That was around 1984 and since then I've discovered that one thing I like, and do well, is to bring people and technology together. My experience as a user interface designer rests on a background as a technical communicator and business analyst, making it natural for me to appreciate user needs, the task of the programmer, and the goals of business. Plus, my ability to communicate and balance these drives effectively during the development process comes in handy.
Now I work for Expeditors International of Washington. I've worked on consumer products, B2B, and customer-facing business applications. I've worked on products delivered off of CDs and through the web. The web can be a pain, but I enjoy the unique challenges involved in delivering applications through a browser. Some days are better than others. 8-)
In 2005, in Seattle, I determined to take my writing seriously. To that end, I joined SCBWI and two critique groups. I draw plots from my own experiences and love the process. Today, I have three novels near completion, two in the works, and a short stack of picture books in various states.
I have two young children and a tolerant, loving wife.
Avocation
Writer: I aspire to be published in the field of mid-grade and young adult fiction. Don't laugh. It's harder and more competitivethan you may think. And it keeps me from hanging out in front of drug stores.
Vocation
User Experience Specialist: I use proven USE centered design methods to ensure that the final solution will meet user needs, and be used. Collaboration on multidisciplinaryteams is a strong point, as is working in an iterative environment.
Technical Skills
Software: Word, PhotoShop, FireWorks, DreamWeaver, Excel, Visio, FrontPage, WebWorks Publisher, PowerPoint
Programming: Understands the basics of programming from learning BASIC. I dabble in HTML and JavaScript. I use this knowledge to inform designs.
Professional Experience
Expeditors International of
WA • Seattle, WA (October 2002
- Present)
User Experience Specialist
Design and document user
interfaces for internal- and external-facing
applications, driving the logistic business.
Helped to integrate design and usability into the development life cycle within the company.
Hired and supervised others doing
the same.
Primus Knowledge
Solutions • Seattle, WA
(February 2002 - October 2002)
User Interface Consultant
Designed and documented the user
interface for an enterprise-level knowledge management
tool.
Created PhotoShop mockups
developers used to code web-enabled product.
Researched and wrote use cases
and user profiles that helped clarify workflow and
facilitated initial design efforts.
Wrote in-depth interface design
specifications to support mockups.
Sierra
Home • Bellevue, WA (March
2000 - October 2001)
Senior User Interface Designer
Designed, documented and tested
user interfaces for home productivity software. Used graphic,
scripting, and prototyping tools to create, communicate and
test design concepts effectively.
Interfaced with genealogy
product team leads and software developers to document
functional and UI specifications, facilitating team focus
during the development process.
Organized and facilitated low-
and high-fidelity testing of greeting card software to assess
the usability of proposed designs.
Interpreted and reported test
results for a desired data merging feature and championed
proven designs to ensure product success.
Explored emerging .NET
technology, conceptualizing and designing prototype products
for future research and development, preparing the company
for the next technological paradigm.
Renaissance Worldwide,
Inc. • Chicago, IL (1993 -
2000)
Consultant, Project Manager, Supervisor
Consulted with major clients to
produce system documentation, reengineer business processes
and design and build business unit Intranets. Clients
included: Abbott Laboratories, Allstate, Ameritech, ATT,
Baxter, and Motorola.
Designed and developed effective
cascading style sheets for a corporate Intranet site within
the insurance industry based on audience analysis and system
requirements, improving usability and ease of
maintenance.
Collaborated with
cross-functional teams to design packaging, manuals, and
online information for a major medical diagnostics machine,
ensuring a unified look and feel for all human/computer
dialogs.
Mentored fellow consultants
during a period of unprecedented growth in order to help them
become billable and independent in less time than
expected.
Won over $175K in additional
business from several clients based on my professional
reputation and relationships.
Created snapshots of current
business practices as part of business process reengineering
efforts that saved the company thousands of dollars in lost
productivity.
Documented networked legacy
systems for a technical audience to help prepare for Y2K
efforts. These systems tracked investments for a major
insurance provider.
Expert Object,
Inc. • Highland Park, IL (1992
- 1993)
Freelance Technical Writer
Worked with a small team to
design the documentation for a Unix GUI creation tool.
Illinois Institute of
Technology • Chicago, IL (1991
- 1992)
Freelance Project Manager
Interviewed professors and
industry leaders to help define the curriculum for a new
degree aimed at allowing factory foremen to move into
management positions.
Orr &
Associates • Evanston, IL
(1990 - 1991)
Intern, Technical Writer
Designed class materials for a
seminar course on usability in interface and manual design.
MCI
Telecommunications • Chicago,
IL (1984 - 1990)
Business Analyst
Reported sales and revenue
figures to directors and vice presidents of the Midwestern
division.
Education
Blackburn
College • Carlinville, IL
Bachelor of the Arts, Theatre
International Bartending
Institute • Schaumburg, IL
Mixology Certificate
DePaul
University • Chicago, IL
Executive Program for Computer Literacy
Orr &
Associates • Evanston, IL
Technical Writing Internship
Continued writing, design and computer classes from Illinois Institute of Technology and University of Wisconsin.
Professional Memberships
Usability
Professionals' Association • 1998 -
present
Society of Children's Book Writers and
Illustrators • 2006 - present
Society for Technical
Communication • senior member 1991
- 2000
HTML Writer's
Guild • 1997 - present
DNRC • 1999 - present