OVERVIEW

Senior-level technical publications professional who engages business, technology, technical, and writing skills developed during a 16-year career in technology and documentation.

SKILLS SUMMARY Hands-on project management Technical versatility Design and delivery of technical documentation and web sites Writing and editing proposals, technical and API documentation, training materials, web content, etc. User interface design; graphic design and layout Training development and presentations Client communications, SME communication Troubleshooting, debugging, and testing web pages, online help files, software products, etc. Database design technologies and electronic publishing; research and online searching Languages: French, German; other language basics

TECHNICAL SUMMARY Acrobat, PageMaker, FrameMaker, PhotoShop, PaintShop RoboHELP, RoboHTML Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, etc.) Network Attached Storage (NAS) Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) and wireless technologies HTML, Active Server Pages, VBScript, and JavaScript Visual InterDev, HotMetal PRO, FrontPage, UltraEdit Familiarity with XML, C++, Visual Basic, programming languages Web browsers Search engines & search syntax Windows; UNIX, VAX, mainframes; Macintosh; DOS

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

TECHNICAL WRITING CONSULTANT

Hewlett-Packard, Marlborough, MA	2006-PRESENT
Design and perform usability testing for key internal and partner support web site in the StorageWorks Division Total Customer Experience group. Write online help and page content for redesigned web site. Maintain and upgrade existing web site documents and pages during transition period. Work with developers and subject matter experts to address concerns and enhancements in a timely fashion.
Sun Microsystems, Burlington, MA	2004-2006
Lead writer for Network Attached Storage (NAS) hardware and software documentation set for two years. Managed and wrote documentation for a complex, multi-faceted product with overlapping release versions. Maintained in-depth knowledge of product design and development process. Interfaced with variety of subject matter experts, technical support, and production engineers. Prioritized and responded to continuously changing requirements and engineering modifications. Oversaw work assignments and provided editorial input for writing and artwork contractors. Worked with project team and developers to address technical and scheduling issues. Conducted review meetings. Participated in numerous meetings weekly. Implemented large-scale update process for 600+ hardcopy pages and web-based online help.

LITIGATION & REAL ESTATE PARALEGAL

Law Offices of Pressman & Kruskal, Cambridge, MA	2003-2004
Law Firm of Avrin & Regolsky, Boston, MA	2002-2003
Responsible for complete real estate closing packages and all related contacts, research, data, and document preparation for up to 15 residential purchase and refinance closings weekly. Provided technical computer support. Interfaced extensively with clients, lenders, and attorneys. Drafted affidavits, answers to oppositions’ claims, wills, adoptions, and correspondence. Indexed depositions. Reviewed and summarized documents for childhood lead paint poisoning cases.

SELF-EMPLOYED WRITING & WEB DESIGN CONSULTANT

Aether Systems Mobile Government Division, Marlborough, MA	2000-2002
New England School of Acupuncture, Watertown, MA	2000, 2004
Electro-Magnetic Solutions, Framingham, MA	1999-2000
Documented API for wireless applications in law enforcement and safety. Worked with engineering, quality assurance, and customer support departments to develop products and documentation, including training materials, online help, user guides, functional specifications, and test plans. Wrote online help and user guides. Sole writer supporting multiple products and projects. Designed, created graphics, and delivered complete research library web site for New England School of Acupuncture. Documented medical devices and managed IT, document, and research support at conferences and law firms.

WEB/DOCUMENTATION SPECIALIST & MANAGER

SilverPlatter Information, Norwood, MA

1993-1999

Designed intensive three-day API training program enabling business partners to learn and use SilverPlatter database development technology to develop their own compatible database products. Involved with product definition and business negotiations with partners. Created and maintained partner support web site and training materials. Provided training in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Managed, redesigned, and debugged user interface for new web retrieval product with initial offering of 30 million records. Quickly turned prototype into ready-for-market version. Reworked complex and cumbersome file structure of more than 700 files into tighter, more maintainable system. Worked with software engineers and prioritized and negotiated UI changes with marketing staff. Managed other writers and user interface developers. Provided technical advice and support on in-house technology. Managed, designed, and created SilverPlatter Year 2000 Web Site. Prepared detailed marketing proposals, documenting large research system solutions for academic and library consortia according to RFP requirements. Worked closely with marketing and sales departments to coordinate all elements of proposals that ranged from 10-90 pages. Worked with over 200 database products, searching, testing, and writing about databases and retrieval software. Wrote manuals, quick reference guides, and online help.

TECHNICAL WRITER/COURSE DEVELOPER

Computer Associates, Westwood, MA	1990-1993
Wrote user guides, online help, and technical manuals for mainframe manufacturing and financials applications, database query applications, and graphics packages. Trained other writers in using graphics and indexing. Edited client newsletters. Developed writing standards for online help, indexing, and PC documentation.

EDUCATION

Women's Technical Institute, Boston, MA, 1989-1990

Technical Writing Certificate program.

University of Essex, Colchester, England, 1985-1987

B.A. Sociology with Honors.

Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, 1983-1985

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Writing workshops, including Taos, NM, Brookline Community & Adult Education, Boston Center for Adult Education, Grub Street Writers, Newton Community Education (2000-2006)
• Calculus classes, MassBay Community College (2004)
• Intermediate German and German Conversation courses, Goethe Institute (2001)
• Hands-On Visual InterDev course, Learning Tree International (1999)
• Display of Visual Information seminar, Edward Tufte (1999)
• Techniques for Successful Presentations workshop, The Focus Group (1998)
• Advanced HTML, Intermediate Photoshop, Interface Design for the Web, and Web Site Strategy workshops, Interactive Factory (1997)
• Graphic Design classes, Massachusetts College of Art (1995-1997)
• Designing & Developing Effective Training seminar, Boston University Center for Management Development (1994)

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Society for Technical Communication, Senior Member

Northeast Business Trust, Member