TechcomWiz

Education and experience should complement each other, with education guiding and improving the experiences that follow, and experience informing our education. On the “Education” page I list that history. The Career Highlights below summarizes my experience in four categories: Technical Communications & Training; International Management; Science & the Environment; and Technological Expertise.

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Career Highlights

Summary:

Extensive international experience in training, technical communications, adult education, marketing, and in the management of commercial high-tech and military aerospace projects and systems, in the public and private sectors. Many years of experience as an environmental officer, lobbyist, science researcher and writer, and as a teacher of geography and environmental studies.

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS & TRAINING

• Director of training for Leitch Technology, a two-hundred-million-dollar per-year hardware and software company serving the global broadcast television industry. Built the department from the ground up. Developed new technical training programs tightly integrated into overall marketing, for delivery via a full spectrum of traditional and electronic means. Wrote and edited courseware. Created unique branding for training products. Managed staff and contractors; closely coordinated among multiple departments and products; delivered training worldwide.
• Senior support specialist for a very innovative software company specializing in 3-D visualization tools for complex data sets. Clients included NASDAQ and the US Department of Defense (DOD). A security clearance was required. Created help documentation, interactive tutorials, and courseware for instructor-led classes for a netcentric system, and for the company’s proprietary geographic information system (GIS), used in a range of enterprise information products.
• Manager of technical communications for Digital Processing Systems (DPS), a manufacturer of leading-edge computer video hardware, software and security products. Wrote and edited documentation and training for audiences ranging from studio engineers to convenience store owners. Managed the localization process for Germany, France, Italy and Japan.
• Department head of a large aerospace technical training organization composed of thirty-two instructors in four disciplines, training aircrews for the Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) aircraft. Authored and edited mission-sensitive technical training materials for sophisticated military aircraft control and communications systems; supervised other technical writers and trainers; managed contractors. In addition, taught in the classroom, in the simulator, and in flight. Rated “Exceptionally Qualified” during evaluations of instruction – the highest possible rating.
• Chief of training for a new multi-million-dollar computerized radar system. With a staff of ten, developed instruction plans, lecture guides, tests, and all other course materials. Developed and implemented a cutting-edge training system. Trained the initial cadre of instructors, and brought the system from test and evaluation to full operation – on schedule.
• Adjunct professor: technical and business communications; economic, physical and regional geography; environmental studies; introductory computer science.

INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT

• As Director of Communications for DPS, created and ran the technical communications, quality assurance, and marketing departments. Developed a global marketing image, improved coordination and resource sharing among business units, and ensured a balance between corporate consistency and regional sensitivity.
• Chief Executive Officer (Commander) of a 100-man joint-service military unit in an isolated area of the Republic of Korea (ROK). Integrated operations, communications, security, logistics, maintenance, housing, and transportation. Annual operating budget over US $8,000,000. Commended by the American military for cost savings, by the ROK air defense chief for “the best operations teams in Korea”, and by the President of the Provincial Social Welfare Council for “outstanding contributions to the welfare of Korean orphans.”
• Mission Crew Commander of a $200-million Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft and crew of 25-30 for classified worldwide missions, from north of the Arctic Circle to the middle-eastern desert. Crews won performance awards.
• In Europe, directed a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) tactical evaluation branch: led multi-national inspection teams. In the Middle East, coordinated voice and data-link operations among U.S. and Royal Saudi air and naval forces. In the Far East: participated with military and civilian officials in planning for the political reversion of Okinawa to Japan; conducted briefings in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Vietnam, and on ships at sea.

SCIENCE & THE ENVIRONMENT

• Co-author, with Varda Burstyn, of “Toxic World, Troubled Minds”, on the effects of toxics in the environment on the health and behavior of children, in No Child Left Different, Sharna Olfman, editor. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger, 2006.
• Science researcher for:

– “A World Fit for Children”, Varda Burstyn, in Child Honoring: How to Turn this World Around, Raffi Cavoukian and Sharna Olfman, editors. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger, 2006.
– “Techno-Environmental Assaults on Childhood in America”, Varda Burstyn and Gary Sampson, in Childhood Lost: How American Culture is Failing Our Kids, Sharna Olfman, editor. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger, 2005.
– The fact-based novel Water Inc. (“A spectacular eco-thriller”: Orion Magazine), Varda Burstyn. London/New York: Verso, 2005.
– Double Blind, a novel currently in development by Varda Burstyn – a follow-on to Water Inc. about persistent organic pollutants (POPS), the chemical industry, money, power, death, and politics.

• Legislative lobbyist for the Oklahoma Audubon Council: coordinated the efforts of twenty-one Audubon chapters around the state on environmental issues; wrote and briefed position papers; published a monthly newsletter for the Council.
• Regional Environmentalist and transportation planner for the Oregon State Department of Transportation: directed environmental studies and study teams; wrote and edited environmental impact statements; conducted public meetings.
• Adjunct professor of environmental studies, and physical, economic and human geography.
• Author of “The Environmental Responsibilities of Public Officials”, published in the American Public Works Association (APWA) Review, December, 1976.

TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE

• As Group Manager, Technical Services, supervised the testing of all DPS desktop video products from initial software and hardware versions to final product release; founding member of DPS “Best Practices” group; improved product development process from initial concept through to shipping.
• Senior partner and general manager of a successful computer sales and service store specializing in videography, 1992-93; installed and operated the video editing suite.
• Computer programmer and systems analyst for the first large-scale computerized ground radar system in North America; developed and ran live and simulated exercises involving hundreds of aircraft.
• Highly experienced in military simulation technology: land-based and airborne air defense; fixed-wing aircrew training; helicopter training; Army air-land battle; Navy air-air interoperability.
• Graduated second-in-class from U.S. Air Force computer programmer training. Computer experience ranges from mainframes to netbooks to the cloud. Taught computer science at the undergraduate level.
• Tools: experienced user of FrameMaker, Author-it, RoboHelp, RoboDemo/Captivate, Camtasia, Snagit, Photoshop, Lightroom, Acrobat, OpenOffice and Windows Office suites, and several video editing software packages.

Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC).

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