My path to technical writing was a natural transition. Although while considering colleges and careers, I never really thought about a career in writing. I got my degree from Francis Marion University in Computer Information Systems Management (CISM – a really long name that the university changed to Management Information Systems after I graduated).

 

After college, I worked as a customer service rep in tech support for a local software development company. There I developed a passion for helping customers. When the opportunity opened up in the documentation department, I saw it as another way to help customers. I also brought a unique perspective to the team because I knew why the customers were actually calling and the processes they were having trouble with. So, this began the marriage of two things that were important to me – customer service and writing.

 

My career in technical writing began with some talented professionals that I still consider family. Over the years, I've held a variety of titles: Technical Writer, Senior Technical Writer, Senior Communications Analyst, Senior Knowledge Analyst, and Senior Content Writer. No matter the title, at the heart of who I am is a writer.

 

I’ve been very fortunate to work and learn in a variety of industries. My movement within these industries has provided me with the opportunity to expand my experience and knowledge. I’ve worked as a member of the development team for financial accounting and electronic medical records (EMR) software companies. I’ve written and updated summary plan descriptions (SPDs) and training manuals for a third-party administrator (TPA) and a healthcare IT company. And, I've spent time creating documentation for some of the country's largest healthcare and property and casualty (P&C) insurance companies.

 

For over 15 years, I’ve worked remotely (while living in Columbia, SC)  for companies based in CA, CT, IL, MD, SC, TN, and TX. One of the things people ask me about remote working is whether I get dressed "for the office". I get dressed for work every day. 

 

I work well as a solo writer and as part of a documentation team. I enjoy mentoring writers who are new to the field.

 

I believe in becoming a subject matter expert (SME) for the information I document. I love taking something complex and breaking it down so that anyone can understand it.

 

I enjoy conversations about the Oxford comma, fonts, em vs. en dashes, and pop culture. I’m who you want on your team if you need to develop a style guide or a pop culture trivia partner.

 

In some of my spare time, I listen to some of my favorite podcasts, attend sessions at ITology, and catch up with friends that I've made during my tech writing journey.

 

I'm open to full-time and freelance technical writing and copy editing roles. Contact me if you need a technical writer or copy editor on your team who is passionate about providing customer solutions and quality documentation.