Summary

My background includes over ten years experience as a Technical Writer and three years experience in managing a Technical Writing department. This includes experience creating System Administration Manuals, Getting Started Guides, and API Documentation. My role as manager included developing content strategy and improving methods for publishing and distributing content. 

Work Experience

Content Creator 

Freelancer  2015-Present

• Helped small businesses create content to expand web presence
• Developed custom websites and web applications
• Created marketing and explainer videos
• Authored copy, software documentation, and social media posts
• Captured portrait, product, and stock photography

Manager, Documentation, Training, and Translation

Trading Technologies, International     2012-2015

• Managed team of writers, instructional designers, video editor, and translators
• Created a content management system for all new content
• Produced marketing and training videos
• Developed marketing strategy for all external facing technical content
• Interacted with Product Managers and Subject Matter Experts to ensure accurate content
• Produced internal communications to keep help desk informed of new products and features

Senior Technical Writer

Trading Technologies, Internation 2006-2012

• Converted all existing content to web-based formats using XSLT and XML
• Introduced rich media including videos-based instruction
• Leveraged single-sourcing content to improve accuracy
• Reviewed and edited written content from other writers

Education

Study Abroad Student – English Honours Programme

University of Glasgow, Scotland     2004

• Completed advanced coursework n the English Literature Honors Department
• Additional courses with focus on History, English Language, Grammar

Bachelor of Arts degree with Departmental Distinction

University of Illinois at Chicago     2002-2003

• Majored in English-Writing; Minor in International Studies
• Chairperson and co-founder for the Undergraduate English Organization

Associate of Arts and Associate of Sciences

College of DuPage 2000-2002

• Presidential Scholar, Presidential Honor Roll and Honors Student
• Political correspondent for The Courier newspaper

Skills

Langauges

• English
• Spanish
• German

Communication Skills

• Excellent communication skills to receive accurate information from Subject Matter Experts
• Ability to convey complex concepts in easy-to-understand formats

Organizational / Managerial Skills

• Leadership of a diverse team
• Fostering a collaborative environment with larger Marketing team
• Liaison between Product Management, Marketing, and Support teams

Job-Related Skills

• Mentoring
• Leadership
• Copywriting
• Editing
• Video Production
• Audio editing

Computer Skills

• Adobe Technical Communication Suite including: Adobe Framemaker, Adobe Captivate, Adobe Acrobat Professional 
• Adobe Creative Suite including: Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects
• Microsoft Office
• HTML5, CSS3
• XML, XSLT
• Javascript frameworks including jquery
• Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion
• JIRA, Slack, Docker, Jenkins, Jekyll, GIT