Resume
If you would like to review a more formal resume, here you go.
Skilled Senior-Level Writer, Editor, and Nonfiction Expert
I’ve spent my career developing the skills to support a wide range of writing, editing, and training projects. My 20+ years of experience includes book editing and design, technical writing, technical editing, training development, content marketing writing, website design, strategic planning, proposal writing, social media planning, and marketing communications.
Qualifications Summary
- Excellent writing and editing skills supporting many types of highly technical projects
- Innovative thinker known for coming up with technical solutions that save time, money, and resources that lead to quality documentation and training materials
- Skilled at leading teams to plan and edit technical documentation, marketing materials, white papers, presentations, and training materials
- Ability to learn complex technologies quickly and edit documents to ensure appropriate content.
Technical Writing and Editing Experience
- Research, design, write, and edit numerous types of technical documents, including reference guides, user guides, training materials, online help, release notes, online courses, work instructions, standard operating procedures, overview documents, and technical reports
- Write and edit detailed illustrated training instructions for complex software and equipment
- Effectively collaborate with engineers and product developers to create and edit documentation
- Take part in the entire life cycle of a project, including managing teams, preparing schedules, conducting research, writing content, performing developmental editing, proofreading, printing, and distribution
- Create graphics in many formats for print and online use
Marketing and Nonprofit Writing and Editing Experience
- Design, write, edit, and produce marketing literature, video scripts, speeches, email blasts, newsletters, magazine articles, books, ebooks, white papers, blog posts, press releases, direct mail campaigns, and other materials
- Create and maintain websites and social media sites using SEO techniques
- Develop consistent branding and implement throughout all marketing literature, web design, trade show materials, and other business collateral
- Coordinate all aspects of trade shows, including designing booths, creating marketing materials, scheduling personnel, and writing talking points
Skills
- Configuration management and document control via software applications such as SharePoint
- Clear, efficient communication with teammates, technical staff, and customers
- Writing and editing skills applicable to a variety of industries: IT, cybersecurity, network security, manufacturing, telecommunications, biotechnology, architectural design, engineering, design visualization, and computer simulation
- Extensive experience working with many documentation tools and processes, including Microsoft Office, InDesign, Camtasia, Google Workspace, FrameMaker, Adobe Creative Suite, HTML, Confluence, Jira, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, RoboHelp, milSuite, ArcGIS, AutoCAD, WordPress CMS, plus many others
- Interpersonal skills for forming excellent working relationships and mentoring other writers and editors
Relevant Work Experience
I have extensive writing, editing, and consulting experience developing and editing technical documentation, training materials, employee communications, government proposals, and websites.
Freelance Writer/Editor & Communications Consultant (2010–present)
I work with a variety of corporate, government consulting, nonprofit, and individual clients writing and editing a range of communications materials, including nonfiction books, technical documentation, government proposals, marketing materials, white papers, and employee communications.
Adtran: Senior Technical Writer/Editor (2023)
I research and write technical documentation for a wide variety of telecommunications hardware and software, including user guides, quick start guides, release notes, configuration guides, installation/upgrade guides, and more. When I start each new project, I edit the existing document before adding updates. I use Jira and Confluence to track and document details of each project.
Tripoint Solutions: Technical Writer/Training Developer (2020–2023)
This position started with a project to develop a week-long course to teach SQL programmers with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) how to create code and reports for interconnected and complex database systems that track and analyze data. I developed PowerPoint course content, worked with SQL programmers to develop technical examples, edited all the content and handouts, and coordinated the week-long class. The course received high ratings. I currently coordinate writing and editing content for ten technical user manuals (one is 750 pages long) for the USACE Real Estate Management Program and over 60 shorter technical documents. In addition, I spearheaded the effort to create over 20 self-paced online courses covering different real estate software tasks, and currently serve as the online training coordinator and content editor. I also coordinate document distribution to our customers via SharePoint and other online sites.
Technical Proposal Writer (2000)
I analyzed requests for proposal from government agencies, worked with other companies to gather information to include in proposals, created templates in Microsoft Word, wrote proposal content, edited content from multiple contributors to achieve consistency and accuracy, coordinated reviews, conducted final edits, and submitted all proposal materials to government customers.
Total Solutions, Inc. (2019–2020)
I supported a variety of proposal projects, including writing content, proofreading, editing, and layout. I worked with corporate executives to design, write, and edit status reports, financial updates, and other contractual documentation to submit to government customers.
Carpenter Technology: Technical Writer/Quality Specialist (2017-2019)
I developed and wrote standard operating procedures (SOPs), job aids, compliance documentation, audit reports, Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (FMEA) materials, and training materials for a gas atomized metal powder furnace and associated equipment. I took part in internal and external ISO audits, developed formal responses, and tracked corrective actions. I trained new employees and worked with the training department to develop online training courses for technicians.
Qualis Corporation: Technical Writer/Communications Specialist (2007–2010)
I supported a NASA contract at Marshall Space Flight Center. I worked with SMEs to research, write, and edit operational work instructions for NASA’s Environmental Gas Lab and the Materials Combustion Research Facility. I supported NASA meetings, prepared meeting presentations, and prepared and edited technical reports. I also supported Qualis as a communications specialist and developed corporate branding, designed and maintained the corporate website, created ads, wrote press releases, produced the employee newsletter, wrote email blasts, designed HR materials, wrote corporate leadership profiles, coordinated trade shows, and designed all corporate marketing collateral. I supported many aspects of proposal work, including market research, writing, editing, and layout.
Adtran: Technical Writer (2003–2004)
I wrote user manuals and configuration guides for a variety of Adtran telecommunications hardware products. I wrote the installation guide and designed context-sensitive online help for a remote management software application. I also worked on the AOS Command Reference Guide that documents an extensive “command line interface” for telecommunications hardware.
Intergraph Corporation: Technical Writer/Trainer (2000–2003)
I wrote reference guides, tutorials, getting started documentation, multimedia training exercises, and context- sensitive online help for a suite of Air Force accounting software products and Oracle database applications. I also supported proposal writing projects.
Publications
My work has appeared in a variety of national publications, including Fine Gardening, Erosion Control, Pet Age, Kentucky Living, and more. I self-published the book Fern Cave in 2014. The book won a Benjamin Franklin Independent Publishing Award for interior design. My portfolio is available online on a shared Google drive.
Education
B.A. University of Alabama in Huntsville Major: History Minor: Technical Writing