Twenty years experience in writing, editing, product and project management, marketing, consulting, and programming. Key strengths: analyzing project and product requirements, defining action plans, designing and implementing effective solutions to user needs, and managing simultaneous, complex project schedules. Skills include training, system design, market analysis, and staff development and management.
Professional Experience
Writing/Editing
Proficient, effective writer and editor of variety of materials including data sheets, brochures, web pages, technical and marketing white papers, newsletter articles and book manuscripts. Experience developing class materials for standard products and custom modules and scripts and Powerpoint presentations for internal and external presentations, sales seminars and trade shows.
Product Planning
Extensive experience leading development and implementation of product plans from initial concept to successful roll-out. Elicited product requirements from internal and external sources including trainers, tech support staff, OEMs and end-users; reviewed competitors' products, services, and pricing structures; developed prototypes; wrote requirements documents and functional and detail specifications; created and managed project schedules and budgets.
Management
Recruited, trained, and managed programmers, testers, and consultants for product and implementation teams; managed concurrent projects ranging in scope from simple budgeting spreadsheets for a single department to complex applications for multi-national corporations; managed technical services department during manager's absence; recruited, trained, and managed volunteer staff for fundraising projects.
Consulting
Served as lead consultant during engagement with company's largest client, managing team of company and third-party consultants to successful, on-time development and roll-out of new version of Accounts Payable module to 200 users in 22 offices nationwide. Initiated, managed, and achieved successful completion of projects for company's key clients. Reviewed clients' existing systems; interviewed managers and end users to determine requirements. Resolved product and implementation issues to allow collection of outstanding service contract balances.
Public Speaking
Prepared and delivered technical and marketing presentations to user groups, OEMs and VARs. Taught end-user and train-the-trainers classes. Made fund-raising presentations to civic and government agencies. Appeared as motivational speaker for variety of audiences, including local middle and high schools as well as the Okinawa School for the Disabled. Co-emceed annual fashion show fundraiser highlighting accomplishments of therapy patients.
Technical knowledge
Market knowledge and architectural understanding of enterprise and Internet infrastructure including: Internet standards, client/server, legacy mainframe, and networking. Hands-on knowledge in designing, building and maintaining complex databases and spreadsheet applications. Programming experience in Visual Basic, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel including VBA, SQL Server for Windows NT, VAX/VMS Basic, and VAX/VMS DCL.
Quality Assurance/Configuration Management
Wrote and executed test plans; prioritized bug reports and assigned to programmers; analyzed bug counts and aging; managed beta test process; tracked and managed changes to software and documentation; created internal test builds; coordinated creation of standard and custom distributions.
Work History
1993-Present
Principal
Practical Solutions for Business – Bellevue, WA
Presently providing marketing and technical writing, general editing, fundraising support, and custom programming services to a variety of software and publishing companies and a regional medical center.
1998-1999
Product Manager
Seagate Software – Vancouver, BC
Responsible for investigating the feasibility of developing a financial reporting version of Seagate Crystal Reports
1982-1998
Various
Timeline, Incorporated – Bellevue, WA
Worked in areas of increasing responsibility for developer of accounting, budgeting and financial reporting software. Began as programmer and tester and moved to consulting responsible for managing client projects and product training programs. As budget project manager successfully designed, created, implemented, and supported complex budget solutions combining company's budget product with custom modules. Served as product / program manager for variety of products including company's flagship desktop financial reporting and budgeting products
Community Activities
1983-Present
Children's Therapy Unit, Good Samaritan Hospital - Puyallup, WA
Provide peer counseling and information to selected patients and/or their parents; volunteer in various program activities and fundraising events. Served as board member and co-chair of Public Relations committee of "Building Possibilities" capital campaign for construction of new treatment facility.
1992-1996
Washington Software Association - Bellevue, WA
Participated in and organized speaking engagements for Women in High Tech program. As steering committee member for Product Management SIG, assisted with planning meetings, arranging for guest speakers, writing meeting recaps for WSA newsletter .
1985-1986
Associated Students University of Washington - Seattle, WA
Served as elected Student Vice-President of Personnel. Chaired weekly personnel committee meetings, oversaw selection and management of appointed student government positions, participated in regular meetings of the ASUW Board of Control.
1984-1985
University of Washington Disabled Students Commission - Seattle, WA
Served as appointed Director of the Disabled Students Commission. Coordinated on-going programs and special events sponsored by the commission, acted as an advocate on disability issues, managed the commission's budget and paid and volunteer staff.
Education/Professional Development
• University of Washington, Honors Program, Japanese Languages and Literature, Seattle, WA
• University of Washington Extension, Certificate in Software Product Management, Seattle, WA