PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE

Freelance or contract position doing technical writing, website development, editing or proofreading.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

Experienced technical communicator with a bachelor's degree in English and over nine years experience researching, writing, and editing technical documentation for both technical and non-technical audiences. Excellent computer skills: I have worked with most major word processing, Web design, help authoring and graphics applications, including the entire Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe FrameMaker, Adobe RoboHelp, and multiple graphics programs. Fast learner who is extremely comfortable learning new software. Comfortable working on projects independently or as a member of a collaborative team.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Authoring/Graphics Tools

• Adobe FrameMaker and Adobe Acrobat
• Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Access, FrontPage, PowerPoint, and Publisher
• Adobe RoboHELP
• Visio
• Adobe Dreamweaver
• Paint Shop Pro
• Adobe Photoshop
• The GIMP

Operating Systems

• DOS
• Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP
• Macintosh

Programming Languages/Packages

• Programmed in FORTRAN, SPSS, SAS
• Coursework in Pascal, C, C++, Java, PHIGS

Web Design Skills

• Hand-coding of HTML
• CSS

DOCUMENTS AUTHORED

• Training and User guides
• Reference manuals
• Release notes
• Online help articles
• HTML Help and Web Help topics
• Technical e-mails
• Chat scripts
• Phone support documents
• E-mail support documents
• Internal newsletters
• Product overviews
• Marketing materials
• Standards/Procedures
• Splash Screens
• Websites

AUDIENCES

• GUI end-users
• Software developers
• Decision makers
• Academic administrators
• University students
• General public

INDUSTRIES

• Software
• Healthcare
• Health Insurance
• Publishing
• Academia
• Non-technical
• General

EXPERIENCE

Freelance Writer, Editor, and Web Designer

Tucson, AZ
December 2008 - present

Technical Writer

Misys Healthcare Systems, Inc.

Tucson, AZ
July 2006 - August 2007

NOTE In 2007, Misys Healthcare Systems, Inc., which had acquired Sunquest Information Systems, Inc. in 2001, sold its diagnostic systems business for which I had worked to a private equity firm, allowing that business to reform under its original name.

• Worked with development staff to develop, update, and edit technical documentation and online Help for multiple products, including PDA-based software used in clinical settings
• Updated technical documentation with current Framemaker templates
• Wrote content for technical documentation in response to change requests
• Edited content developed by other writers

Technical Writer

AOL, LLC (contract through TEKsystems, Inc.)

Tucson, AZ
Sep 2005 - May 2006

• Wrote content and edited technical support documents as a member of the New Development Knowledge Management team for distribution through multiple support channels
• Wrote content and edited phone support and online help articles, using a combination of Dreamweaver and hand-coding of HTML
• Developed and wrote content for internal use by the Knowledge Management team
• Developed and wrote content for HTML Help system training course
• Conducted training classes for technical writers and editors, and for knowledge engineers, on HTML Help system authoring

Editing/Marketing Intern

Rio Nuevo Publishers

Tucson, AZ
Jan 2005 - May 2005

• Wrote marketing copy
• Designed press kit
• Proofread texts, including poetry and cookbook
• Completed copyright submission applications

Production Analyst Documentation/Technical Communicator/Technical Writer

Healthtrio™, Monument Systems, Inc., Sunquest Information Systems, Inc.

Tucson, AZ
Aug 1996- Feb 2002

NOTE In 1998 Sunquest Information Systems, sold its product, Managed Care Manager, to Monument Systems, Inc. Given the option to migrate with the product, I became the sole technical communicator for Monument Systems, Inc., which became HealthTrio through merger in April 2000.

• Wrote end-user documentation of client/server and Web-based products, including training guides, reference manuals, and release notes for delivery in both hardcopy and electronic formats
• Wrote and produced client/server-based and Web-based help content
• Developed templates used for all user documentation
• Designed, created, and maintained a documentation status database, using Microsoft Access
• Designed, wrote content, published, and maintained an Intranet; local contact for off-site contractors developing an expanded Intranet project
• Wrote and published standards and procedures used by technical communication, quality control, and software development teams
• Performed system evaluation: reported software errors to quality control team, made recommendations regarding screen formatting and other features influencing user comprehension
• Wrote functional specifications based on participation in development meetings
• Edited and contributed copy to marketing materials
• Designed and created splash screens, CD-ROM labels, and case inserts for product and documentation distribution
• Recruited, interviewed, trained, and oversaw technical communication interns

Information Handler

US West Business Resources, Inc. (contract)

Tucson, AZ
May 1996 - Jul 1996

• Originated, designed, and created a document handling database, using FileMaker Pro for Mac
• Wrote user guide for internal use by non-technical personnel

Technical Support Correspondence Representative

Intuit (contract)

Tucson, AZ
Sep 1995 - April 1996

• Responded in writing to customer queries on program use and software conflicts for a personal tax program, including support of Windows 3.1 and Windows 95

Technical Publications Librarian

Lockheed Martin Aeromod Center

Tucson, AZ
Feb 1995 - Aug 1995

• Organized and maintained library of technical publications
• Designed, developed, and maintained Microsoft Access database of publications for the Engineering Department
• Designed and wrote training materials teaching aircraft mechanics how to use the technical library

Computer Programmer

IBM (temporary co-op position)

Tucson, AZ
Jun 1992 - Dec 1992

• Wrote mainframe database code, created sections as needed for larger program
• Alpha tested programs and composed bug reports

Computer Programmer

University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Computing Resources

San Antonio, TX
Jun 1981 - Jun 1982

• Edited and wrote expanded text of existing user manual for academic market, including non-computer literate students
• Edited and wrote copy for university administrative computer department bimonthly newsletter, including descriptions of new software, software upgrades, remote and mainframe access information
• Wrote computer programs as needed for university administration, including contributions to library and museum databases
• Wrote computer programs to perform statistical analysis of regional U.S. Census data to meet public and business needs

Survey Designer/Analyst

University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Financial Aid (work-study)

San Antonio, TX
May 1980 - May 1981

• Wrote content and designed layout of expense survey of university students per request of state legislature of Texas
• Wrote computer programs to perform statistical analysis of student expense survey

Computer Programmer

IBM (internship)

Tucson, AZ
May 1979 - Aug 1979

• Created and wrote statistical and mathematical functions as needed for insertion in program library

FREELANCE FICTION WRITING AND PROOFREADING

Published Work

• "Ship's Daughter" with Karl Grotegut, Space Pirates, Ed. David Lee Summer, August 2008
• "In a Tower High" Realms of Fantasy Magazine, April 2004

Proofreading

• Tread Lightly: Venomous and Poisonous Animals of the Southwest, Richard Wagner, Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2005
• Voice of the Borderlands, Drum Hadley, Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2005
• Santa Cruz Chili & Spice Co. Cookbook, Jean Neubauer, Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2005
• A Confederacy of the Dead, edited by Martin H. Greenberg, Edward E. Kramer, and Richard Gilliam, Roc, 1993
• Grails: Quests of the Dawn, edited by Richard Gilliam, Martin H. Greenberg, and Edward E. Kramer, Unnameable Press, 1992

EDUCATION

University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Bachelor of Arts, English Literature, May 2005
Magna Cum Laude, Overall GPA 3.836
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Member, 2005
Awarded Phi Beta Kappa Scholarship, 2004
Honorable Mention, Fall 2003

VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Red Ink Magazine

Tucson, AZ
2003 - 2004

• Editorial Board Member of student-run magazine

Society for Technical Communication

Tucson, AZ
2001 - 2002

• Southern Arizona Chapter Member
• Member of the Education Outreach Committee

Lindianne Sarno, musician

Tucson, AZ
2001 - 2002

• Designed, wrote content, and hand-coded HTML for website about the song Greensleeves

Cactus Cowboy Corral

Tucson, AZ
2000 - 2002

• Contributor and editor of newsletter for non-profit organization serving youth
• Filmed and digitally edited an audition tape of youth performers

Kino Learning Center

Tucson, AZ
1996 - 2000

• Originated, designed, and maintained a database of parent volunteers for coordination of volunteer activities
• Member of Parents Focus Group, wrote reports of meetings for distribution to the school community
• Member of Survey Group, developed questions in collaboration with other committee members, designed and developed survey questionnaire