Experience
Banner Engineering
Full-time · 16 yrs 7 mos
Senior Technical Information Manager, Oct 2021 – Present · 1 yr 6 mos
Actively engaged, managed, or collaborated with a team to implement new marketing and technical communication tools, including AEM Guides (formerly known as XML Documentation for AEM) and GlobalLink, our new translation management system.
Everything listed in Manager and Supervisor roles. Actively engaged, managed, or collaborated with a team to implement new marketing and technical communication tools, including AEM Guides (formerly known as XML Documentation for AEM) and GlobalLink, our new translation management system.
Technical Information Manager/Senior Content Architect, Nov 2019 – Oct 2021 · 2 yrs
All responsibilities listed under the supervisor heading
Define job descriptions, evaluate technical writer candidates, hire, fire, and evaluate technical writers and graphic designers to build a team of low-maintenance and self-motivated professionals
Advocate for my technical writers and guide career advancement, ensure my team maintains a work-life balance
Define and report performance metrics
Evaluate, compare, and stay current with technical documentation tools and industry processes.
Tools: SDL LiveContent Architect 2014, XMetaL 9, Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (Acrobat Pro, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Microsoft OneNote, Microsoft Teams, DITA, DITA-OT, XML
All responsibilities listed under the supervisor heading Define job descriptions, evaluate technical writer candidates, hire, fire, and evaluate technical writers and graphic designers to build a team of low-maintenance and self-motivated professionals Advocate for my technical writers and guide career advancement, ensure my team maintains a work-life balance Define and report performance metrics Evaluate, compare, and stay current with technical documentation tools and industry processes Tools: SDL LiveContent Architect 2014, XMetaL 9, Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (Acrobat Pro, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Microsoft OneNote, Microsoft Teams, DITA, DITA-OT, XML
Technical Information Supervisor/Senior Content Architect, Oct 2013 – Nov 2019 · 6 yrs 2 mos
Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul AreaGreater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Optimize structured authoring and single-sourcing techniques to create technical documentation with XMetaL and SDL LiveContent Architect for translation, localization, and content reuse.
Manage translations projects using SDL and the translation management system XTM
Supervise other technical writers and one graphics artist dedicated to the technical documents department.
Research and keep current with DITA best practices and CCMS technologies
Use structured authoring via DITA for Wireless, Sensors, and Safety product lines; balancing multiple projects and optimizing our customer service for both internal and external customers
Learn and apply DITA-OT skills for managing and modifying PDF and HTML outputs; update and modify CCS files for the Windows Tripane HTML outputs
Troubleshoot issues within the CCMS to determine why publications or outputs have failed
Maintain Banner’s internal style guide and terminology database for approved and not approved terms in the source language (EN) and target languages (DE, FR, IT, MX, PT-BR, KR, JP, CZ, and others); determine the best wording for global audiences
Document department processes for consistency and training purposes
Tools Used: SDL LiveContent Architect 2014, XMetaL Author 9, XTM, Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (Acrobat Pro, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
Optimize structured authoring and single-sourcing techniques to create technical documentation with XMetaL and SDL LiveContent Architect for translation, localization, and content reuse. Manage translations projects using SDL and the translation management system XTM Supervise other technical writers and one graphics artist dedicated to the technical documents department Research and keep current with DITA best practices and CCMS technologies Use structured authoring via DITA for Wireless, Sensors, and Safety product lines; balancing multiple projects and optimizing our customer service for both internal and external customers Learn and apply DITA-OT skills for managing and modifying PDF and HTML outputs; update and modify CCS files for the Windows Tripane HTML outputs Troubleshoot issues within the CCMS to determine why publications or outputs have failed Maintain Banner’s internal style guide and terminology database for approved and not approved terms in the source language (EN) and target languages (DE, FR, IT, MX, PT-BR, KR, JP, CZ, and others); determine the best wording for global audiences Document department processes for consistency and training purposes Tools Used: SDL LiveContent Architect 2014, XMetaL Author 9, XTM, Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (Acrobat Pro, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
Technical Content Architect, Sep 2006 – Oct 2013 · 7 yrs 2 mos
Develop technical and marketing content for Banner’s Wireless product line, including product datasheets, manuals, web site pages, magazine articles, application notes, technical notes/job aids, and many other forms of technical documentation using a component content management system (CCMS), structured authoring, and content reuse through DITA/XML.
Technical Writing: Structured authoring, DITA, XML, CCMS, Content reuse, Wiki markup, HTML
Tools Used: JustSystems XMetaL, SDL Trisoft 2011, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, Dreamweaver), Microsoft (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, OneNote), Fullshot.
Develop technical and marketing content for Banner’s Wireless product line, including product datasheets, manuals, web site pages, magazine articles, application notes, technical notes/job aids, and many other forms of technical documentation using a component content management system (CCMS), structured authoring, and content reuse through DITA/XML. Technical Writing: Structured authoring, DITA, XML, CCMS, Content reuse, Wiki markup, HTML Tools Used: JustSystems XMetaL, SDL Trisoft 2011, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, Dreamweaver), Microsoft (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, OneNote), Fullshot.
Reliable Wireless RTU SystemsReliable Wireless RTU Systems
Wireless technology was once limited by inadequate bandwidth, early integrated circuit design, and insufficient power management technology. Improvements to today’s wireless networks allow robust monitoring and control, even in remote and harsh applications or classified areas.Wireless technology was once limited by inadequate bandwidth, early integrated circuit design, and insufficient power management technology. Improvements to today’s wireless networks allow robust monitoring and control, even in remote and harsh applications or classified areas.
Wireless Network Devices Aid Restoration ProjectWireless Network Devices Aid Restoration Project
Clarksville, TN, experienced unprecedented flooding as the Red River crested in May 2010. When the river was at its highest, Clarksville’s wastewater treatment plant – which treats an average of 12 to 15 million gallons per day, with peak of 25 mgd – was submerged in 20 feet of standing water, damaging the entire facility.Clarksville, TN, experienced unprecedented flooding as the Red River crested in May 2010. When the river was at its highest, Clarksville’s wastewater treatment plant – which treats an average of 12 to 15 million gallons per day, with peak of 25 mgd – was submerged in 20 feet of standing water, damaging the entire facility.
Plant Engineering – 2012 AprPlant Engineering – 2012 Apr
Fresno Valves & Castings, Inc. logo
Mechanical Engineer, Dec 2005 – Jun 2006 · 7 mos
Designed fabricated slide gates, canal/sluice gates, filtration systems, and other products using SolidWorks 2005 and 2006
Designed and developed standard models, assemblies, and drawings for a range of water control products, including the aluminum fabricated flap gate product line and aluminum 7600 gate product line
Compiled and wrote training documentation for order processing and engineering design procedures
Updated, maintained, and created multiple level bills of materials for products using ERP software styling
Tools Used: SolidWorks, Rulestream, SyteLine ERP
Designed fabricated slide gates, canal/sluice gates, filtration systems, and other products using SolidWorks 2005 and 2006 Designed and developed standard models, assemblies, and drawings for a range of water control products, including the aluminum fabricated flap gate product line and aluminum 7600 gate product line Compiled and wrote training documentation for order processing and engineering design procedures Updated, maintained, and created multiple level bills of materials for products using ERP software styling Tools Used: SolidWorks, Rulestream, SyteLine ERP
SWF Companies (now Thiele Technologies)
Technical Writer/Documentation Dept Team Leader, Feb 2003 – Dec 2005 · 2 yrs 11 mos
Wrote operational and maintenance manuals for packaging machinery produced by SWF
Coordinated with mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, sales personnel, and illustrators to create technical documentation detailing the operation of the machines, including the behavior of the PLC program, sensors, human-machine interface function and design, and other controls and components.
Team Leader of the Documentation Department supervising draftsmen and document control personnel
Organized historical data storage for ease of use, researched historical information for the parts sales department.
Compiled a controlled document of all standard engineering, drafting, and design practices.
Created detailed technical illustrations for machines while complying with customer needs and requirements.
Tools Used: Microsoft Word, Adobe Pagemaker, SolidWorks
Wrote operational and maintenance manuals for packaging machinery produced by SWF Coordinated with mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, sales personnel, and illustrators to create technical documentation detailing the operation of the machines, including the behavior of the PLC program, sensors, human-machine interface function and design, and other controls and components. Team Leader of the Documentation Department supervising draftsmen and document control personnel Organized historical data storage for ease of use, researched historical information for the parts sales department. Compiled a controlled document of all standard engineering, drafting, and design practices. Created detailed technical illustrations for machines while complying with customer needs and requirements. Tools Used: Microsoft Word, Adobe Pagemaker, SolidWorks
Serpa Packaging Solutions
Technical Writer, Mechanical Engineer, Mar 1997 – Feb 2003 · 6 yrs
Wrote operational and maintenance manuals for packaging machinery produced by Serpa Packaging; manuals included information regarding basic machine operation, maintenance, and detailed automated behavior controlled by PLC programs, human-machine interface function and design, sensors, air cylinders, and other automated controls and components
Created, maintained, and updated part and assembly drawings in AutoCAD
Designed packaging machine safety guards and access doors
Worked with sales department creating generalized floor plans of machines for customer review
Involved in conversion to MRP software Macola, established part numbering systems, bills of materials
Technical Writing: Used master/sub-documents in Word to maximize content reuse
Tools Used: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, AutoCAD, Macola
Wrote operational and maintenance manuals
Education
University of Minnesota
M.S., Scientific and Technical Communication, 2007 – 2009
- GPA: 3.834
- Graduated “with distinction” (3.75 GPA and above)
University of California, Davis
B.S., Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, 1988 – 1991
- Studied aeronautical science and engineering with a double major in mechanical engineering.
- Interested in thermodynamics and computer modeling.