Suzanne Smith Resume

Skills:

• Write, edit, design, architect, and index information
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Project management experience (working toward PMP certification)
• Ability to interview technical experts effectively
• Experience with remote teams, including India, China, and Europe
• Experience managing the document production process
• Experience coordinating documentation localization
• Member of Agile/Scrum development teams
• Experience moving legacy documentation to DITA
• Experience developing information in a single-sourced environment
• Experience designing web pages, optimizing web graphics, and writing web page content (authoring tools and hand-coded HTML)
• Software: XMetal, FrameMaker (structured and unstructured), Acrobat, RoboHelp, Captivate, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, MS Word, MS Excel, MS
  PowerPoint, MS Project, Acrocheck/Acrolinx, Content Management Systems (Astoria, GEP, Joomla), SourceSafe, Perforce, and bug tracking programs

Software:

• Framemaker (structured and unstructured)
• Acrobat
• Captivate
• RoboHelp
• AuthorIT
• Word
• Dreamweaver
• Photoshop
• Fireworks
• PowerPoint
• Excel
• Microsoft Project
• Visio
• Source control software (SourceSafe and Perforce)
• Content management systems (Astoria, GEP, and Joomla)
• Bug tracking programs

Experience:

ServiceNow
Senior Technical Writer
March 2011-Present
Document cloud software product on a wiki. Work on multiple teams in multiple locations using Agile development model.

Teradata
Project Lead in Information Engineering Department
July 2010-March 2011
Lead writing and production of highly technical information products for major programs. Evaluate requirements, understand interdependencies, create plans, and write schedules. Work with writers and graphic designers to continually improve existing information products with a focus on user-centered design. Write and ensure adherence to standards. Respond quickly to constantly changing requirements.

Teradata
Information Engineer
November 2009-June 2010
Wrote online help and user guides for a suite of database administration web applications. Interviewed subject matter experts and studied complex engineering documents to develop thorough understanding of company products. Used XMetal (XML editor) and Astoria (content management system) daily to complete writing tasks. Worked closely with information architects to maximize content reuse and increase efficiency of content management system. Adhered to DITA standards and company style guide. Performed extensive quality testing on documentation. Member of Agile development team and active participant in daily meetings and bi-weekly milestone meetings.

Hamilton Sundstrand
Senior Technical Writer
May 2009 - present (short-term contract job)
Using advanced features of Microsoft Word, wrote large (500-1000 page), technical engineering documents including test procedures, test reports, engineering specifications, and system safety assessments for auxiliary power units and fan assemblies. Performed extensive editing and quality checks on documents. Finished reports sent to Boeing, Airbus, and other major aircraft manufacturers.

Irdeto
Senior Technical Writer
January 2009 - April 2009 (four-month contract)
Using Word and AuthorIT, wrote release notes, user manuals, and large online help system with extensive context-sensitive help for a complex, enterprise software program. Was an active member of three Agile/Scrum development teams (two in Carlsbad and one in China).

Adobe Systems, Inc.
Senior Technical Writer
December 2005 - December 2008
Using structured (XML and DITA) and unstructured FrameMaker, wrote user manuals, installation guides, API guides, and online help systems for a variety of Adobe products, including Connect Pro, Flash Media Server, Device Central (a mobile device emulator), Acrobat.com (a SaaS product), and others. Wrote FrameMaker documents used as single source to create PDFs and online help. Participated in product online communities. Worked in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Macromedia
Senior Technical Writer
December 2003 - November 2005
Using unstructured FrameMaker, wrote online help systems (including context-sensitive help) and user manuals for several Macromedia products. Followed guidelines for writing documentation for an international audience. Created documentation plans and schedules. Completed assigned writing tasks by reading specifications and interviewing technical experts. Contributed to user interface design.

Blue Sky Software/eHelp Corporation
Senior Technical Writer
February 1999 - November 2003
On a team of engineers, wrote and edited online help (WebHelp), installation guides, user manuals, release notes, and white papers for RoboHelp and Captivate software. Used RoboHelp and Word daily. Designed graphics and multimedia. Managed writing projects from start to finish. Contributed to user interface design and participated in usability studies. Managed production process and localization. Followed Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications and wrote complementary style guide. Adhered to tight schedules and aggressive deadlines. Hired and managed contract writers and translators.

San Diego Union-Tribune 
Columnist
June 1998 - December 1999
Wrote a monthly column titled "OpenBook" for ComputerLink section of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the major newspaper serving San Diego County. Reviewed 5-6 new and classic technical books each month on subjects such as web design, Java, e-commerce, and networking.

GERS Retail Systems (now Escalate)
Technical Writer
February 1998 - January 1999
Acted as a lone writer on a team of eight software engineers. Researched information and interviewed technical experts in order to write effective documentation. Wrote policies, procedures, proposals, manuals, instructions, training materials, and knowledge management documentation. Created a variety of graphics to supplement text, both on paper and online. Used hand-coded HTML, FrontPage, and Dreamweaver to design and create web pages.

Other short and long-term positions:

University of California, San Diego
Madison Hotel, Seattle
Wells Fargo, San Francisco
Senate Political Campaign, San Diego
Navy Personnel Research and Development Center, San Diego

Education

MA, San Diego State University -- Rhetoric and Writing, with a specialization in Technical Communication

BA, University of Miami -- Economics

BA, University of Miami -- Political Science

CONTINUING EDUCATION

University of California, San Diego, Extended Studies -- Project Management Certificate Program (plan to take PMP exam)

National Association of Photoshop Professionals -- Photoshop Seminars

American Society of Indexers/USDA Graduate School -- Introduction to Indexing and Applied Indexing courses

University of California, San Diego, Extended Studies -- Adobe Flash Training