Technical Writer - Telecommute

KAREN ALVESTON | *********@*****.***

Technical Writer / Instructional Designer / Training Developer

Quick, experienced technical writer focused on business needs; active TOP SECRET Clearance; specialty consultant as needed

Creative, accomplished technical writer and instructional design professional who specializes in writing intuitive, easy to understand documentation from highly technical content. 20+ years’ experience writing technical documentation and training materials for U.S. and international customers in a broad range of sectors (e.g. military, medical, homeland security, engineering, energy). Passionate about empowering learners to succeed using realistic, cost effective training approaches. Extensive experience designing, developing and implementing learning solutions with varied delivery methods, including classroom instruction, when necessary. Experienced project manager completing tasks quickly and cost effectively. Advanced Microsoft Office skills, excellent eye for detail, extremely organized self-directed skilled technical writer.

SPECIALIZED SKILLS

* Technical Writer of User and Maintenance Manuals, Technical Reports, Articles and White Papers

* Embedded System Help / Training Modules Author

* Functional System Tester, Test Script Writer

* E-learning Designer and Developer

* Instructor-led Training Developer / Instructor

* Business Development / Proposal, Brochure Writer

* Outstanding Collaboration Skills With Engineers, Graphic Designers and Other Technical Experts

* Ability to Respond Quickly to Multiple Tasking

* Technical Minded Quick Study

* Team Player, Consensus Builder

TOOLS

Microsoft® Office 2010

Adobe Acrobat X Pro

Adobe® Captivate® 5.5

MS Visio 2007

MS Publisher

Camtasia Studio 7.1

Adobe Presenter

Articulate Studio ‘09

Abode RoboHelp

PeopleSoft User Productivity Kit (UPK)

Cisco WebEx

IBM Rational Requisite Pro

IBM Rational ClearCase/ClearQuest

DataXchange

EMC Documentum eRoom

Lotus Notes

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION (SAIC), San Diego, CA Feb 1990 – Aug 2011

SAIC training professional with demonstrated success in Agile and traditional instructional design; highly recommended team leader with an extensive history of satisfied internal customers and external clients; skilled at identifying and prioritizing projects, analyzing business requirements, and collaboratively designing and developing user-centric training solutions; extremely skilled technical writer and presenter; successfully completed projects around the globe both on-site and remotely.

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER / ELEARNING DEVELOPER

As the only instructional designer on the project team, developed a CMMI® compliant eight-course curriculum of instructor-led and online learning for the chemical, radiological, biological, nuclear, explosives (CBRNE) Integrated Weapons of Mass Destruction Toolset (IWMDT) under contract to U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

* Propose, design and code online and distributed learning solutions, greatly reducing the training budget using Captivate, Camtasia and interactive online conferencing tools

* Author stand-alone desktop reference workbooks which double as classroom student guides

* Deliver a SME train-the-trainer program, allowing for cost effective skills transfer to technical learners

* Trained as a requirements analyst/tester in the software development lifecycle process

SYSTEM / SOFTWARE TESTER

Under task orders for the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) Unified System Manual (USM) Content Management Capability (CMC), develop test plans, use cases, and test scripts and conduct testing events to verify that software / hardware products meet over 200 contractual requirements.

* Develop acceptance checklists, evaluation matrices and final reports for customer delivery

USER REQUIREMENTS ANALYST

On task orders for SPAWAR, perform stakeholder identification and user and contract requirements elicitation and analysis for an emerging web-enabled software solution that provides the capability to develop XML technical documentation as well as serve as a repository for documentation pushed out to the fleet.

* Prepared and maintained functional requirements specification using Rational Requisite Pro

* Developed business process models using Microsoft Visio

* Customer approved and launched a new website based on my interactive, functional prototype

EMBEDDED ONLINE HELP DEVELOPER

Under contract to DTRA, develop context sensitive embedded online Help as well as online eLearning content for SAIC’s net centric IWMDT embedded online help system.

* Authored a quick and easy guide for software developers on how to contribute to online help authoring system

* Developed a RoboHelp eLearning module for new users accessible “just-in-time” through the embedded online Help

* Researched technical schematics and design specifications to author context sensitive embedded online Help files

HIGHLIGHTS OF PREVIOUS SAIC ASSIGNMENTS

BORDER SECURITY TRAINING

Developed the training capability and designed the core curriculum for the VACIS® cargo and vehicle inspection systems, Exploranium® radiation detection systems, the Integrated Container Information System (ICIS), and the RTR-4® portable digital x-ray systems in the US and overseas.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY TRAINING

Assigned to SAIC Cambridge, England to develop a European training capability; personally instructed 400+ law enforcement officers in VACIS® cargo and vehicle inspection systems, Exploranium® radiation detection systems, and the Exploranium® GR-135 Identifier. Performed functional system testing and served as customer demonstrator at all final acceptance testing (FAT) events. Developed customer tools such as FAT checklists, documentation, and job aids.

E-LEARNING

Authored eLearning modules using Adobe Captivate for the Security Forces Management Information System (SFMIS), which automates Air Force law enforcement/security functions.

CBT DEVELOPER / SUBCONTRACT MANAGER

Developed storyboards and interface design for an Authorware generated computer-based training (CBT) course; managed the subcontractor development team for an SAIC developed access control system to monitor and control all physical access to the JC Penney Home Office corporate headquarters.

ANTITERRORISM TRAINING

Developed several weapons and incident management courses for the U.S. Department of State’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Training Program (ATAP) to enhance antiterrorism skills and capabilities of foreign law enforcement agencies, strengthen ties between U.S. and friendly foreign governments, and increase respect for human rights.

COUNTERDRUG TRAINING

Training developer for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) JICC/Sentry Program, which established joint information-gathering centers located in 15 countries.

MILITARY/CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT

Provided training services to the California National Guard’s National Interagency Counterdrug Institute (NICI). Developed in-country case studies to teach senior level officials to plan joint operations. Served as Instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).

PROPOSAL WRITER

Direct contributor to six SAIC contract wins; participated in bid/no bid reviews, authored training solution sections, developed evaluation matrices, performed SAIC qualifications data mining, recruited key personnel, participated in corporate blue/green/gold/red team reviews, and delivered oral presentations for best and final offers.

TRAINING DEVELOPER / BUSINESS PROCESS ENGINEER

Re-engineered several functional business processes for Houlihan Lokey Howard and Zukin (HLHZ), an international investment banking firm; delivered role-based training solution for the enterprise-wide rollout of the SAIC developed Consolidated Information Management Systems (CIMS).

RADY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL-SAN DIEGO, 7930 Frost Street, San Diego, CA 2010 – 2011

ERP TRAINING CONSULTANT

Developed technical documentation for the hospital’s first ERP system, PeopleSoft 9.1, which included business process maps and overviews, classroom and e-learning training materials, quick reference guides and workshops. Created over 40 navigation and procedure documents, designed dozens of “show me” software simulations and classroom training modules, and developed 7 eLearning courses.

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY, School of Education, San Diego, CA 1997 – 1998

UNIVERSITY GUEST FACULTY

Developed a graduate school level project management course focused on managing the training function; instructed graduate students in the School of Education’s Educational Technology graduate program.

COURSEWARE ANDERSEN CONSULTING, San Diego, CA 1988 – 1990

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER

Developed a 5-day, multi-media network course for Apple Computer, Inc. as an on-site contractor at Apple headquarters.

EDUCATION

M.A. Instructional Design, Educational Technology, San Diego State University

B.A. Interpersonal and Public Communication/Marketing, Central Michigan University

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