When your operating costs are out of control and cutting your documentation team seems to be a good option, call me for an outsourcing quote. With a wide range of writing, editing, and document development skills acquired from solid solo and collaborative experiences in fast-paced high-tech environments, I produce results quickly with unequalled quality.

As an award-winning professional with formal education in optical, electrical, and biomedical engineering; and project management, I can meet your documentation and training needs while achieving your cost-reduction goals.
 

Achievements

• Author of 17 eBooks covering various DIY subjects including energy conservation, wind and solar technologies, gardening, self-help, high-end audio, and works of fiction and non-fiction
• Transitioned Bell Laboratories from pens and pencils to a globally integrated desktop publishing organization
• Designed and implemented state-of-the-art multi-media training facility
• Produced effective materials that improved productivity and lowered operating costs
• Created revenue streams and business partnering opportunities with documentation solutions

  eBooks  

  Accomplishments  

  Work History  

  Education  

  Affiliations  

  Online Samples  

  Tools  

Information and Training Development

• Led documentation, training, and IT organizations consistently meeting deadlines, budgets, and expectations

• Served as a senior writer, editor, and information developer for software and hardware development environments

• Designed, developed, edited, and maintained end-user and internal-support documents for both electronic and paper distribution (user guides, programmer references, operations manuals, administration guides, installation and maintenance manuals, troubleshooting guides, requirements documents, and release notes)

• Developed training programs and materials (student and instructor manuals, quick-reference cards, multi-media presentations, and course descriptions)

• Performed needs and audience analysis, estimated projects, developed publication plans and schedules, negotiated deliverables, selected publications tools and vendors

Web Site Development

• Produced online troubleshooting guide for multi-product technical support

• Designed, developed and produced corporate websites and e-commerce pages

• Developed keyword strategies and page-optimization techniques

• Performed competitive analysis, usability critiques, and web-trend reports

• Experienced with various web-design tools, WYSIWYG page generators, and graphics applications as well as hand-coding HTML files

Corporate Branding

• Led team for deciding new corporate identity, naming, image, and logo

• Negotiated decisions across sales, technical, and managerial teams

• Managed graphics, packaging, printer, legal, and production teams

• Produced electronic templates, paper designs, web results, advertising standards

Project Management

• Served as project manager that moved a publications organization and IT support group to a new location

• Led field testing of newly-developed procedures and tracked results

• Spearheaded software-platform transition from MS Word to FrameMaker for 120-member publications team

• Transitioned paper distribution operation to professional electronic publishing operation

• Managed standard-terminology team and developed centralized, web-based corporate access system

• Represented product publications on project teams and product steering committees

Process Improvement

• Managed and documented corporate auditing methods used in pre-IPO exercises

• Designed and implemented workflow and task execution procedures in manufacturing and testing operations that resulted in higher Quality Assurance acceptance rates and increased product yield

• Initiated, tracked, and managed bug/change order requests

• Served on corporate standards committees for technical reviews, online help, archiving, and production

• Created automated tools, standardized forms, correspondence templates, style guides, and terminology that reduced development time and streamlined workflow for team members

• Developed and documented process flows for writers, illustrators, and production members

Work History

Author, Grasslands Publishing, Brooksville, FL 34613
(7/09 to present)
In response to my personal concern about climate change, I developed a series of eBooks to help reduce your carbon footprint while helping you save money.  From the encouragement of my own higher consciousness, I wrote self-help works aimed at helping you to do the same and explaining what it takes to follow through on a long-term commitment.  And from my love of gardening, I created several guides to help you become a better first-time gardener.

Documentation Consultant, Premium Leisure, St. Petersburg, FL 33714
(7/09 to 7/09)
Developed user manual suite for flagship product line.

Training Consultant, Health Integrated, Tampa, FL 33618
(4/09 to 4/09)
Prepared training materials introduction for proprietary in-house software application (three week rush project).  Developed work-flow processes, procedures, training templates, standards, and materials.

Training Manager, Living Water Products, Clearwater, FL 33760
(5/08 to 12/08)
Transitioned corporate name and branding from Gulf Coast Spas to Living Water Products. Prepared new dealer and technician training courses including manuals, training seminars, presentations, and supporting materials. Created company-wide policies and procedures, templates, standards, and processes.

Senior Technical Writer, Gulf Coast Spas, Clearwater, FL 33760
(2/06 to 5/08)
Developed online troubleshooting guide, user manuals, ISO documentation, and product information. Assimilated historical literature, product warranties, and corporate policies. Produced business-partnering opportunities. Integrated documentation, training, and technical support strategies. Delivered CD-ROM instructional and training programs, and quality marketing materials.

Web Developer, Grasslands Corporation, Brooksville, FL 34613
(1/05 to 01/06)
Created web site and e-commerce pages, unified online model, corporate image, and sustaining documentation.

Consultant, Professional Technical Systems, Inc. (E-clips Energy), St. Petersburg, FL 33714
(5/04 to 1/05)
Focused corporate directions and unified individual efforts. Assisted in pre-IPO organization and sales and installation training plans. Created sales and technical specification documents, patent applications, product descriptions, and newsletters.

Information Developer, Energy Automation Systems, Inc., Hendersonville, TN 37075
(9/01 to 10/03)
Managed documentation, training, and IT organizations. Created training plans, manuals, unified corporate branding, produced sustaining documentation, and inspired teamwork and cooperation. Designed and implemented 80-seat state-or-the-art multimedia classroom.

Project Manager, Lucent Technologies, Denver, CO 80234
(4/00 to 5/01)
Migrated software development team, test laboratories, infrastructure, and support organizations to new physical location (high visibility). Received corporate recognition for driving overall project success.

Senior Editor, Bell Telephone Laboratories, Denver, CO 80234
(3/93to 4/00)
Transitioned documentation from pens and pencils to a globally-integrated desktop publishing organization. Wrote, edited, and tested end-user documentation. Created and conducted end-user classes and training materials.

Education

Steven's Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey
Master's Certification in Project Management, May 1999

Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Associates of Science, Electrical Engineering Technology, May 1974
Associates of Science, Biomedical Engineering Technology, May 1974

Affiliations

1996 - Present: Alumnus,  Oklahoma State University
2005 - Present: Member, Society for Technical Communication
2005 - Present: Member, IEEE
2005 - Present: Member, Salvador Dali Museum
2005 - Present: Member, St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts
1998-99: Member, Board of Directors, Arts Alive, Conifer, Colorado

Recognition

Award of Merit, Florida Technical Communication Competition, Owner's Manuals, 2008
Award of Excellence, Florida Technical Communication Competition, Owner's Manuals, 2007
Award of Excellence, Florida Technical Communication Competition, User Documentation, 2007
Award of Excellence, Florida Technical Communication Competition, Technical Publications, 2006
Award of Merit, Florida Technical Communication Competition, Online Communications, 2006
Award of Achievement, Society of Technical Communicators, Software User Manuals, 1987
Lucent President’s Award of Excellence for Project Management, 2001
Bravo Award, 1998, Controlled English team

Community Activities

2011 - present: Chairperson, Brookridge Astronomy Club

2009 - Native American Traditions, College of Metaphysical Studies, St. Petersburg, Florida
2009 - Native American Traditions, Chinsegut Hill Conference Center, Brooksville, Floridaa
2005 - Present: Volunteer for the Good Life Games, St. Petersburg, Florida
2005 - Present: Volunteer Reiki therapist, John Knox Village, Tampa, Florida
1998-2000: Volunteer astronomer's assistant, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado

Military

Proudly served in the USAF from 1967 to 1971, 443rd MAW, Vietnam-era Veteran, Top Secret security clearance (inactive), SSGT, Honorable Discharge. C5A Assistant Crew Chief and Flight Line Shift Supervisor.

Online Samples

Marketing

• Luxury Series Spa Brochure, Gulf Coast Spas, 2nd place 2006 FTCC

• Sales Brochure, tri-fold, PTS Energy, 2004

• Technical Data Sheet (high resolution 32Mb), Energy Automation Systems, Inc., 2003

Technical

• Sterling Owner's Manual, Premium Leisure Spas, 2009

• La-Z-Boy Owner's Manual, Gulf Coast Spas, 2nd place 2007 FTCC

• Removal and Replacement Procedures, Gulf Coast Spas, 2006

• Installation Instructions, Grasslands Corporation, 2005

Training

• Basic Training Guide, Health Integrated, 2009

• Troubleshooting Guide, Gulf Coast Spas, 3rd place 2006 FTCC

• Basic Astronomy, 2005, How to Select a Telescope, prepared with Lectora Professional

Websitess

• Divine Giggle, 2007

• Grasslands Corporation, 2005

Miscellaneous

• Technical Communication Manager, Contributing Editor, 2006-2008

• Freelance astronomy article, Astronomy Digest, February 2000, (cover story), also appeared in Amateur Astronomer Magazine, Issue 23, 1999, and Zenit Magazine, 1999

• Newsletter Contributor, Energy Automation Systems, Inc. January 2004

• Motorcycle Modifications, Part 1 and Part 2, Honda V-4 Oil System Modifications, 1993

• PZM Modifications, Microphone Modification and Recording Techniques, 1988