Objective:

• To combine my writing and communication skills with my technical skills to produce high quality, understandable documentation and communications within agreed upon deadlines

Documentation/Writing:

• Created and tested disaster recovery documentation for large local area network (LAN) environment
• Designed and tested application upgraded from FoxPro to a Web interface
• Interview end users and create user requirements documents
• Write technical documentation for system maintenance intended for developers and system analysts
• Create end user documentation including user manuals, software installation instructions, and online help text
• Create copy for leading online digital photo developing service. The copy is used in promotional and marketing campaigns
• Edited and wrote for internal corporate newsletters
• Prepared five-year strategic plan for Financial Systems team. This document included a discussion of the current and future development environments, development technologies along with anticipated product enhancements and a resource plan
• Wrote content for corporate intranet Web sites
• Wrote features and news articles for The Daily Illini, the student newspaper for the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
• Wrote various reviews and articles for newsletters

Training:

• Provided training classes in use of software products including Structured Query Language (SQL), Microsoft Office and custom applications
• Provided application support for shrink wrapped and customized applications
• Mentored and trained new team members

Technical and Business Skills:

• Designed and developed client-server, single user, and web-based applications
• Performed as technical Webmaster for corporate internet and intranet Web sites
• Coordinated technical design of FlexiInternational Software Inc. accounts receivable application for Gallagher Bassett (www.gallagherbassett.com) in partnership with FlexiInternational (www.flexi.com). This application is part of a suite of financial products targeting medium and large sized organizations.
• Created and maintained data diagrams for financial and administrative databases using ERWin data modeling software
• Webmaster for the Amsterdam chapter of the European Women's International Network (www.womensinternational.net), an international networking association for professional women in The Netherlands
• Software/Hardware Product Experience:
  • Database Tools: Microsoft SQLServer; Access; ERWin (for database modeling), Paradox, Transact SQL
  • Internet/Administration Tools: Microsoft Internet Information Server, Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK) (used for deploying Internet Explorer upgrades to 1400 PCs throughout the company); Front Page and Front Page Server Extensions; Veritas Backup Exec; Dreamweaver
  • General Development Tools: Visual Basic; Foxpro; Visual Source Safe, Visual Intercept; SQLServer Stored Procedures; Working knowledge of Active Server Pages, VB Script, Javascript
  • General Business Software: Word; Excel; PowerPoint; Wordperfect; Lotus 1-2-3; Microsoft Outlook; Adobe Acrobat; Visio
  • Operating Systems: NT Server and Workstation; Windows 95/98, Windows 2000, Windows XP
  • Other Development Tools: Tridion Dialog Server version 3.3 (Content Management System); Remedy (forms designing software)
  • Hardware: installation of modems, printers, scanners, CDR/CD drives, memory additions, network cards, additional parallel port for PCs

Leadership:

• President, FlexiInternational Users Group, 1996-2000: I organized and facilitated meetings as well as coordinated communications between user group and Flexi
• Chairperson, Gallagher Bassett Quality Improvement Team, April 1997- October 1999. This team creates and leads quality initiatives companywide and reports directly to executive management.
• Various management and leadership training courses as part of my professional development sponsored by Gallagher Bassett, Microsoft Training Partners and other third party trainers
• Webmaster, Women's International Network, Amsterdam (www.womensinternational.net), 2005-present

Education:

• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA 1982-1986: Bachelors of Business Administration, Graduated with High Honors
• University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA 1986-1988: Masters of Business Administration (concentrations: Management Information Systems, Marketing)

Employment History:

• Self Employed: June 2002-present, freelance technical and business writer
• GE Access, Amstelveen, The Netherlands, October 2000-June 2002, Senior IT Developer
• Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc., Itasca, Illinois, USA, November 1988-May 2000, various positions from Micro Support Analyst to Consultant
• Allstate Insurance Company, South Barrington, Illinois, USA, June 1987-June 1988, intern position in the Financial Controller's Department