About

Hewlett-Packard (HP), GTCI, City of Allen, Plano ISD Technology Division, Allen ISD, and more...

Wearing a suit every day in IT corporate meetings, roaming through a classroom of my high school students, or working with a globally based virtual team from my home office, I've performed a huge range of roles. Honestly, I've enjoyed all these arrangements and made my clients, users, and managers happy.

I’ve worked with clients from large global IT corporations to small businesses, plus two of North Texas' largest, top-performing school districts. I've written, edited, analyzed, and designed in just about any medium you'll need, from online to classroom to hard copy… as well as blended media.

Because I love learning new things and am a techie at heart, I get up to speed quickly with tech tools and all types of subject matter—which means I dive into your project along with you. And one of the best things about it is that I get to learn something new on every project, and with every group I’ve worked with.

The combination of my experience, skills, education, and interests combine to make me a writer who can do more than just put words on paper—or on a screen. I become your partner in getting results from your target audience.

• Proven ability to obtain, understand, and organize information from subject-matter experts (SMEs) and management and then communicate it to non-experts, including ridding it of jargon. This skill is essential in communicating with users, buyers, or students because many are unfamiliar with a seller’s or expert's terminology.

• Top-notch writing, editing, and proofing skills. I’ve used these in a huge range of technical and non-technical areas. However, I still know how to accept edits and critiques of my own writing; I refuse to stop improving.

• I've spent more than 15 years writing for corporations, communicating successfully with their clients, staff, upper management, and employees—both as an employee and as a frequently requested contractor. I’ve trained and mentored other writers and have always been in demand as an editor, regardless of my role.

• Technical tools—I’ve always jumped at the chance to learn new technical tools, programs, or apps to make my (and my team’s) work more effective, and I love finding ways to utilize them for more than their original function. That’s why consistently throughout my career, I’ve been asked to train coworkers and managers on technical tools that I’ve learned first or better, even when I was the newest person on the team.

• Analytical problem-solving skills—I find the root of a problem or need (not just symptoms) and use data extensively; collecting the right data and knowing how to interpret it is critical, so I’m a huge fan of data tool use. (I also worked with SMEs to design and develop an online data analysis curriculum as an IT instructional designer.)

• I’m highly detail-oriented—yet I can always step back and see “the big picture.”

• Multitasking, teamwork—I love being part of a team, yet I’m able to prioritize projects and deadlines independently.

• More than most writers, I know firsthand how people comprehend and remember what they read—and how the process can break down. I'm motivated because both my sons are dyslexic. What you may not know is that your dyslexic audience is large—approximately 20 percent of the population—and often includes extremely bright people who make a real difference in the world but still struggle with written language. See The Reading Connection on my site for more.

All my roles, whether corporate, freelance, teaching, or volunteer work, have required heavy-duty writing/editing ability, used daily.