Resume

Larry Newman

Cell: 405.443.7246
E-mail: newman@world2you.com

Profile

Solutions-oriented technical publications manager with extensive success leading technical publication teams and projects. Over 22 years of technical writing experience.

• Extensive experience writing a wide variety of publications including product manuals, user guides, installation guides, retail materials and many less common deliverable types such as interface manuals, document conversion plans and reference publications.

• Experienced in leading all stages of publications development including interacting with subject matter experts, graphic artists, and other writers.

• Easy to manage. Excellent work ethic and self-motivated. I am able to work with or without direct supervision and readily accept project ownership to drive projects from beginning to end. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and skills to help others succeed.

• Excellent communication skills. Work well with engineers and a diverse range of other personality types.

• Technology-driven with extensive knowledge in many aspects of technology.

Core competencies

• Technical publication development
• Technical publication group management
• Technical writing
• Project planning and execution
• XML and DITA tools
• Server technologies
• Data storage technologies (primarily disk drives)
• Online publication technologies
• Web development
• Six Sigma processes (Greenbelt level)

Technical proficiencies

Operating systems

• Unix (Mac OS X)
• Windows XP/Windows 7
• OS X server
• Windows 2000 Advanced Server (AS)

Databases

• SQL (mySQL and Oracle)
• Microsoft Access

Documentation tools

• Adobe FrameMaker 9
• Adobe RoboHelp 8
• Madcap Flare 6
• PTC Arbortext Editor
• JustSystems XMetaL Author
• EMC Documentum Content Management System
• Microsoft Office tools including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint

Web development tools

• Adobe Dreamweaver
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Flash
• Adobe Fireworks
• Adobe ColdFusion 9
• Eclipse

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism

University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK. 1984.

Computer Science coursework

Continued education with Computer Science coursework at the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK.

Professional experience

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

(Contracted through Arctic Slope Regional Corporation)

Lead Technical Writer, 06/09 to Present

Manage technical publication development for the FAA Power Services group. Current projects include technical instructions for the power systems at new and existing air traffic control facilities including New York LaGuardia, Chicago O'Hare, Atlanta, and Houston.

Key projects:

• Developed and launched a web-accessible technical publication library using ColdFusion and Oracle. Users can now easily search publications by document title, equipment manufacturer, model number, or assigned keywords. Users can now also view publications online (as PDF files) or print them locally when hardcopy is needed. Users can access this vast library from any computer on the FAA intranet or though VPN access outside of FAA facilities.

• Transitioning the technical publications tools from Microsoft Word to DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture) XML technologies. This will enable output to PDF, Windows Help, and HTML.

Seagate Technology, 02/92 to 06/09

Global Technical Publications Manager / Lead Writer, 2001 to 2009.
Senior Technical Writer, 1994 to 2001.
Technical Writer, 1992 to 1994.

Managed all aspects of technical publication development for this global technology company. Managed writers and illustrators to ensure on-time delivery of technical publications and related collateral. Wrote product manuals in support of Seagate enterprise, desktop, and notebook disk drive products. Wrote marketing lead feature articles in support of global sales tools. Consistently earned high performance evaluations.

Key contributions

• Successfully transitioned the enterprise technical publications team from a 9-person staff in Minneapolis, MN to a 3-person staff in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

• Produced publications in support of enterprise, desktop, notebook, and consumer electronics (CE) disk drive storage devices.

• Produced publication in support of retail products including the installation instructions for five major product launches into the retail channel over a three-year period.

• Worked with program managers in Longmont, CO, Minneapolis, MN, and Science Park, Singapore plus Marketing Communications staff in Scotts Valley CA to complete assignments.

• Launched new publications fulfillment center in Denver, CO. Coordinated the transfer of materials for the previous vendor in Napa, CA to the new fulfillment center in Denver. Managed all aspects of the relationship with the Denver vendor.

• Actively participated in several technical publication process improvement projects involving subject matter expers, program amangers, and others using Six Sigma methodology.

• Actively participated in several Six Sigma product launch and electronic specifications projects.

• Established 360-degree review program with the technical support group to ensure that publications are revised to address customer concerns.

• Launched and managed product technical specifications in support of the corporate web site (www.seagate.com).

• Transitioned from manual publication parts management to incorporating technical publications on the corporate Oracle database system bills of materials (BOMs).

• Served on the core team that led to Seagate's successful entry into the retail market.

Basis Information Technologies

Technical Writer, 07/90 to 02/92.

Wrote user documentation for a variety of IBM mainframe, AS/400, and PC banking software applications. Managed all aspects of a one-person technical publication staff including project management, documentation updates, new publication development, and print vendor management.

Kerr-McGee Corporation

Technical Writer (one-year on-site contract), 07/89 to 07/90.

Wrote user documentation for IBM mainframe software applications including procedures, field descriptions, system access procedures, and help instructions in support of Kerr-McGee Revenue Crude Purchasing (RCP) software system.

BTI Systems

Technical Writer, 10/88/to 07/89.

Wrote hardware and software documentation for IBM and NCR documentation processing systems including installation instructions, maintenance procedures, operating instructions, and illustrated parts catalogs.

GTE Communication systems

Technical Writer, 08/87 to 10/88.

Wrote Class 5 Digital Central Office Switch (telephone system equipment) User's Guide documentation used globally by GTE telephone system engineers and technicians. Responsibilities also included writing internal procedures, reports, management presentations, and documentation conversion plans. Represented the group in hardware and software conversion meetings.