Security Control Officer; Control Room Operator

Ultra Diamonds, Castle Rock, Colorado (October 2010 – September 2011) and (February – March 2005)

Manager-in-Training; Sales Associate

McGraw-Hill/Kelly Services, Greenwood Village, Colorado (March – April 2009) and (October – December 2008)

Test Evaluator - Contractor

America Online (AOL), Albuquerque, New Mexico (September 2005 - August 2006) -

Call Center – Live Customer Technical Support

DIRECTV, Castle Rock, Colorado (August 1994 - April 2003)

Digital Satellite Broadcast Operator; CONUS/OCONUS; Broadcast Operations Control Research, Development, Test, & Evaluation (RDT&E) Technician/Automation Specialist in Playback & Record Systems; Technical Writer & Editor; Document Control Specialist; Training Developer & Designer; Broadcast Operations Inventor, Mentor, & Coordinator; Sports Operator

WAJC FM 104.5, Indianapolis, Indiana (May 1991 - January 1993)

Membership Manager; Continuity Director; On-Air Personality; Fund Drive Volunteer

Dr. Grace Farrell, Indianapolis, Indiana (January 1992 - May 1993)

Writing Research Assistant

WFYI Channel 20/FM 90, Indianapolis, Indiana (May 1990 - May 1991)

Membership Assistant; Programming Internship; Fund Drive Production Volunteer

EDUCATION

Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana (1993) – Bachelor of Science in Communications

PERSONAL WRITING EXPERIENCE

Transparent Memories of a Future Unknown©2017– Medical/Sci-Fi Thriller – In Progress

Winter Whispers©2010 – Romantic Thriller/FBI Novel – Final Edit – 78,000 Words

Splintered Silhouette©1998 – Romantic Suspense/FBI Novel – COMPLETE – 95,000 Words

VOLUNTEER/501(c)3 INVOLVEMENT

Good Fox Birdie Haven, a 501(c)3 Organization, Algona, Washington (April – November 2013)

Copy Writer; Editor – Informational Brochures, Pamphlets, and Signature Items – Original Content

Palomacy Pigeon & Dove Rescue (formerly: MickaCoo Dove and Pigeon Rescue), a 501(c)3 Organization, San Francisco, California (July – August 2012)

Copy Writer; Editor; Concept Developer – Online Artist Advertising, Brochures, Letters, and Contests – Original Content



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