PORTIA L. WESTFALL
Rochester, NY 14608
E-mail: p911@rochester.rr.com

 
 
 

 

 SUMMARY
Technical Writer with Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology and six years experience in the creation and maintenance of technical documentation for user and administrator levels. Fluent in the use of MS Office products, Adobe FrameMaker, and RoboHelp. Interfaces effectively with subject matter experts, and possesses strong written and oral communication skills. Seeking a position that contributes to the company’s continued success while applying and broadening my writing and managerial skills.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
 Lenel Systems International, Inc. (June 1999 – Present)

Manager of Documentation Services (August 2003 – Present)

  • Establish goals for the Documentation team and ensure those goals are met

  • Examine new technologies and determine how they can be applied in order to streamline current processes or create better documentation

  • Ensure all documentation is high quality and consistent with department standards

  • Supervise three employees and conduct periodic performance appraisals

  • Represent the Documentation team at weekly Corrective Action Team (CAT) meetings, where the company’s work priorities for each software release are determined

  • Interface with training staff to develop supplemental class materials
  • Perform all job duties of the Senior Technical Documentation Specialist position

Senior Technical Documentation Specialist

  • Edit product release notes

  • Researched and coordinated the migration of all user manuals from Microsoft Word to Adobe FrameMaker

  • Perform all job duties of the Technical Documentation Specialist position, only at a higher level

Technical Documentation Specialist

  • Develop and maintain general user and system administrator manuals for the OnGuard software suite using Microsoft Word, Adobe FrameMaker, and Adobe Acrobat

  • Conduct document validation and prepare documentation for delivery via web and CD-ROM

  • Index user manuals using FSA IXgen

  • Design, develop, and maintain context-sensitive help for the OnGuard software suite using RoboHelp Classic and RoboHelp HTML

  • Obtain and optimize screen captures, as well as illustrate products, features, and processes using Adobe Photoshop, TechSmith SnagIt, and Microsoft Visio

  • Prepare user manuals and help files for translation and localization

  • Created and currently maintain a Microsoft Access database of map ids used in the context-sensitive help

  • Developed a single source method that significantly reduced the time needed to update the context-sensitive help

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Society for Technical Communication (STC), April 2001 – Present

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Attended STC's 52nd Annual Conference held in Seattle, WA in 2005
Attended STC’s 51st Annual Conference held in Baltimore, MD in 2004
Attended STC’s 50th Annual Conference held in Dallas, TX in 2003
Attended STC’s 48th Annual Conference held in Chicago, IL in 2001

TRAINING
Completed Adobe FrameMaker: An Introduction (1-day course) and Adobe FrameMaker: Advanced (2-day course), May 2002
Completed RoboHelp Classic Training (4-day course), January 2001

EDUCATION
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology granted March 2000
Certificate in Deaf Studies granted August 1999

Brockport State University of New York, Brockport, NY
Bachelor of Science in Psychology granted December 1996

Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, NY
Associate in Arts in Liberal Studies granted May 1993

SOFTWARE
Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe FrameMaker, FSA IXgen, Adobe Premiere, TechExcel DevTrack, Microsoft FrontPage, Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, Quadralay WebWorks, Macromedia RoboHelp Classic, Macromedia RoboHelp HTML, Microsoft Visio, TechSmith SnagIt, Wextech Doc-To-Help