Rebecca J. Forrest
5512 Woodbridge Lane, Dayton, OH 45429
Office 937.436.5788, Cell 937.232.8013
ForrestDesign@woh.rr.com www.ForrestDesignLLC.com
Résumé PDF Version
Objective
Freelance assignments in technical writing/editing, information design, structured intranet content, policy/procedure documentation, and communications-related instruction.
Summary of Qualifications
Technical communication, emphasis on information structure and design, proofreading, editing, policy documentation, procedural writing, technical reports, and proposals. Writing-related presentations and instruction. Creation of intranet-based documentation systems. Workshops conducted at international, regional, and local conferences, and at individual companies. Website design using iWeb. Consulting for goal-setting, strategic planning, and presentation skills.
Professional Experience
Forrest Design LLC, Owner, Dayton OH, 2006 to present. (www.ForrestDesignLLC.com) Services ranging from writing and editing to seminar organization and information design.
- Created and maintained project engineering knowledgebase for intranet deployment. Over 125 pages of text, as well as extensive indexing and linking
- Designed, wrote, and maintained online project management knowledgebase. Over 225 pages of original text with index and dozens of links to client’s existing intranet material
- Organized, coached instructors, and taught two-day seminar on project management
- Wrote and edited technical reports, white papers, and funding requests for federal market
- Guided strategic planning for new client services department of $100 million technical firm
- Provided technical and substantive editing of scientific dissertation for client seeking PhD
- For publication company, researched and ghost-wrote article on surviving sexual abuse
- Edited and indexed nursing textbooks as well as quick-reference and training materials.
Woolpert, Inc., Dayton OH, 1990 to 2006. (www.Woolpert.com) Technical communication, staff management, seminar presentations, and business/strategic planning.
- GIS project specialist, 2005 to 2006. Performed special projects ranging from writing and editing to business/strategic planning and instruction.
- Group manager, 2002 to 2005. Managed 25 to 50 technical writers/editors, mapping technicians, software designers, database specialists, systems analysts, junior project managers, and onsite GIS specialists. Gave numerous instructional presentations, both in-house and at conferences.
- Supervisor, 2000 to 2002. Supervised in-house technical writers; oversaw proposal production. Coordinated freelance writing. Presented at international and regional writing conferences.
- Senior technical writer, 1993 to 2002. Researched, wrote, and edited plans, database designs, software guides, tutorials, and technical reports. Coordinated outside writing resources. Presented at conferences. Led in-house training. Wrote articles for journals and newsletters.
- Technical writer, 1990 to 1993. Cooperatively wrote and edited procedural documents, planning documents, and technical reports. Wrote award winning style, usage, and format guide.
Sheffield Measurement, Technical writer, Dayton OH, 1988 to 1990. (www.SheffieldMeasurement.com) While on contract, wrote, edited, and proofread technical documentation for manufacturing quality control systems, including both software and hardware. Wrote award-winning in-house style and format manual.
Education
- B.A., English, Wright State University, Professional Writing Certificate, minor in French.
- Seminars on online documentation design, coaching, supervision, indexing, mentoring, group management, language translation, and Spanish technical writing and editing.
Awards
- Award of excellence, AM/FM/GIS Development and Implementation Plan, Louisville Water Company, STC, 2000.
- Award of excellence, GIS Implementation Plan, Livingston County, Michigan, APEX, 2000.
- Award of excellence, Woolpert Desk Reference, STC, 1997-98.
- Award of merit, Applying Watershed Strategies to Address Complex Problems in the Mill Creek, STC, 1997-98.
- Award of achievement, Miami-Dade Sewer & Water Department, Procedures Manual for Field Verification and Data Conversion, STC, 1997-98.
- International award of merit and local distinguished technical communication award, Woolpert Desk Reference, STC, 1992-93.
- Award of excellence, Pickaway County Implementation Plan, STC, 1992-93.
- Award of excellence, Woolpert In-house Style Guide, APEX, 1992.
- Award of excellence, Sheffield Measurement Style Guide, STC, 1990.
Publications and Presentations
Article - "Résumés for Success"- “Résumés for Success.” Presentation, STC SWO, Dayton, OH, 2008.
- “Jumps and Ribbons and Zoomies: Choosing Agility Photos.” www.PawPrintsPet.com, 2007. Also web master for this site.
- “The Road to Recovery: Healing from Sexual Abuse.” Ghost-written for a confidential client, 2006
- “Surviving a Workplace Disaster.” Workshop, STC Annual Conference, Seattle, 2005.
- “The Editing Workout.” Workshop, CURRENTS Conference, Atlanta, 2005. Workshop, STC Annual Conference, Baltimore, 2004; Nashville, 2002; and Chicago, 2001.
- “Writing Procedures like a Pro.” Workshop, CURRENTS Conference, Atlanta, 2005. Workshop, STC Annual Conference, Orlando, 2000; and Cincinnati, 1999.
- “Marketing Documentation Services through Leadership.” TechCom Manager, October 2004.
- “Writing Skills Training for Technical Staff: Sentence and Paragraph Construction and Outline and Draft Construction.” Series of workshops, Woolpert, Dayton, Ohio, 2004.
- “Introduction to Business Process Reengineering and Its Common Tools (Use Cases and Modeling).” Presentation, STC Annual Conference, Nashville, 2002.
- “Confessions of a Professional Services Consultant.” Presentation, STC SWO, Dayton, Ohio, 2002.
- “Digital Résumé Submission Top Ten List.” Between the Lines, January 2002.
- “Digital Résumé Submission.” Presentation, STC SWO, Dayton, Ohio, 2001.
- Review of How to Write & Present Technical Information by Charles H. Sides. Technical Communication, November 2000.
- Review of Technical Writing Styles by Dan Jones. Technical Communication, August 1998.
- “Translation without Mangulation.” Between the Lines, November 1997; Intercom, July-August 1998.
- “Providing On the Job Training to Nonwriters.” Half-day workshop, STC Annual Conference, Anaheim, 1998.
- “Online Editing—Tips and Tricks for Ensuring a Faster and Higher-Quality Process.” Steps & Specs Newsletter, December 1997.
- “Avoiding Language-Translation Potholes.” Between the Lines, October 1997 (coauthor).
- “Translation 101: I’ve Got This Dual-Language Dictionary, So I’m Ready to Translate, Right?” Between the Lines, September 1997 (coauthor).
- “Online Editing Magic.” Workshop, STC Annual Conference, Toronto, 1997; Seattle, 1996.
- “Producing an In-House Style Manual.” Presentation, STC Annual Conference, Minneapolis, 1994.