Senior Publications Specialist

Ellen has been involved in the computer software industry for more than three decades. Her experience includes software development, quality assurance, system operations, training development and delivery, technical marketing support, and management, with an emphasis on technical writing and communication. She joined Expert Support Inc. after she hired ESI for some projects in the technical publications department that she managed, and the ESI writers and managers impressed her with their skills and professionalism.

In her years as a senior technical writer and publications specialist for Expert Support, Ellen has specified, researched, and written technical material in a variety of paper and online formats. Client products have included open-source 3D graphic asset storage, gaming platform tools for developers, networking hardware and software, Internet sales tools, Web-based system configuration and routing, XML-based and C-language APIs, UNIX high-availability tools, relational database management systems, accounting systems, warranty tracking, software and semantic analysis systems, queueing and caching utilities, and more. Her specialty is application programming interfaces (APIs).

In every position, Ellen acquires product expertise quickly and independently, becomes a valued and productive member of the team, contributes to the team’s success in areas outside of her specific job requirements, and identifies technology transfer gaps that she fills by developing new documentation or other materials for internal or end user use.

Her experience with documentation tools ranges through most word-processing and desktop-publishing packages, and includes conversion from print to HTML and direct HTML development. She has often served as the local tools expert and has developed and taught courses about FrameMaker and other products. She is a long-time administrator on Wikipedia and is webmaster for her not-for-profit dog agility club's web site.

Before Expert Support, Ellen managed a 20-person documentation and production group at Rational. Prior experience includes almost ten years filling a variety of technical and supervisory positions at a Silicon Valley startup that produced a relational database management system and project management tools. She also worked at Hewlett Packard and Systems Development Corp.

On the side, Ellen also

• Posts occasional notes about writing, reading, and language for a general audience at Word Whirled (http://wordwhirled.blogspot.com).
• Teaches workshops in composting as a Master Composter for Santa Clara County.

Education

Ellen completed her BS in Computer Science/Mathematics at Santa Clara University and has taken several classes through the UC Santa Cruz Technical Writing Extension program.