Valerie Haus

Pittsburgh, PA 15215 412 772-1627 valhaus@comcast.net www.writesound.com

Professional Summary
Senior technical writer accustomed to researching, developing, and delivering software documentation.

Technical Experience
Microsoft Office, Word, SharePoint, Visio, PowerPoint, Excel Adobe FrameMaker, Acrobat, DreamWeaver (and Bridge) Snagit, Webex, Robohelp, Neoteris, Snapshot, Hijaak, Gadwin, RSA SecurID, VMWare

Technical Communication Consultant

2004-present

Wrote or revised software documentation, including procedures, system administration guides, user guides, installation guides, online help, and quick references.

Thomson Reuters (contract), Sewickley, PA

2010-2011

Created web-based online help and a print administrators guide for developing software, designed for trading with UK stock exchanges. Developed the API administrators guide by using the complex, difficult user interface, encountering bugs, coaxing explanations out of technical experts, and running review meetings. Created high-level tasks and developed step-by-step, plain English procedures for inexperienced Thomson Reuters administrators. Developed content for the GUI online help by interpreting requirements, using the system, and working with the Product Manager.

Highmark BCBS (contract), Pittsburgh, PA

2008-2010

Revised complex flow charts of the JCL job flows for usability and web implementation. Revised quick references for COBOL programmers, for example, Resolving ABENDs Wrote or revised instructions for finance on how meet requirements of the New York Health Care Reform Act. Edited web pages, jobs aids, training materials, and PowerPoint presentations. SharePoint 2007: site owner for two sites, which included researching, organizing and implementing web part pages, document and picture libraries, customized lists, calendars, links, announcements, and content query web parts.

Additional contracts and clients:

Curtiss Wright Flow Control (Electro-Mechanical Company), Tele-Tracking Technologies (JH Technical), Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (A C Coy), Cyberscribe (Canada), Solutions 21, Thoughtform Valerie Haus Page 1 of 3 9/19/2011

The Clearing House (TCH), New York, NY Training/Documentation Manager/ Writer (IT, financial)

2000-2004

Supported electronic payment messaging among financial institutions and the Federal Reserve. Functions of this IT group were internal and external documentation and training for TCH customers. Established technical documentation standards. Documentation included system and organizational procedures and application user guides. Analysis: Prioritized, researched, analyzed, reorganized and updated a 30 document backlog. Developed a plan for creating missing documents or updating existing documents over time. All were completed successfully within two years.

Process:
Planned and implemented version control for the documentation library and training materials. Negotiated and initiated a review, approval, and delivery process. Gathered accurate information by using existing software and interviewing technical experts.

Information Development and Delivery:

Created task-oriented software manuals and online help for delivery to customers. Supervised and edited IT Methods and Procedures, meeting the demands of external auditors. Implemented documentation standards, emphasizing ease of use, comprehensibility, and an appealing page format. Training supported mainly Automated Clearing House (ACH) processing (i.e. Direct Deposit). Reviewed and/or revised new and existing training materials and documentation. Ensured that trainers (and writers) had immediate access to software under development. Automated the class registration process for better time management and reporting.

AT&T/Bell Laboratories, Bedminster/Holmdel, New Jersey

Documentation Manager, Sr. Technical Writer (contractor then hired as Member of Technical Staff in 1997)

1996-2000

Lead writer supporting systems based on object-oriented design: a client/server based GUI, data warehouse and data filter. Systems engineer in a collaborative, multi-cultural environment. Created user and application administration documentation for internal clients. Gathered information by using the software as it was being developed, interpreting requirements, and interviewing technical experts. Collaborated with software developers, system engineers, human factors engineers, system testers, project managers, a user representative, and the technical publications group. Selected and led a new group of writers to deliver methods and procedures as needed.

Valerie Haus

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Education
M.A. in Professional Writing, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 3.1 B.A. in Speech Communication, Carlow University, Pittsburgh, PA, 3.6

Publications
Computer Documentation for the Factory Floor, IEEE Professional Communicators Conference Chapter 10, Illustrations, in Science and Technical Writing, A Manual of Style, Henry Holt Corporate publications: Telecommunication: o o o o o o system requirements (for the AT&T switched network) User guides, provisioning and maintenance GUI release notes work management guide for provisioning Inbound and Outbound nodal facilities, Global Restore Administration and user guide for administrators and selected managers 50% of the NRM (Network Recording Management) Architecture Plan of Record

Thomson Reuters Market Gateway Hub Administrators Guide and online help files user guides: financial application software system administration guides application administration guides software and hardware installation guides online help hardware data sheets
Senior Technical writer, FrameMaker, telecommunications, data communications, API, user guides, online help, tutorial, Robohelp,

SW technical writing, application, help files, training degree

Valerie Haus

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