Lauri Burkons

PROFESSSIONAL SUMMARY

Results oriented technical writerwith over 10 years extensive experience in translating complex concepts, providing accurate, user-friendly documentation and materials to meet client deadlines. Effective communicator with engineers, technicians, management, customers, users, and subject matter experts. Conceptual thinker who analyzes product to ensure the design meets customer needs. Experienced in project management, business analysis, and instructional design. Demonstrated strengths include

  • Technical writing
/
  • Creative problem solving

  • Editing
/
  • Conceptual thinker

  • Research
/
  • Clear, concise communication

  • Organizational skills
/
  • Detailing precise procedures

  • Project management
/
  • Business analysis

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Developed training materials for Oracle 11i for use within a hospital environment (grants accounting, labor distribution), a manufacturing environment (quality assurance, schedule to build, inventory), and a distribution center environment (purchasing, item creation, order entry, client-based customized forms).
  • Recorded over 100 UPKs for Oracle tasks in purchasing, item creation, and order entry.
  • Created and designed user manuals to explain how to use a personal computer during the early days of personal computer popularity.
  • Designed and structured style guides for producing standardized documentation for departments within a corporation.
  • Developed and implemented a training program for distribution personnel moving from a manual to an automated process, including administration; receiving; and shipping.
  • Designed a user-friendly method to present instructions for two different ways to complete individual tasks within one manual.
  • Researched, wrote, and designed an informative and educational brochure for client technicians in the particle measurement field.
  • Wrote documentation to show conformity to European Union standards for CE marking through analyzing the hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical, and electronic components of a specific machine.
  • Created manuals and trained over 80 professional personnel for a complete change in accounting procedures for grants accounts in a hospital environment.
  • Received recognition for excellence in developing a simplified method for presenting computer procedures to professional personnel who had no previous computer experience.
  • Taught technical writing to 131 mechanical engineering students in five years of university teaching.

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Technical Writer & TrainerIndependent Contractor, Copley, Ohio 1995-Present

Manage contract projects from inception through finished product, including technical writing, editing, and training to meet client needs. Technical Writing: Create user, installation, reference, and system guides for software and hardware products by working with products; interviewing, and reading specifications or blue prints. Course Development/Instructional Design: Develop training materials for a variety of courses and audiences. Editing: Edit various technical documents for grammar, punctuation, mechanics, content, and flow. Training: Successfully trained hundreds of individuals at all levels for job role changes or new software programs. Analysis and Evaluation: Conduct process analysis for procedure documentation.

Technical Writer Rexcon/Tecmar, Inc., Solon, OH1992-1995

Wrote all technical documentation for hardware, software, and multimedia manuals for tape backup manufacturer. Developed style guide, created materials to assist Technical Support and Sales Representatives, and ISO documentation. Supervised additional writers and edited manuals created at subsidiary locations. Trained Technical Support Representatives on new products.

Technical Writer &

Marketing Communications Specialist Cumulus Corporation, Beachwood, OH1991-1992

Developed manuals for computer, memory, hard drive, and proprietary software products. Created launch campaign for new, low-cost computer for retail market. Wrote press releases, print ads, and data sheets. Developed and analyzed sales survey. Created sales presentations and self-running presentations for trade shows.

EDUCATION

B.A. Communications - ClevelandStateUniversity

TECHNICAL SKILLS

MS Office Suite, WordPerfect, PageMaker, FrameMaker, RoboHelp, Visio, Oracle, UPK

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Society for Technical Communication (STC)

American Society for Training and Development (ASTD)

PARTIAL CLIENT LIST

Moen Corporation, Pioneer-Standard Electronics, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Snyder Lumber, Rockwell (Reliance Electric and Allen Bradley), W.S. Tyler, Ameritech, Cuyahoga Community College, Kronos Corporation, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Galls Corporation (a division of Aramark)

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TEACHING BACKGROUND

2000 - 2004Cleveland State University – Part-Time Instructor

2000 - 2002Cuyahoga Community College – Part-Time Instructor

Courses Taught

  • Technical and Business Writing – ClevelandStateUniversity, Mechanical Engineering Department
  • Business Writing, CallCenter Training Program – CuyahogaCommunity College
  • Essentials of Technical Writing I – CuyahogaCommunity College
  • Essentials of Technical Writing II - CuyahogaCommunity College
  • The Technical Writing Process – CuyahogaCommunity College
  • Advanced Technical Writing – CuyahogaCommunity College
  • Writing Skills Workshop – CuyahogaCommunity College
  • Proofreading and Editing Workshop – CuyahogaCommunity College
  • Business Writing for Managers Workshop – CuyahogaCommunity College
  • Report and Proposal Writing Workshop – CuyahogaCommunity College
  • Technical and Procedural Writing Workshop – CuyahogaCommunity College
  • Grants Writing Workshop – CuyahogaCommunity College

TECHNICAL WRITING DIVERSITY

Software products:inventory control, irrigation system, logistics, distribution warehousing, accounting and accounting databases, telephone anomaly tracking, particle measurement, logistics, word processing, Oracle

Hardware products:computer systems, self-diagnostic drives, drive motors, cellular phones, irrigation systems, tire tread testing machine

Miscellaneous subjects:coaching, ISO documentation, CE technical construction files, marketing, sales