Technical Writer

Technical Writing · Technical Editing · Graphics Design · Web Design · HTML Programming · Search Engine Optimization (SEO) · Search Engine Marketing · White Paper Composition · Marketing Communications · Online Help Text · Writing Tools Expert · PC Problem Resolution

A talented technical writer with many years’ experience working with computer, scientific, medical and financial products, policies and procedures, programming languages and APIs, hardware, and database products. Highly proficient with desktop publishing and online help text. Writes both technical manuals and promotional literature, and sets and maintains company writing and production standards. Extensive experience in many different contract environments. Managed project teams at several companies. Ability to adapt quickly to changing requirements.

Technical Writing Consultant                                                        May to August 2012

Cisco Systems

• Worked on a team repurposing a set of technical manuals for a newly targeted group, using XML editor XMetal in a DITA environment. Reformatted and rewrote procedural and conceptual manuals to slim down a complex feature set. Suggested changes in UI design.

Technical Writing Consultant                                                        June to Sept. 2011

Staples

• Managed a technical writing project for a team of developers. Evaluated many archived functional descriptions and specifications and managed priority items for technical documentation. Worked in the ESB (enterprise service bus) environment. Used Wiki technology to share documents and communicate with staff.
• Reformatted and rewrote selected functional descriptions and specifications, turning them into procedural documentation for internal and external clients. Guides included how-to procedural guides, architectural overviews, and installation guides.

Senior Technical Writer                                                       March 2004 through July 2010

Analog Devices, Inc.

A company specializing in data conversion and digital signal processors technology. Their Blackfin and SHARC products are used in industrial and medical equipment, wireless communications, automotive applications, and consumer electronics.

• Produced Getting Started with Blackfin Processors, an introductory manual about the Blackfin processor (the flagship product) and its accompanying software, which operates within both Windows and Linux. The manual is currently used by marketing and sales departments.
• Worked briefly with FrameMaker 10.0, in converting existing document set from version 9.0. Worked six years with FrameMaker SMGL, helping to define and implement structured elements with the team leader.
• Updated and edited the VisualDSP++ 5.0 C/C++ Compiler Manual for SHARC Processors and the VisualDSP++ 5.0 Run-Time Library Manual for SHARC Processors for system-level software developers. Both manuals provide information about configuring the SHARC processor for customized applications.
• Worked with cross-functional management teams to produce other documentation supporting specialized components of VisualDSP++, such as the VisualDSP++ 5.0 Assembler and Preprocessor Manual and the VisualDSP++ 4.5 Getting Started Guide.
• Produced help text for Blackfin and SHARC, using both RoboHelp and the Eclipse help environment.
• Wrote internal procedures for the technical writing department, which provided colleagues with tips and procedures that improved productivity. Designed and updated graphics to support documentation. Used Wiki technology to collaborate with developers and members of the documentation staff.
• Collaborated with software engineering to integrate and submit documentation files to the release builds using both the Visual SourceSafe and SVN Checkout/TortoiseSVN version control systems. Also used Microsoft SharePoint to share files among department members.

Technical Writing Consultant                                                                                1997–2004

Fidelity Marketing Communications

• Developed Web content for Fidelity’s Plan Sponsor Web site, using Dreamweaver.
• Developed documentation relating to FIRSCo’s marketing communications department, using Microsoft Word.
• Developed graphic support for the print documentation, using Visio.

Wellington Management Company LLP

• Developed Web content for the IS Manager’s Handbook, an internal guide to managers working in the Wellington Management Company’s Information Services department, using Dreamweaver.
• Developed graphic support for the site, using Visio.
• Edited HTML and DHTML code as needed.

Fidelity Capital Group

• Designed and implemented a Web site for Fidelity Capital users when they configured and gathered information about remote access, using Microsoft FrontPage.
• Provided all graphic support for the Web site, using Adobe Photoshop and Visio. Also edited HTML code.

Fidelity Marketing Information Group

• Worked on Web design, content, and implementation, as well as MS Access databases, to support Fidelity’s internal Marketing Information Group clients, using Microsoft FrontPage.
• Worked with ASP pages linked to the MS Access databases, using Visual SourceSafe for version control.

Cisco Systems

• Developed software documentation for the Cisco Network Registrar, a tool that allows network administrators to manage their IP address space, using Adobe FrameMaker.
• Worked on the Cisco Token Ring Switch User Guide and developed a method to convert the document from Microsoft Word to FrameMaker format.

Stop & Shop

• Provided hardware and software overviews of the company’s computer and network environment, using Lotus Domino Document Manager and Visio. This project provided new hires, consultants, and technical service trainees with the information they needed to get started.

Lotus Development Corporation

• Created documentation for the Lotus Domino Document Manager suite of products, which was designed to aid customers building custom Web sites.
• Wrote Lotus Notes help text for a strategic business partner application.
• Wrote a manual and help text for the CD Networker product.
• Other Clients

 

Christensen Computer Systems Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Hewlett-Packard Codex Corporation Itek Corporation MIT Boston Edison Polaroid Corporation BBN Communications Ennovate Networks WinData Thompson Financial Gould Modicon Raytheon Data Systems Dun & Bradstreet Software Harvard Business School International Business Center National Computer Systems FTP Software Funk Software Shiva Corporation Fidelity Systems Group Mentor Nashoba Networks Wang BGS Systems

Tools

Authoring: FrameMaker 10 (structured and non-structured), Acrobat CS5, Adobe Illustrator CS5, Adobe InDesign, Adobe PageMaker, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Interleaf, MS Powerpoint, MS Word, MS Visio, QuarkXPress, Lotus Notes, RoboHelp, RoboHTML, WebWorks, Windows Help Compiler, Eclipse help development, Snagit screen capture.

HTML tools: Dreamweaver CS5, Microsoft FrontPage, Macromedia Freelance, CSS style sheets.

Version control: Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, SVN Checkout/TortoiseSVN, XML.

Project management tools: Microsoft Excel, MS Access, MS Outlook, DITA.

Education

Bates College, A.B. in English & Journalism · Northeastern University, courses in Computer Science.