Documentation Specialist

Posted on: 2006-08-03

Susan Carson, 14277 Preston Rd., #725, Dallas, TX 75254; (214) 213-7119 Summary Thirteen years' documentation experience including project processes and procedures, editing others' written work, technical writing and article writing for industry publications, using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Access. Expert knowledge of English language. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, experience in technical document creation and publishing. Nine years' database experience including data project management. Expertise in gathering and focusing ideas and information. Expertise Editing: Subject Matter Expert on standards of English language, grammar, structure, format and style Editor in charge of program and technical documents: enforced consistent use of terminology and standards Writing: Developed and wrote complex project policy and procedure processes, guidelines, and data flow processes Documentation including detailed software user's guides and installation procedures Research and Information gathering: Interviewed SMEs, project managers, DBAs, application developers; collected data by mining documentation, attending symposia and news conferences, finding and analyzing government records and professional reports Document and Project Control: Led document review and approval sessions; oversaw and ensured compliance with procedures Database: Defined data objects in relational databases on multiple platforms; used SQL and Access to query Extracted and analyzed well-log data, loaded data to UNIX database; used vi editor, awk scripts Experience Aviall, Inc., Irving, Texas October 2005 - Present Documentation Specialist, Information Services Created a Standard Format for Aviall documentation. Developed and wrote documentation and process flows for Aviall's highly-individualized Lawson procedures. Created and developed the documentation when Aviall changed their help desk software to Remedy, which included training materials and user's guides, all in color with screenshots and cover art. Edited and corrected existing documentation, to build a knowledge base for the Support Center. Interviewed application SMEs to create new and much-needed documentation, or edited their submitted copy to standard format. SME on standards of language, format and style. • Developed Aviall Lawson documentation: Order Entry, Purchase Order, Requisition, and Work Order • Created Remedy documentation including development, text, screenshots and cover art MBNA, Addison, Texas February 2002-August 2005 Lead Technical Writer/Information Analyst, Enterprise Data Dictionary (EDD) Edited definitions of data objects in multiple relational databases (primarily DB2, also Oracle, Sybase, Informix), submitted by the Database Administrators: reviewed definition for meaning, grammar and adherence to established standards, then either approved or returned to DBA. Started in 2002 at ground zero; as part of three-person team, interviewed Subject Matter Experts and mined data documentation; as of July 2005, had established a database of more than 13,000 data object and business term definitions, accessed via a browser-based GUI front end. Wrote SQL queries against BMC and QMF to view on IBM mainframe, or with Microsoft Access. Provided support to users regarding data quality, standards and procedures. Served as back-up to the EDD manager. EDD resource to 10 concurrent database development projects, one of which had more than 1000 elements on multiple platforms. Lead application tester: coordinated and managed testing effort. SME on standards of language, format and style. • Developed and implemented EDD Data Guidelines, Data Submission Procedures, and 100-page Test Plan • UAT Lead for implementation testing, responsible for 46% of testing effort: led regression testing each release EDS, Plano, Texas May 2000-October 2001 Documentation Specialist, Enterprise Security Administration Authentication & Authorization (ESAAA) Designed, developed and implemented complex program processes and procedures: interviewed SMEs and program managers, created process and procedures documents, led document review sessions, ensured procedure compliance. Created user’s guides and installation procedure documents. Editor in charge of documents created by program and technical leaders: enforced consistent use of program terminology and standards. As part of multi-person team, developed initial phase of web site intended to enhance and enrich Production Support via intranet and Internet. • Developed and implemented Deliverable Review and Approval Process, and Lessons Learned Process • Developed initial phase of Production Support web site for intranet and Internet Fritz Companies, Inc., Dallas, Texas 2000 Helpdesk Support Answered helpdesk calls for internal computer network--this system was complex, user-unfriendly, and antiquated, and served thousands of users. ARCO International Oil & Gas, Plano, Texas 1997-1999 Database Technician Extracted and analyzed well-log data; loaded data to ARCO database, UNIX platform. Upgraded and maintained international well-log database. Coordinated multiple simultaneous data projects spanning 60+ countries. Daily use of vi editor, awk scripts. Maintained department intranet page. • Systematized project work flow: initiated and implemented ticketing system, stabilizing turn-around time Pitts Energy Group, Dallas, Texas 1994-1997 Prospect Writer Designed and produced prospect packages: edited geologists’ write-ups, formatted and compiled packages and tracked progress. Responsible for all printed material and research. • Updated and polished packages, resulting in recognizable, memorable presentations Dwights Energydata, Inc., Richardson, Texas 1984-1994 Technical Writer – Data Analyst 1989-1994 Developed, wrote, published and maintained all documentation for Dwights’ proprietary oil and gas information software: wrote manuals and class guides supplemented with graphics and cover art; updated on-line help. Designed, wrote and created graphics for promotional brochures and mailings, edited others’ written material, worked with mass-output graphics suppliers, boothed trade shows. Created and maintained training materials. • Editor in charge of all corporate documents • Initiated use of input from users and support personnel when designing and writing documentation, decreasing recurrent questions by 15%; use of geologic maps by data analysts, increasing data accuracy 20% Editor/Geologist, Casper, Wyoming 1984-1989 Wrote and edited “Dwights’ Hotline Energy Reports,” an oil-industry journal comprised of a daily Morning Report and weekly and yearly recap, all presented in AP style. Reported on news conferences and industry meetings. • Established the first reliable network of scouting contacts in the state of Nevada Education BS in Geology, 1981, University of Wyoming Major in English, University of Denver