Emily Ricketts :: resume



	home > resume Updated 6.7.2007 Pdf version K. Emily Ricketts El Cerrito, CA 94530 emily@grasshopperdesign.com Summary Over 9 years experience in technical writing, writing user guides and help systems for software products, managing publications projects and schedules, creating style guidelines and templates, designing on-line help systems, and developing on-line content. Writing/Information Design Electronic help and print manuals for enterprise and end-user software products, on-line help system design, IT procedure documentation, online content development, copy writing, and project lead experience. Developed publications plans and project schedules, style guides, and FrameMaker templates. Interactive Design Web site design and/or development for over 15 web sites, created concept designs and planned architecture of sites, produced graphics and implemented designs with HTML programming. Design lead experience. Software Operating systems: Macintosh (all versions), Windows 95/98/2000, Windows NT Graphics software: Photoshop, Illustrator, ImageReady, Paint Shop Pro, and DeBabelizer Multimedia/Internet software: Dreamweaver, BBedit, HomeSite, Acrobat, and more Publication software: RoboHelp, WebWorks, PageMaker, FrameMaker (structured and regular), Microsoft Office, and QuarkXpress Programming languages: HTML Work Experience Senior Technical Communicator Advantica, Inc. Carlisle, PA December 2004-May 2007 -Wrote content for SynerGEE Electric, a complex software product targeted towards the electric utility industry. -Managed and maintained the Technical Communications intranet site. -Created guidelines and templates for interactive web-based tutorials. -Compiled a document that outlined the standard operating procedures for the Technical Communications department. Senior Technical Writer IBM Global Services December 2003-June 2004 (Contract job-temporary) -Collected current procedures and problem/resolution documentation for a company that was outsourcing IT responsibilities to IBM. -Documented new procedures that were needed as a result of the transition and converted existing documentation to the IBM standard. Senior/Lead Technical Writer DemandTec San Carlos, CA 94070 July 2001-June 2003 -Created departmental guidelines, developed a DemandTec style and wrote the style guide, and designed a FrameMaker template that provided the look and feel for all technical documentation. All of these guidelines were developed so the department could grow smoothly as the company grew. -Managed three simultaneous projects and schedules that released on the same date (with only one direct report for six months). Included writing the publications plans, developing a comprehensive schedule complete with milestones, managing the editing cycles, writing the content for the user guides, creating the help systems, and checking the help system files into the code tree. -Designed and wrote new content for the DT Price, DT Promotion, and DT Business Analytics user guides and help systems. All products are complex enterprise software applications. -Contributed content for training guides and other educational materials. Technical Writer Macromedia Redwood City, CA 94065 March 2000-June 2001 -Wrote new content and re-wrote existing content for the Dreamweaver 4 User Guide. -Wrote articles for the Macromedia Support Center web site. -Provided a driving force behind an initiative to re-design the outline of the Dreamweaver user guide. Utilized my web design and development background to provide key information about the web development workflow and common design processes. Technical Writer Nickelodeon Online San Mateo, CA 94404 August 1999-January 2000 (contract) -Designed an internal on-line help system, wrote and edited documentation for a variety of internal tools, developed the publications plan and style guide, and wrote product specifications. Lead Designer ISL Consulting San Francisco, CA 94102 May 1999-August 1999 -Web design, HTML programming, and graphics production in a lead design role. Technical Writer Netscape Communications Mountain View, CA 94043 June 1998-April 1999 -Wrote new content for the Netcenter Site Central Help System and the Netscape Communicator 4.5 Help. -Responsible for maintaining the 4.5 help system files, checking the files into the code tree, and reminding writers of the schedule. -Designed the Site Central on-line help system and was the project lead for the Site Central help system project, which included writing the publications plan, setting schedules, and managing three team members. Web Developer/Copy Writer April 1997-March 1998, John Brady Design Consultants, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Education B.A. in Professional Writing, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA M.S. in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, California University of PA, California, PA