Instructional Designer / Documentation Lead
April 2009 - Present
Dynamics Research Corporation
Documentation Lead for the SOMS project, a multi-year, multi-release complete overhaul of the information system that runs the California Department of Corrections.
Responsible for task analysis, outlining, and planning the user guide, online help, and job aids that will support the end user.
Designed the Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) that determines the look and feel for multiple platforms: Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word, and WebHelp (HTML help).
Content is authored in Madcap Software's Flare authoring system and screen captures in SnagIt and Capture.
Writer / Designer
December, 2006 – April 2009
Ars Longa, Folsom, CA
As a contract Technical Writer and Instructional Designer, successfully completed several writing and ID projects for several organizations. I've also designed and implemented numerous web sites. Projects include:
Instructional Designer for Professional Education Institute, Salt Lake City, UT. Wrote an 8-module course for Hale Dwoskin’s The Sedona Method, and 8- and 4-module courses for Jack Canfield’s Keys to Living the Law of Attraction.
Content writer for the launch of zeropoverty.us, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating poverty in the US and around the world.
Editor for Living Well By Working Smart Workbook by Sue Mackey and Laura Tonkin. Published 2007, Forward Books, Bellevue, WA.
Technical Writer for Medi-Cal Claims Processing Software (COBOL), through Electronic Data Systems, Rancho Cordova, CA.
Software Architect / Designer
February, 2000 – December, 2006
Ars Longa Web Ware, Santa Fe, NM and Folsom, CA
Founded a web applications company serving fine art galleries, professional artists, and arts associations. Products included GalleryDB, ArtistDB, and Ars Longa Design.
» Top 20 Web Design Companies in New Mexico, 2002 (NM Business Journal).
Technical Writer / Instructional Designer
June, 1989 - January, 2000
Working Knowledge, Bainbridge Island, WA
As a vendor of technical writing and instructional design services to leading software and hardware manufacturers, conducted needs analysis and assessments, created project plans and timelines, wrote technical manuals and online help systems, designed instructional materials and tutorials. Several projects won awards, indicated below, from the Society for Technical Communication (STC). Client and project list includes:
Microsoft Corporation
Instructional Designer for official certification courseware for Microsoft SQL Server. Worked on the SQL Server team to develop instructor-led training for Microsoft SQL Server versions 6.5, 7.0, and 2000. Met with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to ensure technical accuracy. Set learning objectives and outcomes for required proficiency. Wrote and designed the instructor and student materials. Created associated reports and illustrations.
Online Help System Writer for Microsoft Project 4.0 and Team Manager 1.0.
Scriptwriter for "Windows 95: How and Why" interactive CD-ROM, an instructional design project to introduce the new features of Windows 95. Wrote the script and outlined the appropriate visual action to dynamically illustrate the instruction.
» International Award of Distinction and an Award of Excellence.
Author of "In and Out of the Classroom with Microsoft Publisher" and "In and Out of the Classroom with Microsoft Works," aftermarket trade books targeted for K-12 teachers.
Asymetrix
Technical Writer for user manual inserts for CD-ROM screen saver applications "Rocky and Bullwinkle," "Jurassic Park," and "Natural States."
» Award of Achievement.
Online Help Writer for Compel 2.0.
Northwest Center for Emerging Technologies
Technical Writer for a seminal skill standards book, "Building a Foundation for Tomorrow" and its Curriculum Development Kit.
Designed and produced 17 books for skill standards projects written by other educational institutions.
Macromedia
Author of "Discover Macromedia Freehand" and "Fundamentals of Macromedia FreeHand 5.0", aftermarket books teaching basic techniques of the popular vector illustration software application.
Aldus Software
Technical Writer for "Aldus PageMaker 5.0 User Manual."
» Award of Excellence.
Author of "Discover PageMaker 5.0" and "Discover FreeHand 4.0," after-market books teaching basic and advanced techniques of the popular software applications.
Active Voice
Technical Writer of the "System Administrator’s User Manual" and "User Manual" for end users of the popular telephony hardware and software.
Technical Writer and Instructional Designer for tutorials and classroom training materials.
GoToNet.com
Technical Writer and Instructional Designer for Hypermart E-Commerce Help System, a web-based tutorial/manual on setting up an e-commerce store using GoToNet.com’s storefront web site.
Domain Virtual Worlds
Technical Writer for Domain Virtual World's Crystal Walls User Manual, a Windows-based software screen-saver application.
Online Help Writer for the Crystal Walls application.
Weyerhauser Corporation
Online Help Writer for an internal Service Request System, programmed in MS Access.
Park Software
Technical Writer for a series of manuals for a mainframe accounting software application.
Owl Software
Technical Writer for a CD-ROM controller.
Spectrum Controls
Technical Writer for a robotic control panel hardware device.
Siemens
Technical Writer for the S Convex Transducer Biopsy Kit user manual.
GTE Telecom
Technical Writer of 12 manuals for GTE Telecom's mainframe telephony software.
Precor, Incorporated
Technical Writer and Instructional Designer for manuals and instructor-led classroom training for the repair of Precor’s line of exercise equipment.