PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
PRINCIPAL INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER
Blackboard Inc. - 2008 to present
Thought leader for instructional design team responsible for designing and producing face-to-face and online training workshops for users of Blackboard Learn applications.
SENIOR
TECHNICAL WRITER
Blackboard Inc. - 2005 to 2008
Develop and execute information designs for various writing and instructional projects. Write and review online help files and User Interface page level text, technical white papers, user manuals, faculty development and training materials for enterprise system software applications. Interface extensively with designers, engineers, technical teams, and clients to define product features and requirements documentation within Software Design Life Cycle. Plan, track and monitor all aspects of projects, ensuring adherence to deliverables. Deliver status reports to team members and management. Accountable for overall success of assigned projects, from initial needs assessments through delivery.
- Team lead for major writing and development projects in 2007-2008, including mentoring junior writers.
- Diagram and illustrate complex workflows and use cases for new features and applications for use in client facing materials.
- Created a course to teach clients how to build accessible and Section 508 compliant materials for teaching online.
- Conceptualize and author client “Success Stories” in the form of case studies and narratives for a new features amd applications.
- Design and write an ongoing set of two page documents targeted to new users called “Quick Start Guides” used for training and marketing collateral.
Awards and Recognition
- Recipient of two Awards of Merit from the Society for Technical Communications annual writers competition 2008
- Winner of "Spot-on-Award" for acting above and beyond the call of duty in support of Blackboard business objectives, July 2008 and March 2007.
- Recipient of Blackboard Corporate Award in the category of Plan Collaborate and Communicate for Section 508 Complienace Project Team, September 2007
- Recipient of Product Development Team Award for exemplary teamwork, for exceeding expectations on feature delivery for the new Grade Center, August 2007.
Blackboard was the recipient of the 2007 Employer Recognition Awards for Telework sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governors. I wrote and submitted the winning nomination and appear in this video clip that was shown during the awards ceremony.
TECHNICAL WRITER / EDITOR / TRAINING MATERIALS DEVELOPER
L-Soft Inc. - 2001 to 2005
- Credited with creating and enhancing 5 User Manuals, 5 Administrative Manuals, 3 Installation Manuals, 2 Database Administrator Manuals, 2 LISTSERV User Manuals through 8 product releases.
- Co-wrote 12 Technical White papers to showcase functionality and expandability of software.
- Designed and co-wrote On-line Help documentation for software applications to assist users with new product features.
- Conceptualized and designed Icons for product's User Interface.
- Winner of the 2004 CEO Gold Award for outstanding employee achievement.
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER / MATERIALS DEVELOPER
WEBCT, INC. - 2000 to 2001
Recruited to design, write and produce educational materials to support the Training Department for this leading provider of e-learning systems. Planned, managed and coordinated all aspects of client projects, from initial concept to layout and production. Collaborated extensively with team members and customers to create and edit custom graphics for on-line courses. Developed course objectives and supporting User and Training documentation. Created graphics to illustrate main points of each lesson. Constructed activities for course participants to reinforce learning. Delivered face-to-face and on-line training to customers.
- Wrote and produced 4 Online Training Courses for the Training Department, resulting in reducing travel costs and increasing customer satisfaction.
- Created standardized Training Manuals for on-site customer training, reducing training time frame and costs.
- Wrote and presented Workshop materials for 2 annual user conferences.
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER
Florida Atlantic University - 2000
Provided strategic and tactical leadership to ensure successful launch of on-line training initiative throughout the University. Collaborated with the faculty to develop on-line courses for Nursing, Engineering and English Department, including graphics, layout and content. Delivered training to faculty on software usage and on-line learning techniques.
- Recognized for spearheading the launch of On-line Training strategy to reduce costs and enhance efficiencies.
COORDINATOR
Florida International University - 1993 to 2000
Built impressive record of achievements and advancements through a series of increasingly responsible positions for this higher educational institution.
COORDINATOR
OF INSTRUCTIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Selected to design and manage Instructional Development Center to
introduce emerging on-line educational technology into the University.
Educated faculty on benefits of online training. Researched, recommended
and facilitated the deployment of new technologies and procedures
to appropriately support new initiative. Supervised team of 3 in
creating Training Materials, delivering individualized and group
training sessions, and demonstrating best practices for on-line
teaching and learning.
- Successfully designed and delivered training to more than 60 faculty members on online course development software usage.
- Assisted in developing online courses for College of Engineering.
COORDINATOR
OF INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA CENTER
Managed operations of campus Audio-Visual Center. Supervised team
of 15 in ensuring appropriate delivering of audiovisual equipment
to campus. Tracked and monitored all aspects inventory. Led teams
in troubleshooting and repairing equipment.
- Spearheaded the design and construction of 7 Smart Classrooms. Coordinated efforts of Architectural Firm and team in deploying start-of-the-art technology throughout the classrooms, consisting of computers, projects, faculty control panels, motorized screens and sound system.
- Introduced effective marketing strategies, resulting in increasing faculty use of audio-visual equipment by 10% consistently every year.
EDUCATION
STATE
UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, Albany, NY
Master of Arts Degree in Graphic Arts
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Studio Arts