Member Profiles
Jim Copes
Hello. My name is Jim Copes. I am a technical writer for Caterpillar,
Inc. I specialize in writing operation and maintenance manuals.
I also write periodical articles and specification books. I use
SGML tagging to produce the manuals for electronic and paper publication.
I do basic graphics illustrations and do my own photography.
Peggy Currid
Past Treasurer and Past Chapter President
My career in technical communication began eight years ago, following
a stint as a high school English and history teacher. Although I've
written user documentation and online help for software, my focus
in the past few years has been editing and publications management.
My specialty is editing scientific and technical material. No matter
what the topic, though, I can see a publication project through
from editing the manuscript to overseeing design and layout to working
with a printing company to ensure the final product meets the client's
needs. I also offer expertise in repurposing printed material for
online publication. I'm currently enrolled in a one-year program
for Web site design and management. Much of my spare time is devoted
to maintaining and upgrading the rehabbed Victorian farmhouse that
I call home.
Lisa Denlinger
Chapter Treasurer
I am a Technical Marketing Writer at Wolfram
Research,
Inc. I write informational materials for our website
such as Mathematica user profiles, product
announcements, and internal news materials. In my free
time, I work on ceramic art projects in the
Champaign-Urbana Potters'
Club studio.
Maria Fish
WWW Committee
I am currently working as Webmaster in the EOT division of NCSA.
I also do freelance work as a web designer and site consultant.
View my resume.
Joe Grohens
For many years I have worked as the Publications Director at Wolfram
Research; now Internationalization Manager and Managing Editor of
"The Mathematica Journal."
Ginny Hudak-David
Past Chapter President
My career has included positions focusing on different aspects
of technical communication. Currently, I am the Director of Communications
for the University
of Illinois College of Commerce and Business Administration.
I work with college staff on developing and producing print information
and helping units establish or expand their web presence. My strengths
lie in information analysis, technical editing, writing and indexing,
and project coordination. I am interested in freelance projects
that utilize these strengths.
Jamie Hutchinson
I manage a publications office at the University of Illinois that
provides editorial, writing, graphics, and print and electronic
production services to the Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering. My main expertise is in editing technical and scientific
copy.
Office Web page: www.ece.uiuc.edu/pubs
Resume: www.staff.uiuc.edu/~jhutchin/resume
Polly Kroha, Webmaster
I am currently an instructional designer working for UI-Integrate
at the University of Illinois. I've also worn hats as a programmer
and software analyst at NCS Learn, and before that as a high school
teacher of math and computer science in Miami, FL, and Champaign,
IL.
Nancee Moster, Immediate Past President
I have been a technical communicator for over two decades and
an independent consultant for over one decade. I'm particularly
proud of:
- Co-founding and managing a software development company -- we
designed and developed a software product that became one of the
top three in its vertical market
- Developing and teaching a methodology to create literature that
can do triple duty as marketing, training, and user documentation
- Designing, creating, and performing training for a multi-site,
multi-million-dollar robotic installation, and brainstorming and
developing an online Help system specifically designed to support
that effort
- Designing and creating sales tool templates that contributed
to million-dollar sales
- Receiving nine awards from the Society for Technical Communication
for software guides, hardware guides, and technical marketing
literature
My favorite pastime is analyzing needs, imagining possibilities,
and brainstorming outside-the-box solutions. In my spare time, I
work with my husband, a globe-trotting telecommunications specialist,
to manage our you-pick blueberry, herb, and red raspberry farm fifteen
miles west of Champaign/Urbana. For more information about our farm,
see this News-Gazette story.
Fred Randall
I've been a technical communicator for over 10 years, having done
all phases of developing printed and on-line documentation for software
and hardware, from first draft to final product. I write and edit
the content, create the graphics that are needed, do page layouts,
and design documents from one page to 100+ page manuals. During
my career in the U.S. Air Force (retired as a Senior Master Sergeant),
I was a Training Specialist for 13+ years (four of them as a Technical
Training Instructor) and Manpower Management Analyst for six years.
I am currently the documentation department at Strata Decision Technology
L.L.C. in Champaign. We produce financial management software for
the health care industry. Evenings and weekends I operate my desktop
publishing business, Randall's Desktop, where I specialize in resumes,
typesetting, newsletters, and wedding programs. I publish the newsletter
for Rantoul Lodge No. 470, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons (A. F.
& A. M.) and am a member of the Newsletter Editorial Committee for
the Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of the State of Illinois. I am
a senior member of STC. View my resume.
Marya Ryan
As documentation specialist for the University of Illinois’s
i-card programs, I gather requirements for, assess the usability
of, and assist in the design of interfaces for Web-based applications.
I also write and produce print and online end-user documentation.
I produce and assist in the writing of internal technical and policy
documents. I have been a technical communicator since 1997. I have
five years’ online and sixteen years’ print publication experience.
My main leisure activity is martial arts. I studied Tae Kwon Do
for eight years and am currently learning Shaolin and Praying Mantis
at Song's Kung-Fu Academy in Champaign. View my
resume.
Debra J. Schweiger
I have been a professional writer, trainer, and technical communicator
in both government and private industry for 25 years. I am currently
working as a Documentation Specialist for the telecommunications
software industry in Champaign. My specialty is in the publication
of release notes, large (400-page) user manuals, and computer-based
financial training materials. In my current position, I utilize
my skills in Word, FrameMaker, Paintshop Pro, and indexing. In my
spare time, I am working on the culmination of a 7-year study of
nationwide "local champions" and writing a book by the same name.
Depending upon the season (either political or environmental), I
also enjoy politics, travel, gardening, and remodeling homes. View
my resume.
If you are a Chapter member and would like to post here, e-mail
a brief description of who you are and what you do to the chapter
web master. Send a photo if you like!
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