Mike Starr

Hello

I'm a senior technical writer with experience creating both print
and online documentation for a variety of high-tech products (both 
hardware and software). Thank you for your time and consideration.

Mike Starr

======================================================================
Michael R. Starr
8920 Wilmot Road
Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin 53158
Telephone:	(262) 694-1028
Email: 		mike@writestarr.com
Web: 		http://www.writestarr.com/


Summary
I'm a senior-level technical writer with extensive experience creating print and online documentation for a variety of high-tech products (both hardware and software). I'm highly skilled with Microsoft Word and have developed numerous templates with VBA/macro document automation. I also have experience as an editor, web developer, graphic designer and I'm also an expert desktop publisher, able to work with any desktop publishing package. I don't need much, if any, handholding. Some writers need a programmer or engineer to sit down with them and guide them through the process or write the first draft, but I have enough background and experience to just go ahead and do it myself. Give me the product, I'll write the documentation.


Functions and specialties
* Documentation
* Technical Writing
* GUI Design
* Desktop Publishing
* Technical Editing
* Graphic Design
* Online Help
* Website Design
* Usability


Work history

Technical Writer	6/2006 - 6/2007	Connection Strategies Enterprises, Inc. (CSEI)
* Created print and online documentation for WAREsystems (Sturtevant, Wisconsin) using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Visual FoxPro, Paint Shop Pro, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Visio and RoboHelp.
* Designed and implemented documentation templates.
* Redesigned several key GUI elements for the Pumpware product suite using Microsoft Visual FoxPro.

Consulting Technical Writer/Editor	10/1999 - present	WriteStarr Information Services
* Acted as technology consultant and did website maintenance for two non-profit groups (pro bono).
* Created Microsoft Word template files with document automation functionality for a major banking company.
* Created print and online documentation using Microsoft Word, Paint Shop Pro, Visio, Adobe Acrobat and RoboHelp for new consumer software products for a manufacturer of wireless communication equipment and software.
* Edited investment analyst reports for a prominent financial analyst company.
* Created updated versions of Microsoft Word template files with extensive document automation functionality for a major airline-industry holding company.
* Created printed and online documentation with Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat and ForeHelp for a systems integrator/software company.
* Created print and online documentation using Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat and ForeHelp for new consumer software products for two different software companies.
* Served as technical editor of translated documents for New York-based translation company.
* Assisted in the redesign of several sections of the printed catalog for a large biotech company (resulted in substantial savings in printing costs).
* Created online documentation using RoboHelp for content management system for an educational publisher.
* Created websites for several small companies and two non-profit associations (pro-bono).

Technical Writer	2/2006 - 5/2006	Manpower Professional
* Wrote and updated software and hardware documentation for Honeywell HomMed LLC (Brookfield, Wisconsin) using Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Microsoft Word, Visio.
* Served as a member of the RFP and RFI team developing proposals and information responses.
* Created Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) for the release of new parts and bills of material (BOM).
* Established documentation standards and style guidelines including development of Microsoft Word templates.

Technical Writer	5/2005 - 8/2005	TEK Systems
* Updated SAP process documentation flowcharts and Business Process Narratives for S.C. Johnson Corporation (Racine, Wisconsin) using Microsoft Word, Paint Shop Pro, RoboHelp HTML, Adobe Acrobat and Visio.
* Received Administrator training for Microsoft Sharepoint.

Technical Writer	3/2005 - 5/2005	Technisource
* Wrote and edited software development requirements documentation for Shure Corporation (Niles, Illinois) using Microsoft Word, Paint Shop Pro, Test Director, Visio and CaliberRM.

Technical Writer	10/2004 - 2/2005	MAKE Corporation
* Wrote and edited software development documentation including requirements, architecture and testing for Volkswagen Credit (Libertyville, Illinois) using Microsoft Word, Paint Shop Pro, Test Director, Visio, Visual SourceSafe.

Technical Writer	2/2004 - 9/2004	TEK Systems
* Wrote and edited end-user and developer (API) software documentation for Marshall & Swift/Boeckh (New Berlin, Wisconsin) using RoboHelp Office, Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, Paint Shop Pro and Visio.
* Created single-source solution for print, PDF and WebHelp for MS/B's RCT Express product.
* Created highly automated Microsoft Word template with macros for all MS/B products.

Technical Writer/Editor	9/2003 - 2/2004	York Enterprise Solutions
* Wrote and edited policies and procedures for the GE Medical Systems Global Server Team (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) using Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, Paint Shop Pro, Visio.

Technical Communicator	5/2003 - 9/2003	Manpower
* Edited and formatted marketing documents, specialty catalogs and user manuals for Allen-Bradley (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) using Adobe FrameMaker, Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator.

Senior Technical Writer	04/1999 - 10/1999	Interim Technology
* Created online documentation for ADAC Genesys/Pegasys Nuclear Imaging system in support of GE Medical Systems Healthcare Services business (Waukesha, Wisconsin).
* Served as technical expert and principal designer of Microsoft Word template used in development of online documentation for delivery in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
* Created scripting to add functionality to PDF document.

Senior Technical Writer	07/1998 - 02/1999	PLATINUM technology
* Created user manuals, online help files and online documentation for PLATINUM technology (Northbrook, Illinois) ProVision Network Monitor and Network Report Card application software products.
* Designed HTML user interface for the Network Report Card application; designed and created installation script for software product.

Consulting Technical Writer	02/1998 - 07/1998	WriteStarr Information Services
* Created user manuals, online help files and online documentation for Geneva Software (Northbrook, Illinois) AlertPage Enterprise and Network Report Card software products.

Technical Writer/Editor	04/1997 - 10/1997	Adecco
* Created and coordinated application support documentation for 40 Solaris telecom applications for Ameritech startup long distance service company (Milwaukee, Wisconsin).
* Edited procedures documentation created by two procedures analysts.
* Designed and supervised development of Lotus Notes database for application support even log and management report creation.

Technical Writer	01/1997 - 03/1997	Systems and Computer Technology
* Created and documented change-management procedures for Continental Cablevision (Richmond, Virginia) IBM RS/6000/AIX/Tuxedo/Oracle system
* Worked on application documentation for Remedy multi-platform customer service application.
* Worked on policies and procedures documentation for QA group.

Senior Technical Communicator	03/1994 - 08/1996	Rockwell Software
* Created new user's manuals and on-line documentation for Rockwell Software (West Allis, Wisconsin) using Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, Paint Shop Pro and ForeHelp.
* Created data sheets and catalog text for Communications Business Unit products.


Publications
* Give them printed documentation, too!, Intercom (Society for Technical Communication), June, 1999; reprinted in TC Forum, December, 2001


Education
* Usability Certificate, Society for Technical Communication
* AAS, Technical Communications, Gateway Technical College, Racine, Wisconsin
* AAS, Electromechanical Technology, Gateway Technical College, Racine, Wisconsin


Software and tools
* Adobe Acrobat
* Adobe Dreamweaver
* Adobe Flash
* Adobe FrameMaker
* Adobe Illustrator
* Adobe PageMaker
* Adobe PhotoShop
* Adobe RoboHELP
* AutoCAD LT
* CaliberRM
* Corel Designer
* Corel Draw
* Corel Paintshop Pro
* Corel Ventura Publisher
* Corel WordPerfect
* ForeHelp
* HTML
* Lotus WordPro (AmiPro)
* MacDraw
* Microsoft Access
* Microsoft Excel
* Microsoft Front Page
* Microsoft Front Page Express
* Microsoft Help Compiler
* Microsoft Internet Explorer
* Microsoft MS-DOS
* Microsoft Office
* Microsoft Outlook
* Microsoft PowerPoint
* Microsoft Project
* Microsoft SourceSafe
* Microsoft Visio
* Microsoft Visual Basic
* Microsoft Visual FoxPro
* Microsoft Windows (all versions)
* Microsoft Word
* Mozilla Firefox
* Quark XPress
* SnagIT
* Test Director


Memberships
* Software Contractor's Guild
* Working Writers of Wisconsin
* Society for Technical Communication 
* Former member, Curriculum committee, Gateway Technical College Technical Communication program


Hardware
* PC (desktop, laptop and server)
* Macintosh
* Programmable controllers (PLC)
* Power and hand tools
* Scanner
* Digital camera
* 35mm camera
* Video camera (studio and personal)


Industry/application environments
* Automobile finance
* Network monitoring
* Factory automation
* Consumer chemical products
* Diagnostic imaging
* Consumer software
* Industrial automation software
* Biotech
* Communications

Copyright(c) 1995 1996 1997 Mike Starr and The Software Contractors' Guild, Post Office Box 257, Nottingham, NH USA 03290-0257