Dear Hiring Manager,
I hold a BA in English/Technical Communication from the University of Central Florida (UCF) with a minor in Visual Arts, and have over two decades of experience in both written and visual communication, mostly as a software technical writer in IT. I also have a decade of experience managing a Technical Publications department and over 10 years experience running a freelance communications company offering editorial, technical, and creative services, including technical writing, copy writing, editing, and design. Additionally, I am a member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), the IEEE Professional Communications Society (PCS), and The Content Wrangler Community.
I am skilled in writing and designing end-user software manuals, online help, Web content, Web help, training guides, installation guides, white papers, proposals, presentations, and reports using Adobe Creative Suite including FrameMaker, Acrobat, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, InDesign, and Fireworks, HTML, XML, XHTML, CSS, and Javascript, and Microsoft Office Professional.
In addition to my technical prowess, I am an excellent communicator, writer, designer, and leader. I have worked on small, medium, and enterprise-wide projects as a writer, editor, designer, software tester, and documentation supervisor. I am creative and fully conversant with many development and communications methodologies and understand the need to weigh process against productivity. I foster inter-team communications and help enable my team and project to succeed. I greatly enjoy helping teams succeed in meeting their deadlines for deliverables.
My goal is to work full-time with good and productive teams on interesting and engaging projects as a Communications, Technical Publications, or Documentation Director or Manager, Art Director, Senior Technical Writer, Editor, or Copy Writer, or other management or senior level position with room for professional growth, in the Greater Orlando area, or as a remote worker from my office in Orlando, Florida.
Please offer details about your management style and structure, as I am particularly interested in flat hierarchies, contact with senior management, and work/life balance including flexible start times and telecommuting.
Please review my resume, and then please contact me at your earliest convenience for an interview.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Susana Maria Rosende
407-670-9554
susana@writewaydesigns.com
www.writewaydesigns.com/resume.html
www.writewaydesigns.com
Resume
Objective:
To use skills and experience to provide the full-time W2 services of a Communications, Documentation, or
Technical Publications Manager, or Senior Technical Writer/Editor/Instructional Designer/Web Author/Copy Writer in the Greater Orlando Area or as a telecommuter from Orlando, Florida.
Also available for full-time 1099 contract, and part-time, freelance, and temporary writing, editing, tutoring, Web design, translation, graphic design, cartooning, caricatures, and illustration at Write Way Designs, Inc. at writewaydesigns.com.
Skills:
- Manager, supervisor, leader, resourceful, creative, technical, self-starter, team player
- Communications/Documentation/Technical Publications Manager, Senior Technical Writer/Editor, Documentation Specialist, Proposals Writer, Instructional Designer
- CMMI, ISO 9000, Information Mapping, ADDIE, MIL-STD, MLA, APA
- Technical Translator (English/Spanish)
- Government contracts, proposals, simulation and training operator and training guides, end-user software/hardware manuals,
online help, Web help, tutorials, white papers, articles, blogs, technical reports, online content, newsletters, brochures,
English/Spanish technical translation
- Adobe: Acrobat, FrameMaker, Dreamweaver, RoboHELP, PhotoShop,
- HTML, XHTML, CSS
- Microsoft: Word, PowerPoint, Front Page, Excel, Project, Outlook, Publisher, Visio, SharePoint
- Open Office: Writer, Math, Calc, Draw
- Gimp
- Inbit FullShot and SnagIt
- Comfortable in Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, AS/400, Mainframe, OS/2, .Net, Client-server,
and Legacy environments
- Software development life cycle (SDLC), from business analysis, requirements definition,
UML generation, and documentation; to unit testing, acceptance testing, deployment and maintenance
- Web graphics, website design with Search Engine Optimization (SEO), business logos, cartoons,
caricatures, illustrations, murals, photography and photo editing
- Bilingual English/Spanish with extensive translation experience
- B.A. in English/Technical Communication from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
- English and American Literature, Creative Writing, Expository Writing, Art History, Painting, and Drawing courses from Rutgers
the State University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
- Print making courses from the University of Houston, Texas
- Photography courses from the Crealde School of Art, Winter Park, Florida
- Education and business courses from Burlington County College, Pemberton, New Jersey
- Web Programming and Digital Design courses at Valencia Community College and Seminole County College, Orlando and Sanford,
Florida, including Introduction to Web Programming, Digital Design, XML, Visual Basic, ASP.net, and C#
- Candidate for 19-month Saturday MBA at Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business (expected 2010)
Experience:
President
Write Way Designs, Inc., (communications company offering creative, technical, and editorial services), Orlando, Florida
January 1997 - Present
- Wrote, edited, and maintained proposals, end-user software and hardware manuals, training guides, tutorials, online help,
Website content and blogs, technical reports, presentations, articles, newsletters, e-books, operator guides, installation
manuals, white papers, reference manuals, policies and procedures, technical specifications, standards documentation, use cases,
brochures
- Created small business websites using search engine optimization
- Researched, wrote, edited, and translated (English/Spanish) real estate and mortgage articles and Web content,
using Microsoft Word and HTML
- Gathered business requirements and documented them in a language understood by both IT and the business teams
- Built use cases, including documenting process flows, business rules, tasking, notifications, and articulating
overall functionality needed by the business
- Used established methodologies in all stages of the instructional design process, including needs assessment,
analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE)
- Used knowledge of Web-based applications developed using the Microsoft Development Life Cycle and Microsoft tools
such as C#, ASP, and XML
- Wrote, updated, and translated (English/Spanish) employee handbooks using Microsoft Word and Adobe FrameMaker,
Photoshop, and Acrobat
- Edited an online curriculum using HTML, Adobe Photoshop, and Macromedia Dreamweaver
- Edited HTML, CSS, and Javascript code and content in Macromedia Dreamweaver for Resume Portfolio websites
- Wrote, edited, and proofread Resumes
- Tutored Chinese immigrant high school student in English, Spanish, and writing
- Created black and white head shots and color portrait photography
- Photographed a church wedding, the reception, and portraits of the wedding party
- Proofread term papers, reports, applications, and resumes for high school and college students
- Designed personal and small business websites, business logos, and graphics
- Created original photography, cartoons, and designs for t-shirts, mousepads, mugs, and other products for
home and office for three stores: Write Way Designs Gift Shop,
Oh Susana! Cartoon Boutique, and The Corporate Trenches Comic Shop
- Created illustrations, cartoons, and murals for newsletters and events
- Using Adobe Creative Suite including FrameMaker, Acrobat, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, RoboHELP;
Microsoft Office Professional, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Project, Visio, and also
Microsoft Project Server; Open Office Suite, including Writer and Draw; Gimp; Inbit FullShot; SnagIt.
QA Technical Editor/Technical Writer
Carley Corporation (DoD)
Orlando, Florida
March 2009 - Present
- Proofreading and editing CBTs and online training guides for the DoD industry.
- Using Evolution, SharePoint, HTML, and myriad in-house products.
- Following MIL-STD and established methodologies of the instructional design process, including needs assessment, analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE).
Contract Senior Technical Writer-Business Analyst
iGPS, Orlando, Florida
February 2009 - March 2009
- Wrote business requirements, use cases, test scripts, process flows, training guides, and user manuals.
- QA-tested software applications.
- Used Microsoft Office Professional, Visual Studio, and myriad open source desktop publishing and graphics applications for Windows XP.
Contract Senior Technical Writer
Lockheed Martin, Department of Simulation, Training, and Support, (government contractor) Orlando, Florida
August 2008 - November 2008
- Wrote, edited, and maintained training manuals for the simulation tools used in military exercises, in an intensely deadline-driven Technical Publications department.
- Used unstructured Adobe FrameMaker 8.0, Adobe Acrobat, Nuance PDF Maker, Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft Excel, SnagIt, Adobe PhotoShop, Microsoft Photo Editor, and Arbortext Editor.
Freelance Copy Writer
Tots N Style, Inc., (e-commerce, virtual)
August 2008 - Present
- Wrote online descriptions for upscale children's fashions, in a virtual, deadline-driven environment
- Used Flickr, email, and PayPal.com
Freelance Copy Writer
Loans Interactive, (mortgage industry, virtual)
August 2008 - Present
- Wrote online articles, website content, and e-books for mortgage websites
- Used Microsoft Word 2003, email, and PayPal.com
Documentation Specialist
Wyndham Vacation Ownership, (hospitality industry), Orlando, Florida
February 2008 - July 2008
- Documented and maintained policies and procedures in SharePoint for contact center employees and trainers
in the fluid, fast-paced, and intensely deadline-driven Learning & Development department
- Used Adobe Creative Suite CS3, Microsoft Office Professional, Microsoft SharePoint and Project, Snagit, Mainframe
Technical Publications Supervisor
Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund, (title insurance industry), Orlando, Florida
August 1997 - February 2008
- Managed a Technical Publications department in IT division
- Planned, organized, designed, wrote, and edited end-user software manuals, training guides, installation guides
online help systems, Web content, reference manuals, and procedures documentation
- Trained clients on how to use the online help in the real estate closing software, new writers on company
standards and templates, and contractors on how to use Adobe Acrobat and HTML
- Managed employee time cards, assigned writing projects, and wrote performance appraisals
- Recruited, interviewed, and screened applicants
- Mentored University of Central Florida Co-op Technical Communication Students
- Planned department budget for training and software upgrades
- Interviewed subject matter experts for relevant technical input
- Coordinated document layout and organization
- Developed documentation schedules and assignments
- Learned and implemented new methodologies
- Attended workshops, training, and classes to keep abreast of trends and tools in technical communications
- Attended Leadership training, seminars, and workshops to continually improve management skills
- Wrote articles and illustrated division newsletters
- Created cartoons, caricatures, and murals for company-sponsored events
- QA software tested Web-based, client-server, and Mainframe applications
- Used Adobe Creative Suite, including FrameMaker, Acrobat, Dreamweaver, InDesign, and Photoshop;
HTML, DHTML, XHTML, CSS; Inbit FullShot, Visio, Microsoft Office Professional, including Project, Word,
Excel, Outlook, Visio, SharePoint, and PowerPoint.
Senior Technical Writer
Phoenix International, (banking software), Heathrow, Florida
1996 - 1997
- As part of a technical writing team, created online help systems and reference manuals
- Designed original toolbar buttons for the banking software
- Wrote and edited technical bulletins, white papers, software manuals, business use cases, and reports
- Distributed software and accompanying documentation by burning software CDs, designing CD covers,
and posting Intranet content
- QA-tested banking software applications
- Used HTML, Adobe Acrobat, Corel Draw, FrameMaker, Word 7.0 for Win 95, Resource Workshop, and RoboHELP
Technical Writer
John H. Harland Corporation, (banking software), Orlando and Tampa, Florida
1995 - 1996
- As part of a technical writing team, created an online help system
- Worked with Graphic Artists, Programmers, Testers, and Subject Matter Experts to develop end user documentation
- QA-tested both Visual FoxPro and OS/2-based banking software applications
- Created technical specification documentation, gathered business requirements, and created use cases
- Created end-user manuals for each Windows 95-based and OS/2-based desktop database marketing systems
- Used Word 7.0 for Win 95, WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows 3.1, PM Camera, RoboHELP, Book Builder online help
software for OS/2 systems, PageMaker, and myriad in-house software products
Technical Translator
Fiserv, (banking software), Orlando, Florida
1993 - 1995
- With a translation team, created an English/Spanish dictionary that encompassed technical and financial terms
- Translated end-user banking software user manuals, training guides, software screens, and presentations from English to Spanish
- Used Word for the Macintosh, Word 6.0 for Windows 3.1, Power Point, and Globalink Translation software
for the AS/400
Documentation and Proposals Specialist
Brown and Caldwell, (environmental engineering), Orlando, Florida
1991 - 1993
- Edited and formatted proposals, presentations, and technical reports in a fast-paced environment
- Translated correspondence for international clients from English to Spanish and Spanish to English
- Used WordPerfect 5.0 for DOS, and PageMaker
Technical Writer
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, (government agency), Orlando, Florida
1990 - 1991
- Together with a fellow technical writer, researched, wrote, designed, printed, and published the
"Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Policy and Procedure Manual,"
- Used Microsoft Word, PageMaker, and Harvard Graphics
Education:
- Candidate for 19-month Saturday MBA at Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business
(expected 2010)
-
B.A. English/Technical Communication 1991
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
-
Double-Major of English and Visual Arts
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
Rutgers College and Mason Gross School of the Arts
1984-1987
Technical Courses:
-
Advanced HTML, DHTML, CSS
New Horizons Computer Learning Center, Orlando, Florida
2002, 2007
-
Advanced Microsoft Project
New Horizons Computer Learning Center, Orlando, Florida
2007
-
Intro to C#
Seminole Community College, Lake Mary, Florida
Fall 2005
-
Intro to Web Programming, XML, Visual Basic, ASP
Valencia Community College, Orlando, Florida
2002-2003
-
Advanced Adobe FrameMaker and Acrobat
Koster and Associates, Orlando, Florida
2005
-
Photography 1 and 2
Crealde School of Art
2004
-
Intro to Macromedia Dreamweaver and Advanced Macromedia Dreamweaver
New Horizons Computer Learning Center, Orlando, Florida
2003
-
Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
Koster and Associates, Melbourne, Florida
2003
Memberships:
- Write Way Designs, Inc. (freelance/part-time communications company at writewaydesigns.com)
- National Management Association (NMA) Officer, SLRSC Chapter 224
- The Society for Technical Communication (STC) Orlando Chapter
- IEEE Professional Communications Society
- The Content Wrangler Community
- Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)
- Tech Republic
- University of Central Florida Alumni Association
- Linked In.com
- Women For Hire
- HTML Writers Guild (HWG)
- International Webmasters Association (IWA)
- Orlando Museum of Art
- Crealde School of Art
- Writing.com Moderator
- Member of the writer/author/artist/designer community of Central Florida, publishing articles,
business and technical documentation, Web content, essays, poetry, illustrations, photography,
and creative short stories for local and national IT industry, news, and literary magazines, blogs,
and e-zines
Resume