Technical Writer

CAREER OBJECTIVE

Obtaining a responsible and challenging position where my education and work experience would have valuable application.

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA

Bachelor of Arts, 1994

Triple Major: Communication, Literature, and Writing

RELEVANT SKILLS

Copy Editing

Marketing Communications

Online Help Design

Page Design

Project Management

Proofreading

Publications Management

Visual Design

Writing

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

DOCUMENTATION SPECIALIST

Nielsen Media Research (Dept: Field Training), April 2005 – current, Oldsmar, Florida

-- Actively worked with various departments to develop procedures for installation of metering hardware and software and to create reference documentation for Field Representatives.

-- Chaired a committee to determine Dress and Appearance Guidelines for Field Operations and authored those guidelines as determined by the committee.

-- Updated the Field Operations Standard Operating Procedures documentation on a quarterly basis.

-- Authored and distributed various field alerts to Field Representatives.

TECHNICAL WRITER

Nielsen Media Research (Dept: UMI Engineering), June 2004 – April 2005, Oldsmar, Florida

-- Worked with users to define needs and develop troubleshooting procedures. Worked with software engineers to gather information on updates to existing tools and tools in development.

-- Updated reference guides and HTML-based help for Web-based tools used to monitor television viewing and the status of and issues with in-home metering equipment.

-- Reviewed and edited reference guides for installation of in-home metering equipment.

-- Updated context-sensitive online help for configuring and monitoring the collection of reference data.

-- Developed a plan and created Web pages to consolidate information on time and its effects on the data collection process for the department intranet. Created new pages using a template and updated existing Web pages.

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATOR

LEAP Software, Inc., May 2002 – June 2004, Tampa, Florida

-- Prepared and maintained user manuals and online help for structural engineering software programs.

-- Authored a proposal for releasing user manuals in a PDF format, which was accepted and implemented in 2003.

-- Created, authored, and distributed various e-mail bulletins to customers, including a semi-monthly newsletter.

-- Reviewed and edited various company documents, including marketing materials and project proposals.

-- Prepared and maintained course training manuals and related materials.

-- Established style standards for external company documentation.

-- Created self-running demos for software applications.

-- Coordinated with vendors, such as printers and graphic artists, to produce final documentation.

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATOR

PricewaterhouseCoopers, December 2000 – June 2001, Tampa, Florida

-- Managed the communications process, including researching, authoring, and distributing internal communications.

-- Organized communications plans, calendars, intranet, and related materials for special projects.

-- Authored user guides for internal systems.

-- Created an organized list of all communications and related information, including an inventory of communications databases.

TECHNICAL WRITER (CONSULTANT)

VeriFone, April 2000 – December 2000, Clearwater, Florida

-- Researched and updated reference manuals for point-of-sale hardware and software.

-- Researched, authored, and edited software release notes.

-- Archived software applications and release notes on BBS and intranet.

-- Researched, authored, and edited bulletins documenting new hardware.

-- Created and maintained a software application end-of-life cycle database.

-- Edited department style guides and procedural manuals.

-- Archived and maintained software and specifications libraries.

TECHNICAL WRITER

Bisk-Totaltape Publishing, August 1998 – December 1999, Tampa, Florida

-- Designed and authored online help systems for various products.

-- Communicated with senior developers and product managers to ensure the accuracy of the technical documentation.

-- Established documentation standards for help systems and other content development projects.

-- Provided internal expertise and training for using various documentation technology tools.

-- Supervised and delegated assignments among the content development team.

-- Worked with software developers to ensure that product design was intuitive to the end user.

-- Streamlined the process for formatting and converting continuing education courses to software and online product versions.

-- Converted and edited HTML source code for online continuing education courses.

-- Formatted, compiled, and tested continuing education course software.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Framemaker

Adobe PhotoShop

Macromedia HomeSite

HTML

Lotus Notes

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Visio

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe

Paint Shop Pro

RoboHelp

SnagIt

AFFILIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES

-- Layout Editor, Canine Capers Newsletter, Imperial Polk Obedience Club, 2007 – current

-- Coordinator, Nielsen Media Research – Technical Communicators’ Forum, 2006 – current

-- Senior Member, Society for Technical Communication (STC), Suncoast chapter, 1998 – current

-- Board Member (Alternate) / 2008 Obedience Trial Chairperson, Central Florida Yorkshire Terrier Club, 2007 – current

-- Agility Trial Chairperson, Imperial Polk Obedience Club, 2007 – current

-- Co-Editor, WriteUp, STC Suncoast chapter newsletter, 2001 – 2002

-- Editor, The Acorn Times, homeowner association newsletter, 2001 – 2002

-- Judge for Online Publications, Florida Technical Communication Competition (FTCC), 2001

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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